The University of Western Australia
Programme Details
Minimum mark 60%
Level Undergraduate
Language/s English
Agreement Scope University-wide exchange, check with your department regarding compatibility with your degree programme
Exchange Places 2 full year places for 2024/25
University of Western Australia - Information for Exchange students
Overview
About:
The University of Western Australia (UWA) was founded in 1911 and is home to over 20,000 students. UWA is the only university in Western Australia to be a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, and currently ranks 88th in world. With an emphasis on research, UWA also belongs to the Worldwide Universities Network, a group of 18 worldwide, research-led universities.
Adjacent to the Swan River, the Perth campus is among the most picturesque in Australia, with iconic sandstone buildings sitting among heritage-listed gardens. Campus is just 10 minutes from Perth’s main shopping and business district and close to many of the city’s stunning beaches. On campus, amenities to enjoy include cafés, libraries, bookshops, a vibrant cultural precinct and tons of clubs and societies to join.
Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, comedian Tim Minchin and Nobel Prize winning medic Barry Marshall are among UWA’s alumni.
Contacts at Western:
University of Western Australia contact form - we recommend for students to enter the subject line ‘Study Abroad/Exchange’ or similar.
International Centre, The University of Western Australia (M352), 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
Highlights:
UWA is proud to rank 86 in the Top 100 Universities around the world (QS 2020). Since 2012, UWA has appeared in the top 100 universities in Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s internationally recognised Academic Ranking of World Universities and consistently appears in the top 1% of universities as judged in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS rankings. UWA is ranked 1st in Australia and in the world’s top 50 for Biological Sciences, Environmental Science and Engineering, Marine/ Ocean Engineering and Agricultural Sciences by the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019.
Location:
Perth is the capital and largest city of the state of Western Australia. With a population of more than 2 million, Perth is Australia’s fourth most populous city. Located on Australia’s west coast, nature and urban life coexist in perfect harmony. Soak up the sunshine by visiting Perth’s many beaches or even visit nearby islands. Visit the many city parks and local vineyards within Perth.
Academic information
Courses / Modules:
Students should consult with their supervisor or international coordinator when looking at the course list to select modules
Credit (Full-time Load per semester):
24 credits = 60 York credits
Teaching Periods:
Students should note that the academic year in Australian universities runs from the end of February to the end of November. York students will join UWA for Semester 2 and then return for Semester 1 of the following academic year.
Semester 1: February to June
Semester 2: July to November
Access UWA calendar.
Language:
Classes at UWA are taught in English.
You may be required to provide evidence of your English language ability if English is not your first language.
Student life
Accommodation:
Housing at the colleges is not guaranteed. Information on on-campus accommodation is available to view. Off-campus housing is also available as is Homestay.
Orientation / Welcome week:
Students should arrive a day or two before orientation or two weeks before if they have yet to arrange housing. There is no cost for orientation, however optional excursions will incur a small charge.
Support Services:
UWA offers a full range of support services including disability services
Visas:
Once students’ return the signed acceptance contract with applicable payment, UWA will issue a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) document which will allow students to apply for an Australian Student Visa (ASV). Visas can take up to 4—6 weeks to be approved. UWA is an eligible institution for Streamlined Visa Processing.
Health insurance:
Health insurance is compulsory for most international students who are studying in Australia.
It is a condition of your student visa that you maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your studies. This cover needs to be arranged before you can apply for your student visa. Sydney’s preferred OSHC provider is Allianz Global Assist and if you indicate that you’d like them to arrange your OSHC then they will arrange the necessary type and length of cover. This is arranged once you have paid for your OSHC cover.
Travel insurance:
If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries. You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange.
Student experiences
Maddie, Sociology, Year Abroad 2019/20
" I have had such an amazing year in Perth, studying at the University of Western Australia. I have met some amazing people and learnt valuable life skills. "
KatyLily, Biology, Year Abroad 2017/18
"I adored every minute of being abroad, I've become more confident, more independent and more culturally aware. Studying in Australia allowed me to focus on Australian wildlife and how to protect it, knowledge I wouldn't have gained here at York. My advice would be to leave your inhibitions at home and just throw yourself into things, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve. "
Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website!
Top Tips for Studying in Australia
Please note: these tips have been provided by students who have studied abroad in Australia - Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.
Money and Banking:
Definitely set up an Australian bank account - I used CommBank. If you get a job, make sure to claim back your tax before you leave Australia and while you still have an Australian phone number, otherwise you'll have huge difficulties like I did!
I set up and Australian bank account, which my college helped me do.
I set up a bank account before I left for Australia with a bank called ANZ. I transferred my spending money in one lump sum before I left, which was both useful (no repeat international transfer fees) but also difficult as I hadn't realised how expensive Sydney would be. I also ordered a debit card online which I picked up a week or so after arriving (I made sure to bring enough cash with me to last until I could access my account).
I got a Monzo account before I left, as they don't charge you for using your card abroad! So I used that until I got an Australian bank account set up - it was surprisingly easy to do that - I went to ANZ (you just need your passport, address and an Australian phone number to set up an account), and then transferred money from Monzo to my Australian ANZ account
I got a Monzo card before I left - a god send! No fees or exchange rates, just tap your card and GBP will be transferred into the local currency with no hidden fees. Then when I found my feet I set up a bank account with Commonwealth so that i could pay for my phone bill and get paid from my job.
Staying Connected:
I bought a pay monthly Australian sim, then changed my UK package to the cheapest possible one I could find just so I could keep my UK number active for when I came home.
I bought an overseas package with my UK mobile provider.
As a year long exchange student, it worked out cheaper to buy a new SIM. I did get a new phone in Australia (I bought one there in case there were any issues with unlocking the phone), but I took advantage of a good deal by JB Hifi (entertainer/goods shop) and Telstra to buy it. Mobile plans are pretty expensive in Australia if you want to get a decent amount of data - I'm pretty sure texts and such to other Aussie numbers are always free though. But a number of semester students chose not to buy a phone/SIM.
Because I was on a Vodafone Global Traveller plan I was able to use my phone in Australia at no extra cost which was very helpful, but because you need an Australian number to set up various things (such as a bank account) I bought a basic pay-as-you-go Australian SIM for that purpose, and just put $20 on it which lasted the whole year. Most people I know got more comprehensive SIM packages for good prices, and they are really easy to set up. At the University of Sydney you can find Vodafone, the Commonwealth Bank, health services and basically anything you need which is great! And of course you can find more options and alternatives at shopping centres etc.
I was with the network '3' before I left the UK. They have a 'go roam' feature where you can use your phone abroad for 3 months at no extra cost. I used this until I got a SIM with 'Optus' who do great SIM deals. Always best to go with an unlocked phone. Over Christmas I earned enough tips at work to buy a brand new unlocked phone that I have now brought back to the UK and simply put in a UK SIM - easy!
Food:
I stayed at a residential college so meals were catered for and included. However I was able to buy random bits of food from supermarkets such as IGA, Coles and Woolworths. The university had lots of cafes and food places on campus. (UWA)
Coles or Aldi in Broadway Shopping Centre are the best places to shop! The food on campus is extremely expensive so try to avoid if you want to save money. There's so many amazing restaurants of all different cuisines to try, especially around Newtown - some favourites of mine were Hanoi on King which did the most amazing pho, and Newtown Pork Roll which have the best banh mi. (Sydney)
Most exchange students would go to the local shopping centre, Broadway, for our general food shop - shops like Coles or Aldi. But there are loads of places for takeaway or to have a meal in if you're willing to explore a bit. (Sydney)
I went grocery shopping at either Coles or Woolworths, both of which are your classic supermarkets. Despite the huge meat culture in Australia, I went 100% vegetarian when I got to Australia and by the time I left was on a vegan diet. It is definitely possible to be veggie/vegan in Australia, I would hugely recommend going to Newtown (10 minutes walk from the university) - it has the best vegan food and I miss it a lot! And of course, places like Bondi have great options too. (Sydney)
Aldi is your cheapest option - there's a large one in Broadway shopping centre right by USYD campus! Woolworths is a great blast from the past too but its not like our woolies, its a supermarket. (Sydney)
Paperwork and bureaucracy:
It really wasn't that bad! Global Programmes at York are so helpful and the University of Sydney is very used to dealing with study abroad students so they have all sorts of helpful structures in place to assist you!
Keeping it all in a folder in a safe place and writing down deadlines.
I didn't have too much paper work to deal with fortunately, but the main way I dealt with it was by setting a lot of reminders on my phone, and I would chat to friends if I needed help.
What I wished I'd known...:
Get a job! Your savings will run out much faster than you think due to the high cost of living, but jobs pay so much out there (I was getting equivalent of £15 an hour as a waitress). It makes travelling much more accessible too when you have an income.
Travel as much as you can and don't keep putting things off. Australia is so far away you probably won't be in that area of the world again soon and your time will go so fast! I got to the last month of my year and still had so many places I wanted to go, but unfortunately never got round to them before I left.
I had such an amazing experience and did so much with my time before COVID-19. I wish I probably saved up some more money so I could have travelled around more before quarantine kicked in.
I wish I'd known how fast my time would go. There are a lot of experiences I wish I could have had, but never got the chance to because I kept putting them off (and then lost an entire semester). And that I shouldn't have been so stubborn in some of my plans, because that meant I missed out on some experiences with friends and the opportunities for deeper friendships.
Don't miss the deadline for on-campus accommodation like I did! I ended up having to spend 6-months in Urbanest (off-campus student accommodation). It is ridiculously overpriced and not that friendly. Also, all the friends I was making from other British/European universities, as well as the local Australians, were based on campus and I felt I was missing out a little. That being said, I did make friends in Urbanest - two of whom I now would consider best friends so it worked out fine!
Your life does not exist solely within the university, the best friends I made were with locals and people I worked with! Its more than just studying abroad - you're living abroad too so make a whole life for yourself!
Useful links
Contact Global Opportunities
Global Opportunities - Find us in Derwent College
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @GoGlobalUOY
Click here to make a virtual appointment to speak to one of our advisors
Videos and resources from UWA
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