James Cook University (JCU) is proud to be Australia’s leading University for the Tropics. They are ranked in the top 2 per cent of universities worldwide for academic studies and research by the pre-eminent global rankings system, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (2017).
Their multi-cultural campuses are friendly and inclusive communities of like-minded people. JCU’s International Student Support team provide services to help you adapt well to university life and feel at home. Visiting students can enroll in a variety of subjects across all faculties at JCU, including marine biology, biodiversity, and tropical environmental studies as well as the arts and humanities.
Around 11,500 students study at JCU Townsville, including over 1,500 international students. The campus is located in the suburb of Douglas, in a 386-hectare natural bush and parkland setting, 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the central business district.
JCU Townsville houses teaching and research facilities, the main JCU library, cafés, bars, fitness and sporting facilities and a wealth of student clubs and societies. Around 1,400 students live on campus in colleges and halls of residence, giving the campus a true community atmosphere.
Sunny Townsville is Australia’s largest tropical city, as well as a departure point for the Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, the Savannahs and country towns of the outback. It is also home to over 13,000 JCU students, so you’ll never run out of things to do, or people to meet.
The city boasts 300 days of sunshine each year, and a variety of national sporting events, markets, cultural activities, and art galleries. The Whitsunday Islands, West Savannahs and the real Australian outback are all accessible from the city.
About Student Life
James Cook University’s student community is made up of students from over 108 different countries. On campus you will meet students from a range of nationalities, cultures and religions, who speak a variety of languages
Eligibility
Students must have completed a minimum of 30 semester credits
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8
Students must an acceptable judicial conduct record
Students must have declared their minor and core concentration
Students must have academic advisor and dean approval
Academic Details
JCU has two main study periods each year: Study Period 1 (February-June) and Study Period 2 (July-November) which are each 13 weeks long. Study abroad and exchange students should avoid selecting subjects that run before the start of their chosen study period as it could create visa issues.
At JCU most individual subjects have a value of 3 credit points which equals 4 RWU credits. A normal full-time study load for a study period is four subjects or 12 credit points. The minimum allowable enrollment for study abroad students at JCU is three subjects or 9 credit points(12 RWU credits). Most RWU students enroll in 4 modules for 16 RWU credits.
Visit
James Cook University's online course catalog to see a list of available subjects.
Housing
JCU Halls of Residence
JCU Townsville offers five on-campus accommodation options for up to 1,200 students – three are owned and operated by the University and two by JCU affiliated private colleges.
Living on-campus is a fun and exciting way to experience university life. There is always something happening with plenty of social and cultural activities to keep you entertained. You’ll enjoy fun orientation activities, block functions, concerts, valedictory balls, international food nights and themed events, just to name a few.
Students who live on-campus receive support from a Residential Assistant (RA) – a senior student who has experienced residential living and undertaken a leadership course to supervise and assist the residents. There is usually one RA assigned to between 12 and 20 students. RAs are supported by Senior RAs and Principals of the colleges, all living on campus to provide 24-hour support, should you need it.
All the on-campus accommodation residences are different and offer a range of living and support options to suit the needs and requirements of our students. It is best to do your research to find the one that ticks most, if not all, of your boxes. JCU's on-campus accommodation is very popular so we suggest you apply as early as possible so you don’t miss out.
Program Dates
RWU's Fall Semester at JCU runs from mid-July thru late November(This would be JCU's Study Period 2); RWU's Spring Semester runs from mid February thru late June(This would be JCU's Study Period 2).
Financial Details/Program Cost
Approved semester long programs will be billed through RWU Bursar accounts based on regular tuition, housing and semester fee rates.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Students will be able to apply their financial aid awards to their semester abroad charges. Additional the following Roger Williams University Study Abroad Scholarships are available:
Health & Safety Abroad
Students should review the U.S. State Department’s consular information website for complete information on safety and security (https://www.state.gov/travel/).
Visas
Students studying in Australia will need a Student Visa. This application process is completed all online and will commence after acceptance is confirmed into the program. For more information on Australia Student Visas please visit
