University Information Curtin University, based in Perth, Australia, is the largest university in Western Australia, offering more than 850 undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, architecture, social sciences, indigenous studies, the sciences, engineering, business, health, mining and agribusiness. Over 38,000 students attend the Bently (Perth) campus and over 44,000 attend all 9 campuses in the Curtin University system.
Curtin University has a long-standing reputation in the international market and is recognized as a pioneer in the provision of international education. The university has ranked consistently in the top 15 overall in the region. Because Curtin University students are encouraged to see themselves as citizens of the world, they are well prepared for employment overseas, where many exciting career opportunities await. At Curtin University's Bentley campus, you will be part of large and friendly campus community which offers a wide range of facilities, including restaurants and cafés, book shops, retail outlets, clubs, theaters, markets, sporting facilities and a world-class art gallery. It's a great place to develop networks that can provide friendship, information and advice for a lifetime.
Curtin University's main campus (Bentley) is comprised of four teaching divisions or colleges:
Business School -- Curtin Business School (CBS) has 60 double majors and 22 single majors to choose from, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive business faculties in Australia. The applied and practical nature of the curriculum means units undertaken are as current and relevant to the present day business world as possible.
Engineering and Science -- Curtin has an international reputation for the quality of its graduates in engineering, computing, and science and for its research achievements in engineering. There are 28 areas of study in the sciences and engineering.
Health Sciences -- The Division of Health Sciences offers an extensive range of programs, including the only courses in Western Australia in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, human communication science, and health information management. Human biology, molecular genetics, and psychology are also found here.
Humanities -- Imagine UMD's College of Liberal Arts, School of Fine Arts and the Education component of College of Education and Human Service Professions combined with an even broader range of courses! The Division of Humanities is sub-divided into the following departments with a wide range of course offerings in the arts, humanities and social sciences:
Built Environment, Art and Design (BEAD)
Includes Departments of: Architecture and Interior Architecture, Art, Construction Management, Design, and Urban and Regional Planning
Education, Language Studies and Social Work (ELSSW)
Includes Departments of: Languages and Intercultural Education, Education, and Social Work and Social Policy
Media, Society and Culture (MSC)
Includes Departments of: Communication and Cultural Studies, Media and Information, and Social Sciences
Location Information
Students on the UMD program will study at the Curtin University campus located in the Bentely suburb of Perth. The city is the capital of Western Australia, the largest of Australia's eight states which covers one-third of the Australian continent. Western Australia, typically refered to as WA, spans over one million square miles (2.5 million square kilometers). Bordered largely by desert to the east, WA is bounded by 12,500 kilometers (7,814 miles) of the world's most pristine coastline to the west. It is adored for its brilliant blue skies, warm sunny climate, and white sandy beaches. The land is blessed with some of the world's most precious natural phenomena including the dolphins of Monkey Mia, 350-million-year-old Bungle Bungle Range and the towering Karri forests of the southwest.
Perth is home to over 1.5 million people and enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia. Being a cultural diversity city, this diversity is reflected the from the food, restaurants, events and the arts. Sophisticated yet uncomplicated, the lifestyle in Western Australia is relaxed and friendly.
Curtin's main university campus in Bentley, is approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) south-east of the central business district.
Course Information
Classes at Curtin are referred to as “units.” While courses are considered areas of study, or majors.
Curtin offers hundreds of units in their teaching divisions/colleges of: Business School, Engineering and Science, Health Sciences and Humanities. Most units are 25 Australian credits, the equivalent of 4 UMD credits. Students are not allowed to enroll in more than 100 Australian credits.
Course Offerings To view the most up-to-date course offerings, please visit Curtin's Courses Handbook at the Curtin University web site.
UMD Credits
To see how credits transfer to UMD, use the Course Equivalencies database to see what units have already reviewed for Curtin University. If the class you wish to enroll in has not been reviewed follow the instructions on the IEO Course Equivalency web page.
If the course you want to take abroad been has not been reviewed at UMD, request a syllabus here.
Academic Credit
Participants on this program must enroll in a minimum of 12 UMD credits to be full-time. Since 4 UMD credits=25 Curtin University credits, thus minimum enrollment would be equivalent to 75 Curtin University credits.
UMD students who study abroad are registered for a block of Foreign Studies credits by staff in the International Education Office (IEO) so there is no “transfer credit.” Course choices are reviewed by the appropriate UMD department to determine if the unit is a direct equivalent, elective credit or general credit towards a degree.
When students return from the program grades will be posted to the students' UMD student account. To find out which courses have already been approved, please look at the IEO web site for Curtin University equivalencies.
Eligibility
University of Minnesota students and students outside the University of Minnesota system are eligible to apply for this program.
Qualified applicants must have a minimum of one full year of college studies completed prior to beginning of program. For some areas of study, students should have completed substantial upper division course work in their field of study. If students wish to study in the areas of science and engineering, they should have a strong background in mathematics and physics.
A GPA of 2.75 or higher is required for participation on the program. Students with a GPA slightly lower than 2.75 may be accepted to the program, but will need to meet with the UMD study abroad adviser for further information.
Applicants who meet the requirements are tentatively accepted by the International Education Office but final acceptance will be issued by Curtin University.
All participants on the program must have a passport valid for 6 months beyond the end of the program.
Costs
The International Education Office at UMD tries to keep the costs of its study abroad programs as affordable as possible. The program cost per semester to attend Curtin University can be found here.
Costs in Australia will vary depending upon the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Australian dollar. Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. Financial aid may be used toward the program fee, except for tuition waivers such as Best in Class. There are several study abroad scholarships for University of Minnesota students.
Deadlines & Dates Deadlines to apply to a program occur during the semester previous to term you wish to study abroad. To study abroad during the UMD fall semester (Curtin University's semester 2) the deadline is March 15. Or if you wish to study during the UMD spring semester (Curtin University's semester 1) the deadline to apply at UMD is October 15 .
Fall semester or academic year
UMD Deadline to apply: March 15
Fall semester: July - early November
Spring semester or Australian academic year
UMD Deadline to apply: October 15, 2012
Spring semester: February - June
Keep in mind that climatic seasons in Australia are opposite from seasons in North America. Thus, UMD's spring is Curtin's fall and vice versa.
For more information on the academic calendar at Curtin University, click here.
Orientation
One pre-departure orientation and one on-site orientation will be held. Pre-departure orientation will be held to assist participants for their term(s) abroad. Items addressed will include student visa, classes, travel tips, general study abroad handbook, Australian handbook. Curtin also holds an orientation week (Start-up Week) for students before classes begin. Students should arrive the week before O Week. Tickets should not be purchased until official acceptance is issued by Curtin University
Housing
Curtin University offers a comprehensive housing service to its students and staff. On campus housing is always in high demand, so early application is advisable. Student on-campus housing generally consists of single study bedrooms with shared facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms. The exception is Japan House where each student has their own bathroom (priority is given to students of Japanese language) and Rotary International House, which has a limited number of family flats.
A typical apartment will accommodate six or eight students. All bedrooms are furnished with a bed, wardrobe, desk and book shelves. Students must supply their own small electrical appliances, cooking and eating utensils, and linen. All houses have Residential Assistants (like UMD's RAs) who are senior students, available for assistance to students.
Past participants recommended living in Erica Underwood, Don Watts, George James, or Vickery. Students are not allowed to stay in Japan House. For more information on the flats available go to http://housing.curtin.edu.au/OnCampus/Where/
What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO web site also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO web site. Please complete the application with required accompanying materials and return it to IEO. Students should also apply for a passport, as soon as possible.
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