Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 3.0 GPA cumulative GPA or better at the time of application
- Second Semester Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
Program Description
The University of New South Wales is one of the top research institutions in Australia. The Kensington (main) campus is situated on 85 acres of land and is located 5 km (15 minute bus ride) from Sydney's central business district. UNSW is an internationally acclaimed teaching and research powerhouse, offering study abroad and exchange students a learning experience packed with academic programs, student activities and educational services. The University combines academics recognized as world-leaders in their fields, with modern facilities, rigorous education standards and a diverse community.
Dates
Academic Year: early August - mid May
Fall: early August - mid December
Spring: early January - mid May
The UNSW Academic Calendar is referred to as UNSW3+. UNSW3+ consists of three terms of 10 teaching weeks (excluding orientation, public holidays and exams), and a five-week intensive summer (southern hemisphere) term in January and a five-week intensive winter (southern hemisphere) term in August. Students can take three courses in each term and 1 course in the intensive terms. The UNSW new academic calendar is as follows:
- January Intensive Term: Early January – mid February
- Term 1: Mid February – mid May
- Term 2: Early June – late August
- August Intensive Term: early August - mid September
- Term 3: Mid September – mid December
Study abroad options for Penn State Students:
- Penn State Spring Semester: January Intensive Term + Term 1 for a total of 4 courses
- Penn State Fall Semester: August Intensive Term + Term 3 for a total of 4 courses
- Penn State Academic Year: Term 1 (3 courses) + Term 2 (2 courses) + Term 3 (3 courses) or Term 3 (3 courses) + Term 1 (3 courses) + Term 2 (2 courses)
Students studying at UNSW for one semester are not permitted to study at UNSW for a single term. Term 1 must be combined with the January Intensive Term and Term 3 must be combined with the August Intensive Term.
Refer to the UNSW Academic Calendar for the specific dates, if available.
Program Note
This program may have limited space, so we recommend that you identify an appropriate backup program and complete the Education Abroad Backup Questionnaire in your Penn State Application when applying to this program. Should you not be accepted for your first-choice program, you will automatically be reviewed for your backup choice. For help on choosing an appropriate backup, please contact your education abroad adviser.
Location
Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales. It is located on the south-east coast of Australia, in the temperate zone, which gives it a mild climate year round. It is also the largest (and oldest) city in Australia. First established by the British as a convict settlement in 1788, it has developed into a major industrial, business, and manufacturing center. It is also a cosmopolitan city that offers a wealth of entertainment, shopping, and sightseeing. Sydney has sprawling suburbs that reach out from the city-center about 35 miles north, 21 miles west and 19 miles south. Its harbor is one of the largest in the world, and is famous for the unmistakable arch of the Harbour Bridge and the sails of the Opera House. UNSW Sydney offers students the best of both worlds — world-class beaches and stunning parklands within a vibrant, cosmopolitan harbour-side city. Ideally positioned as the gateway to the Asia Pacific, Sydney is home to more global firms than any other Australian city, fostering an energetic business community and numerous opportunities for students’ academic and professional development.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Global Programs website.
Housing
On-campus Housing
UNSW offers a variety of on-campus accommodation options including catered colleges, self-catered university apartments or privately-run colleges on (or very close) to campus. On-campus accommodation is very limited and not guaranteed even if applied by the deadline.
- UNSW Accommodation includes very limited accommodation at the self-catered University Terraces, Barker Apartments, Mulwarree Apartments, and fully-catered Kensington Colleges.
- UNSW also has eight other affiliated Colleges and Apartments that provide high quality accommodation.
Important note for yearlong students: If you are offered a place in student accommodation, your contract will be for the August Intensive Term + Term 3 only and you will need to re-apply for the January Intensive Term + Term 1 and unfortunately an offer is not guaranteed.
Off-campus housing
If students are not offered a room on-campus, the student will be responsible for organizing their own housing in Sydney. UNSW will provide resources and advice on how to find housing in Sydney but it is the responsibility of the student to research their options and secure housing. Students not comfortable with organizing their own housing should consider other program options.
Meals
Meals are not included in the program and will be organized by the student.
