Semester in Newcastle
University of Newcastle

Gap Year Friendly
Green Campus
LGBTQIA+ Friendly

Authentic, local experience on a bushland campus

On our Semester in Newcastle – University of Newcastle program, study at an excellent university with a stunning, ecologically sustainable campus, and experience the true Aussie lifestyle, complete with local Aussie friends. Fondly referred to as Newy, Newcastle is a port city located in New South Wales, home to roughly 400,000 people. With a beautiful trail to Nobby’s Lighthouse, Newy hosts a superb mixture of beaches, historical architecture, and a diverse arts scene, which makes its charm even more apparent.


What to Expect:

  • Language: English
  • Average Courseload: 3–4 courses (12–16 U.S. credits)
  • GPA Requirement: 2.5
  • Visa Requirements: YES - Pre-departure

Highlights:

  • Welcome orientation in Cairns, home of the Great Barrier Reef
  • Easy access to mountains, national parks, beaches, and rainforests
  • 100 campus-based sport and social clubs provide plenty of opportunities to meet local and fellow international students
  • Authentic Aussie experience in a medium-sized, down-to-earth, coastal Australia city
  • Study on two unique campuses: Callaghan (covered in bushland) and Newcastle City - with a free shuttle!

Program Details

University of Newcastle

In only about 50 years, the University of Newcastle has established itself as a world-class institution that ranks near the top. The University combines academic prestige with a stunning spot on the central coast of Australia. It’s an ideal choice for students looking for a challenging academic experience in a smaller city.

The University of Newcastle offers a selection of courses that rival any university. You might be impressed by its top-ranked STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). Or you might be drawn to its business school, which holds accreditation by the AACSB. Finally, you can take excellent courses in a range of topics, including health and social sciences, architecture and design, and education.

If you’re looking for a spectacular setting, the checklist continues: the main campus, Callaghan, is set on 345 acres of beautiful, natural bushland. The University has gained international recognition for practicing ecologically sustainable principles. Australians regard the University as one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Or, hop on the campus shuttle for a quick ride into the action in Newcastle’s central business district (CBD). And, you’ll never be too far from surf, beaches, waterways, parks, and forests.

The campus at the University of Newcastle includes state-of-the-art buildings and other facilities. You’ll enjoy a full gym, an indoor heated pool, aerobic studios, and the second highest climbing wall in Australia. Social and cultural events on campus are so popular that they attract residents from Newcastle unaffiliated with the University.

Newcastle’s student population is just under 27,000 and includes some 6,000 international students from 80-plus countries. The support services are exceptional. You’ll easily integrate into campus life by joining any of the 100 campus-based sport or social clubs.

Accredited by The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations of Australia; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

All CIS Abroad returning transcripts from institutions in Australia are completely digital. This will mean no physical copies of transcripts will be mailed for this program.

Areas of study with 8 or more classes available

  • Art & Design
  • Business
  • Communications
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Natural & Applied Sciences
  • Health
  • Humanities
  • World Languages

Don't see your major listed here? There may still be courses available. Browse our programs by major.

Semester in Newcastle offers two 14-week semesters, starting in July and February. The University of Newcastle is well known for academic excellence and innovative teaching, and you’ll find almost anything you’re looking for, whether you want to stay within your major or branch out and take some courses unique to Australia.

Course descriptions and catalog:
Be sure to ONLY select classes offered on the Callaghan or the Newcastle City campus.

Click here to view a database of undergraduate courses, where you can get a clear indication of:

  • If the course is available to study abroad students
  • The campus where the course is taught (you want the Callaghan campus)
  • Semester 1 (spring) or semester 2 (fall) intake

How to read the University of Newcastle course catalog:
You will find courses offered at the 100, 200, and 300 levels. The 200- and 300-level courses at Newcastle are often the equivalent to junior- and senior-year course in the US. They will likely have prerequisites.

Please note:
Semester 1 = Spring semester
Semester 2 = Fall semester

A full course load in Australia is a minimum of 3 courses and maximum 4 courses. Students will not be able to take more than 4 courses.

Why Life in Newcastle

Newcastle is a lively port city on a breathtaking stretch of Australia’s coastline. The city has wonderful beaches for surfing and swimming, a low cost of living, a very favorable climate, and a casual lifestyle. You’ll find miles of walking paths along the stunning coast, where spotting a dolphin or whale is common. Located in the same state as Sydney (2.5 hours away by train), you’ll have easy access to explore another of the country’s most impressive cities – and beyond.

The Lonely Planet named Newcastle a top ten city in the world in the Best in Travel Guide in 2011. With a population of 550,000, Newcastle offers all the usual city comforts, such as restaurants, cafés, parks and gardens, theaters, art galleries, shopping centers, and nightclubs. At the same time, it retains the charms of a smaller beach community. The city’s heritage as a coal port is still evident, but over the past few decades Newcastle has become a thriving, sophisticated city know for its relaxed, coastal lifestyle. The University of Newcastle has played a large role in this transformation.

A few miles south of the city is Australia’s largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, scene of many national and international sailing events. Less than an hour’s drive north is the impressive harbor of Port Stephens, a popular center for big-game fishing, sailing, surfing, and windsurfing. To the west are the internationally famous wineries of the Hunter Valley, many of them more than a century old. And to the south are the beautiful beaches of the Central Coast. The oceanic climate of the region offers warm summers and mild winters. It’s no wonder Newcastle is a popular destination for study abroad students!

Live The Local Life

  • Farmers’ markets

    Newcastle loves a good weekend market. There’s at least one every weekend – check them out for great vibes and fresh produce.

  • Sports events

    The University has a bunch of social sport teams to join if you want to keep active. Attend a professional rugby or soccer game in the city to see Newcastle turn out to support its local athletes and feel the atmosphere!

  • Dance and yoga classes

    Yoga is huge in Newcastle. Find one of our dance or yoga studios and roll out your mat!

  • Café culture

    Australians take their coffee seriously, and Newcastle is a prime example. Go on a local café crawl to find all the hidden gems – ask onsite staff for their tips!

  • Sand dune surfing in Stockton

    An experience not to be missed. If sand surfing isn’t your thing, try one of the 4WD safaris, or take a ride on a camel.

  • Dolphin-watching in Nelson Bay

    With over 140 Bottlenose Dolphins calling Port Stephens home, it’s no wonder these friendly locals are sighted so often.

Housing in Newcastle

Location

As a student at the University of Newcastle, you’ll live in an on-campus residence on the Callaghan Campus. Choose between a single room in a 5-6 person apartment with locals and other international students at the International House, or premium single-room housing in the New Residences (known locally as “The Towers”). Please note: most apartments are co-ed. Contact your Program Enrollment Cordinator if you would like a gender-specific apartment.

Your apartment will come fully furnished and you will be provided with a linen and kitchen pack. You’ll have access to a well-equipped shared kitchen. Study areas, ground floor common area, barbeque area, and laundry facilities are available on site.

Meals

Make your own meals in the kitchen, stocked up with all the tools you’ll need. Put your skills to the test and try your hand at some local favorites!

Inclusions and Amenities

  • CommuteWalkingPublic Transportation
  • Kitchen Equipment
  • LaundryOn-site
  • Single Room
  • Study Areas

What's Included

Inclusions

Program fees are in U.S. dollars and include the following:

  • 3 day orientation in Cairns
  • Flight from Cairns to Newcastle
  • Full-time tuition and fees
  • Housing
  • Medical and accident insurance
  • Overseas Health Insurance (mandatory for any student studying in Australia)
  • CIS Abroad support services before, during, and after the program
  • Academic advising
  • Financial aid counseling
  • Pre-departure orientation
  • Airport pickup
  • University of Newcastle orientation
  • On-site support
  • Internet connection
  • Student Guild fees
  • University of Newcastle official transcript
  • The Local Life cultural program

Welcome & Orientation

Your program will kick off with the action-packed and engaging Great Barrier Reef orientation in Cairns. This 3 day/3-night orientation will provide you with an amazing introduction to Australia’s culture, wildlife, and natural environments. Get ready to be on your feet (and in the water) much of the time, visiting places like the rainforest, indigenous communities, and the Great Barrier Reef. Also do things we know you came a long way to do, like holding koalas, snorkeling, and feeding kangaroos.

Your Site Director will also sit down to provide insight and discussion into program and behavioral expectations, with topics such as culture, slang, food, and where to go and what to do when you settle into your life in Australia. After the orientation you fly to the Newcastle, your new home for the next few months.

Once you’re settled in Newcastle, you’ll also get an orientation at University of Newcastle to help you get adjusted to your new surrounds and learn your way around.

Farewell & Re-Entry Program

Though you’re not an astronaut returning from space, re-entering your home culture after being abroad can be shocking to the system. Your site director will walk you through some of the things to expect and help you reflect on your time abroad so that you can remember the highlights. Also, enjoy a group meal as part of your farewell to Australia.

Program Excursions

While participating on a CIS Abroad program, you'll be able to take part in built-in day trips at no additional cost. These trips are subject to change from term to term; listed below are excursions that have run in the past.

3 Day Orientation in Cairns

Talk about an amazing orientation! Spend three days learning about the environmental and cultural beauty that Australia has to offer in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you spend your time snorkeling or exploring the rain forest, you won’t leave Cairns without some unbelievable photos and memories!

Surf Lesson

Surf Lesson

A surf lesson is a right of passage in Newcastle. Surfing is one of the most challenging and rewarding sports. Pro tips: Shoulders back, head up, knees bent! Even if surfing isn’t your thing you can still enjoy the day on the beach.

Hunter Valley Wineries

Hunter Valley Wineries

The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s best-known wine regions. Come for the wine and stay for the stunning scenery, local produce, and adventure activities.

Site Director

Seth Daily
Travel Tip:

Making friends is key. The first thing I do when I get to a new place is find events that are going on. Ask locals, join social media groups, pay attention to posters and signs. Then attend all of them.

Travel Tip:

Making friends is key. The first thing I do when I get to a new place is find events that are going on. Ask locals, join social media groups, pay attention to posters and signs. Then attend all of them.

About:

Raised in a family that encouraged participation in every activity from baseball to marching band to martial arts (too many for healthy stress levels, in hindsight), I was enrolled in every school trip my parents could afford. That early exposure to overseas travel grew into a passion for new and different environments. After high school I followed a path of studies that took me from Los Angeles, where I was raised, through Switzerland to learn French, and finally landed me in Australia, where I now reside with a degree in business and political science. My journey has taught me that besides creating lifetime friendships and unforgettable memories, travel to new cultures brings out our deepest empathy as we see the world from others’ point of view. When more people can have that experience, it’s a step towards making the world a better place.

Your Support Staff

Amanda Murphy
Travel Tip:

Don’t overplan. Have a place to stay, pick a few major things you want to do, and then just get lost in the beauty of it all. If you plan too many activities, you miss out on stumbling into the most wonderful things that you’ll never forget.

Advising and Enrollment
Travel Tip:

You’ll be supported every step of the way!

Advising

Kaylee Klinger, our student advisor and 2x CIS Abroad alum, can help match you with a program that fits your academic and personal objectives. It’s not always an easy choice, but you can’t go wrong! Once you’ve decided, we’ll guide to you submit an online application.

Enrollment

Once you’ve submitted your initial application and the fee, you’ll be assigned a Program Enrollment Coordinator. We’ll work closely together to guide you through the enrollment process and prepare you for a life-changing experience!

Dates & Prices

ADVISOR TIP: Please WAIT to book flights until you have received confirmed dates in your acceptance paperwork. Dates posted here are subject to change.

  • Application Deadline: Apr 15
  • Arrival: July 4
  • Departure: November 12
  • Price: $16,990 - $18,490
  • Application Deadline: Nov 1
  • Arrival: February 8
  • Departure: June 22
  • Price: $18,790 - $19,790
  • Application Deadline: Apr 15 (Estimated)
  • Arrival: July 2 (Estimated)
  • Departure: November 10 (Estimated)
  • Price: $18,790 - $19,790 (Estimated)
Additional Information:

Price Range

FALL 2023
International House, 3 Courses: $16,990
International House, 4 Courses: $17,590
The Towers, 3 Courses: $17,690
The Towers, 4 Courses: $18,490
SPRING 2024
On Campus, 3 Courses: $18,790
On Campus, 4 Courses: $19,790

Program Deposit

There is a non-refundable program deposit of $1,000. This deposit will be deducted from the total cost of the program. Paying the deposit secures your spot on the program.

As with all study abroad programs, you should count on a few additional expenses.

CIS Abroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner universities.