Australia

St. Lawrence University students have the opportunity to spend the fall or spring semester in Australia at James Cook University (JCU). Students choose to study at the Townsville or Cairns (spring 2025 only) campus. As Australia’s premier tropical university, JCU has dedicated much of its research activities to areas relevant to life in the tropics, such as aboriginal studies, tropical medicine, tropical environmental studies, and Asian Studies. Its department of Marine Biology is world famous. In addition, the University has pioneered a higher education center for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Please note that the number of students attending this program is limited and admission is highly competitive.

Choice of two campuses: Townsville (Bebegu Yumba) or (spring 2025 only) Cairns (Nguma-bada)
Fall or Spring semester
Enrollment capped at 15 students per semester (a backup option is encouraged for competitive programs)
Pre-requisites: 3.0 GPA. Applicants should have prior coursework in the subjects they intend to study on the program, and must articulate clear reasons for advanced study of these subjects in Australia. Applicants should also describe their interest in studying the peoples and cultures of Australia.
All applicants must be at least sophomore status in terms of credits at the time of their application in order to apply.
While on the program students are required to take at least one class focused on the peoples and cultures of Australia
Live in student residence halls

Apply to Study in Australia

Location Academics Co-Curricular Housing Calendar Orientation Program Contacts

Location

James Cook University (JCU), named after the explorer Captain James Cook, has two campuses located in northeast Australia. The larger campus in Townsville has approximately 14,500 students; the Cairns campus has about 5,000 students. As Australia's first tropical university, JCU has dedicated much of its research activities to areas relevant to life in the tropics, such as aboriginal studies, tropical medicine, tropical environmental studies, and Asian Studies. Its Department of Marine Biology is world famous. In addition, the University has pioneered a higher education center for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

More information about the University can be found on their YouTube channel.

James Cook University's main campus is located 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the city center of Townsville, Queensland, the largest city in northern Queensland. It is the business, cultural, educational, administrative and industrial center for the North Queensland region and has a diverse economy based on manufacturing, industry, tourism, and transportation. It is a major distribution center for imports and exports with trade links with Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Rim, and Southeast Asia. Townsville is also the home of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. The Townsville campus is particularly appropriate for students interested in marine biology and owns a research station on Orpheus Island.

Some JCU subjects offered in Townsville are also offered on the Cairns campus (spring 2025 only). Cairns, based on the coast 4 hours north of Townsville, is a center for outdoor activities and a tourist destination for Australians and international travelers wishing to access the Great Barrier Reef and points north including Daintree rainforest and Cape Tribulation.

Academics

JCU will be transitioning fully to a trimester system (three academic terms in one calendar year) in 2025. In order to maintain the full time status, students need to take 12 JCU credits in a trimester. This usually means four SLU units in four 3-credit JCU subjects. Credits awarded depend on the subject taken.

All SLU students attending JCU are required to take at least one course focused on the peoples and cultures of Australia. On the JCU course listing page, select the campus you are applying for (Townsville Bebegu Yumba or Cairns Nguma-bada) and select the relevant study period you plan to be at JCU, either Teaching Period 1 (January to June, Trimester 1 as a part) or Teaching Period 2 (July to December, Trimester 3 as a part). The last 2 numbers in the subject number indicate how many credits will be awarded: HI 3 191: 03 [ HI = History Dept. 3 = 3rd-year subject. 191 = subject number. 03 = # of credits ]

Course of study = major
Faculty = department or school (e.g., Faculty of Arts, Education & Social Science; Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Sciences; Faculty of Science)
Subjects = classes
Trimester 1 (roughly aligned with SLU spring semester) = late January through late April
Trimester 3 (roughly aligned with SLU fall semester) = mid-September through mid-December

Any questions about course offerings, please contact Louise Keller in Admissions (internationaladmissions@jcu.edu.au).

Course credit from JCU transfers back to SLU provided you have received course approval from the department chair of a relevant academic department. Some JCU courses have already been pre-approved by St. Lawrence and are listed on APR2. Please keep in mind that these are just the courses that have been pre-approved. Students may enroll in other courses and seek transfer credit approval at SLU. In order to have credits returned from JCU, students must complete a Course Approval Request process (available on their Studio Abroad applications) before their departure and have each credit approved by the relevant department head at SLU.

All subjects must be on the Townsville Bebegu Yumba or (spring 2025 only) the Cairns Nguma-bada campus. The two campuses are 4 hours apart, so it is impossible to take subjects at both campuses. You may NOT take block or external courses.
Students take 12 credits (generally four subjects), which must be endorsed for transfer credit prior to commencing study in Australia and approved by the appropriate department chair at SLU.
At least one subject must have significant content focusing on the peoples and cultures of Australia.
Grades earned at JCU are converted to SLU grades using the standard Australian/US conversion system:

High Distinction = 4.0
Distinction = 3.75
Credit = 3.0
Pass = 2.0
Conceded Pass = 1.5
Fail = 0.0

Studying at James Cook University is not "SLU in an exotic location." Australian universities generally offer more course-specific instruction compared to the American "liberal arts" education. In Australia, students study more narrowly but delve more deeply into one subject area. This means there may be scheduling challenges if you plan to take subjects from differing disciplines or departments. Australian academic programs, administrative structures and grading more closely resemble the British university system than the American system. The most common instruction method is a combination of large lectures classes and smaller tutorial classes. Students are expected to progress through the semester independently. Assessment is less frequent and may be based on a much smaller number of assessments than you may be used to.

Course Attendance Mode:

SLU students are only allowed to take the On Campus (in-person) mode course and up to ONE Multi-Modal (in-person plus flexible delivery) mode course. You may not take any Online mode course.

Suggested Australia-Content Courses:

AR 2011:03: Australia Through Time and Place

CN 2205:03: Regional Features: Place, Location, Australia and Asia in Cinema

EL 2020:03 Australia Literatures

HI 2006:03: Australia and Pacific Exploration

HI 2191:03: Australia History

HS 1401:03: Health and Health Care in Australia

IA 1015:03: Indigenous Australian World View: Survival, Identity and Cultural Diversity

IA 2013: 03: Ecology and Australian Indigenous Cultures

IA 2016: 03: Australian Indigenous Politics

SS 1010: 03: Australian People: An Introduction to the Social Sciences

SY 1001:03: Australian Society: An Introduction to Sociology

WC 2001:03: Australian Women’s Studies

IA 2011: Indigenous Australian (SLU Equivalent: ANTH-3037)

Students at Townsville campus can take the following two courses which are taught by SLU alumna Theresa Petray.

SS1010: Australian People: Indigeneity and Multiculturalism

SY1001: Australian Society: An Introduction to Sociology

Crime and Punishment in Australia (SLU History)

Modern History in Australia (SLU History)

Interested in Field Trips Courses?

Some courses at JCU include field trip components

The cost for the field trip courses are on this list. Check under the Subject Field Trips section. And four more under Indigenous Studies and Arts, Society and Education sections.

Co-curricular

Students are encouraged to get involved in JCU cultural, sporting and recreational activities and students receive a stipend to join the JCU student association. Common weekend trips are Mission Beach, Cairns, Daintree Rainforest, Hinchinbrook Island, Whitsunday Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. The JCU Office of International Affairs has a variety of excursions and programs for which students can sign up.

Previous students can share recommendations for independent travel within Australia as well as outside of Australia (to Southeast Asia, New Zealand, or Bali). Previous students have also become SCUBA certified, and hiked Hinchinbrook Island and Mt. Bartle Frere. The Hinchinbrook hike, which normally takes 3 - 4 days, is very popular and reservations must be made months in advance. Please note that students can explore the Great Barrier Reef by snorkeling or SCUBA diving.

Australian students normally use study breaks to study; therefore, SLU students should plan to do the same.

Keeping in mind that Australia is nearly as large as the continental United States and that there are long distances between destinations, students should plan to arrive early if they wish to travel throughout Australia or schedule such trips immediately after exams.

Housing

The Townsville campus has several on-campus residential colleges and residence halls providing housing for about 1,500 students. Most of the rooms are single study/bedrooms comfortably furnished with a bed, closet, study desk, and bookshelves. St. Lawrence recommends that SLU students be housed in the regular single room (NOT short stay accommodation) of George Roberts Hall, centrally located and a meal plan included.

In Cairns, the only on-campus housing option is John Grey Hall, where students are encouraged to stay in the regular shared 6 bedroom apartment (NOT short stay accommodation) with individual bedrooms and shared living space. It does not offer a meal plan, which means that students need to cook.

JCU cannot guarantee that all SLU students will be accommodated in their first housing choice, but every effort will be made to do so. It is important that students apply for housing and accept the offer on time.

Calendar

JCU will be transitioning fully to a trimester system (three academic semesters in one calendar year) in 2025. Please see their website to find more details about the Academic Calendar and check the trimesters specifically.

For those who are going there in the SLU spring semester, check their Trimester 1 dates (generally late January to late April). For those who are going there in the SLU fall semester, check their Trimester 3 dates (generally mid-September to mid-December).

Orientation

Pre-departure: The CIIS office organizes in-depth orientation sessions on-campus prior to the students' participation in the program. This includes a program specific session(s) in which the students will learn more about the program, local culture, academic expectations, and any other important information. There is also an orientation session led by the CIIS office on culture shock, pre-departure preparations, as well as safety and security while abroad.

On-site: JCU will host orientation sessions when students arrive. JCU has helpful pre-departure information for incoming students, including airport pickup, the specific dates for the mandatory orientation meetings, and other related matters.

Program Contacts

If you are interested in learning more about the Australia program please contact one of the following people:

CIIS Office: Dr. Yanqiu Zheng, Associate Director of Asia and Pacific Programs - Questions about eligibility, program logistics, and other off-campus opportunities.

Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Alexander Schreiber - Questions about program academics.