SEMESTER/YEAR LONG PROGRAMS
Exchange Programs»Edith Cowan University (Perth), Australia
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is home to over 20,000 full-time students on five separate campuses. This number includes over 1,000 international students from all over the world. ECU can provide many of the advantages of a large university with the atmosphere and friendliness of a smaller college due to its unique multi-campus setup. See the Course Selection and Transfer Credit Process.
Two of the campuses are located in the Perth metropolitan area and available to exchange students:
- Joondalup
ECU's newest campus is located in Perth's fastest growing metropolitan sector, 26km north of the city. This campus is home both a new recreation facility and to numerous kangaroos! Courses are offered in the fields of Arts, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Science, Technology, and Engineering, and Visual and Performing Arts.
- Mt. Lawley
Located just minutes from downtown Perth. Coursework includes Arts, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Science, Technology and Engineering, Visual and Performing Arts. This campus is also the site of the Western Academy of Performing Arts (auditions are required).
Although there is adequate public transportation between the campuses, exchange students usually take at least 3 of their 4 courses on a single campus. All campuses boast full facilities for students (libraries, computer labs, student union, support services, etc.), and are also linked through an extensive electronic communications network.
Exchange students choose from a variety of accommodation options. The Joondalup and Mt. Lawley campuses both have self-catering on-campus units where six students share common kitchen and living facilities. Most rooms are singles. The International Office will also provide assistance in securing rental housing (short-term leases are available) in one of the many budget apartments located throughout the city. Students planning on living off-campus are encouraged to travel to Perth at least one week prior to orientation to seek housing. Finally, interested students may choose to live with an Australian family in a homestay a short distance from any of the campuses.
Perth and Western Australia
Perth is located in the southern part of the state of Western Australia, which takes up nearly a third of the entire continent. Situated on the banks of the Swan River, Perth enjoys a Mediterranean climate, ideal for outdoor sports such as surfing, diving, fishing, sailboarding, or swimming with dolphins! Many university students take advantage of the warm climate and clean city streets by using a bicycle as their primary means of transportation. Exchange students in Perth also enjoy exploring many of the nearby tourist destinations. The port city of Fremantle is renowned for its colonial architecture and vibrant, multicultural population which has spawned numerous ethnic restaurants. Rottnest Island is a popular relaxation destination for students after exams with no cars allowed on the island. Another advantage to studying in Western Australia is that students are close to popular tourist destinations in southeast Asia. Students at Edith Cowan frequently organize trips to Bali, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand!
Fields of Study
Available fields of study include Business, Engineering (Computer & Electronic), Education, Fine and Performing Arts (at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts), Health Sciences, Humanities, and Science & Technology. The Office of Study Abroad has full course listings for Edith Cowan University.
Dates
The first semester runs from mid-February to June, while the second semester is in session from July through late November. Students planning to study in Australia for two semesters are encouraged to begin studies in February.
Credits
The credit earned at Edith Cowan will be recorded on the Old Dominion transcript as transfer credit provided that a grade equivalent to a "C" or better is earned. Advance planning with academic advisors, and completing a transfer credit evaluation prior to the start of the program, ensures that these credits are applied toward graduation and degree requirements. Students work with faculty advisors at Old Dominion to select courses which will yield at least 12 transfer credits. A normal semester load at Edith Cowan is 4 courses.
Cost
Students pay Old Dominion tuition on this exchange. Room and board fees (paid directly to ECU) are estimated at $4700 per semester (on-campus housing used as a base). Additional fees include airfare, books, Australian national health insurance (approximately $150 per semester), passport and visa, and spending money. Most forms of financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships) can be applied to this program as long as an enrollment status consistent with financial aid is maintained. The study abroad advisor will provide a detailed program budget for planning purposes and for submission to the Office of Financial Aid.
Next Steps
The Office of Study Abroad assists you in planning for your semester or year at Edith Cowan. The first step in this process is to stop by to make an appointment with the study abroad advisor. Begin planning several months in advance of deadlines to ensure that this program is an appropriate choice!
Links
Keep in mind when looking at information generated by ECU or other Australian sources:
- Australia is a Southern Hemisphere country. The summer months are December - February.
- The form of currency in Australia is the Australian dollar (sometimes designated as "AUD.")
Australian dollars are not equivalent to U.S. dollars! For currency conversion, go to:
www.xe.net/ucc.
Eligibility Criteria
Minimum 2.5 GPA. Sophomore standing at time of exchange
Priority Deadlines
- For Fall: mid-February
- For Spring: mid-October
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
