Location
  • Australia
    • Sydney
    • Melbourne
    • Brisbane
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer
Subject Areas
Accounting Arts Business Communications Economics Education English Global Studies Health Sciences History Humanities Law Liberal Arts Marketing Mathematics Media Relations Nursing Philosophy Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Service Learning Social Sciences Sports Science Visual Arts +15

Program Details

Program Type
Direct EnrollmentProvider
Degree Level
Bachelors Masters
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
$5,000 USD
What's Included
Airport Transfers Classes
Oct 29, 2019
Nov 24, 2019

About Program

ACU offers a wide range of courses in our four faculties - Education & Arts, Health Sciences, Law and Business, and Theology & Philosophy. With six campuses available to international students, each one is small enough to allow for a close working relationship between students and academic staff, with smaller classes enabling academic staff to give individual attention to students. Study areas in the Study Abroad Program include a great range of exciting field trips and practical components that offer you an experience and insight into the Australian lifestyle, culture and environment.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Choice of six campuses: Brisbane (Academic Internships available at this campus), Sydney (2), Melbourne, Canberra, Ballarat
  • Community Engagement programs offered in all campus locations
  • Competitive Study Abroad fees
  • Option of transferring between campuses for students studying one year at ACU
  • We are ranked in the top 2% of all universities worldwide

Related Programs

Program Reviews

8.43 Rating
based on 7 reviews
  • 9-10 rating 42.86%
  • 7-8 rating 57.14%
  • 5-6 rating 0%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
  • 1-2 rating 0%
  • Academics 6.9
  • Support 9.3
  • Fun 8
  • Housing 7.1
  • Safety 10
Showing 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Default avatar
Carolina
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

I would totally recommend ACU to every international student! The environment is friendly, supportive and relaxed while keeping high academic standards! Being an international student can be overwhelming and often confusing especially in the academic field, but ACU staff is always ready to help! The academic skills unit has been an essential support for me while completing my assessments.
Every assignment and group project really enhanced my way of dealing with stress, new people and handling team work.
The Brisbane campus is situated a little bit far away from the city centre but it's quite easy to reach thanks to the free shuttle bus service provided!
The campus itself is beautiful with lot of green spaces, a gym and q free pool!
I had a great overall experience!

What would you improve about this program?
Overall I would improve very little! As international student I would have appreciated some surfing day trips since the Brisbane campus is so close to gold coast
7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maren
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Great university if you like it small and more personal!

The staff was very supportive throughout the semester and I really liked how you could always approach the lecturers with any concerns. The small class sizes make it possible to get to know your fellow students and lecturers quite well. All lecturers showed commitment and were always open to feedback.
The campus is relatively small but you save a lot of time walking to your next class! However, the location of the campus is not very convenient. There are shuttle buses for students running but if you don't have a car it takes quite a bit of time to get to Banyo.

Another bonus were the events on campus almost every week and organized trips during and outside of semester break :).

Overall I enjoyed my semester at ACU a lot and would recommend it!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
At one of the events with aboriginal musicians I had the crocodile meat! Even though I'm mostly vegetarian I had to try it :D
9 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Maximilian
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

My semester abroad at ACU Sydney

First of all, I have to highlight the great application procedure. At that time my contact person was Alexis who was always friendly and helped me out with so many questions. After I got accepted I was also offered a two-week July school programme inclusive free accommodation. This was a great opportunity for me to take a whole class before the official semester started. This means I was able to drop one of my classes during the semester which I really appreciated as I had more free time to enjoy so many things Sydney has to offer. Moreover, I really enjoyed the July-school as there was enough time to get to see the city and to adapt to the life in Australia.

The official semester start was great with a cool and interactive introduction week. This is a good opportunity to get to know many fellow exchange students you most probably will spend the time with. The ACU in Sydney has two campuses, one in Strathfield and one in North Sydney. I stayed at the Miguel Cordero Residence which is located in Camperdown pretty much in between the two campuses. The travel time to each campus took me approximately 45 minutes which is okay for a city of that size. As mentioned before, I could drop one of my classes because of the July school which means I only had to take three more classes which I could easily fit into one or two days per week.

Next to my studies, I also worked in a volunteer position at ACU collaborate plus. I supported Kyle consulting individuals with disabilities who want to start up their own businesses. This was a great experience and made my stay in Australia even more special.

But besides the studies and the work, Sydney has so much more to offer. There are many beautiful beaches and national parks that are absolutely worth the exploration. Participating in a surf class is a must! For me there was still enough time to go surfing a few times and I really enjoyed it. The nightlife in Sydney is great and you can basically go out every day. The city is crowded with young people which is an absolute plus.

My experience at ACU Sydney was amazing and I would definitely recommend doing a semester abroad here! I am more than happy that I had the opportunity to study here and get to know the Australian culture and the beautiful countryside.

What would you improve about this program?
I had the feeling that the academic level is lower than what I am used to. But this is a semester abroad and the experience is more valuable and important than the classes you take.
8 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Riley
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester Abroad in Sydney Australia

Overall, I have loved my time in Sydney and all of the opportunities it has afforded me. First, I started off with a July School course, a two week intensive study course, in Entrepreneurial Business Field Experience where we were able to speak to local and state government officials, the NSW Business Chamber, NSW Transport, and Cisco in Sydney. It was a fantastic way to start my time in the city because it allowed for a quick immersion and understanding of the culture.

Following my July School course, I began volunteering with Layne Beachley's Aim For The Stars Foundation which empowers and encourages women to reach their goals through financial support and mentorship. For the past two and a half months I have been helping them organize a database of all of the girls they have helped over the past 13 years and plan for their gala which is their largest event of the year. The gala was a fabulous success and I even had the opportunity to meet Layne Beachley herself!

Whilst volunteering, I was also offered an opportunity to intern with PepsiCo ANZ (Australia New Zealand). I am working on a confidential nutrition project which has no current competitors in the Australian market. Since the idea came directly from the ANZ CEO, Robbert Rietbroek, a part of my internship is also a mentorship program where he sits down with the other intern and I and teaches us about leadership, personal finance, and sustainable business practices. I have been working with them now for over two months and I am loving my position! I hope that the product will eventually go to market and I can say that I had a hand in its development.

Additionally, the social scene and friendships made while studying in Australia have been incredibly enjoyable. There are many accessible clubs and bars for young people to get a little rowdy and have a good laugh! There are also many opportunities to travel with friends on various weekends and breaks to either other parts of the country or to New Zealand, Fiji, Bali, etc.

ACU and my experience in Sydney has been amazing. I am really grateful to have had the opportunity to study here and immerse myself in the Aussie culture. I would definitely recommend this program to other students interested in studying abroad!

What would you improve about this program?
The academic rigor could be increased, but the study abroad experience is about much more than class and studying and increasing the difficulty would definitely take away from the overall enjoyment of the program.
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emanuel
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

ACU Melbourne

I studied at ACU Melbourne from July - November 2016. The ACU's coordinator for exchange students was extremely helpful before and during my studies in Melbourne. She answered all my questions and helped me with documents I needed for my student loan (BAföG). During orientation week, the exchange coordinators helped all exchange students scheduling timetables and we were given additional information about life in Australia. Altogether, the provided support and help was excellent!
There are several possibilities to find accommodation in Melbourne. The University lists some privately operated student housing businesses on its website. I found a single room in a shared house on flatmates.com.au and can only recommend using the website.
The campus in Melbourne is close to the city centre but also very close to Fitzroy and Collingwood, where you can find a variety of cafes, shops and small galleries. Melbourne in general is simple beautiful with a lot of things to do and explore. Apart from interesting museums and galleries there are theatres with great shows, sport events, concerts and a lot of cafes and restaurants worth to explore. The Yarra-Valley, Phillip island and the Great Ocean Road are great destinations for a weekend trip since they are quite close to Melbourne. You should be aware, that Melbourne is quite expensive and if you want to travel after the semester you should maybe look for a part time job. I found a job in a restaurant and was able to travel after the end of the semester.
The Uni offers a variety of courses and I decided to do some volunteer work through a community engagement project offered by the University in addition to my courses. I can highly recommend to join one of the projects and get to learn Melbourne through a different perspective.

What would you improve about this program?
I can agree with the reviews below. Unfortunately, there weren't as many social events as there are at other Universities and the number of University clubs is limited. Nevertheless, there are some activities organised for international students and you can get active in one of the community engagement projects.
8 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Johannes
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

ACU Brisbane

I studied at ACU on the Brisbane campus from July to November 2015. The Brisbane campus is said to be the most beautiful of all ACU Campuses and equipped with everything you need to make your study life as enjoyable as even possible! The downside of the beautiful campus however is the location. Around 40 Minutes train ride outside of central Brisbane the campus is a bit far off and most students commute to and from the campus as no on campus housing is available. But even though there was on campus housing (as there are plans to build some) I would recommend to live in the city and travel the distance to uni, as public transport is cheap and Brisbane’s city has so much to offer!
ACU staff was very helpful and friendly at all times. No matter where and when I needed help: ACU staff was always there. The process from first application to the orientation week in Brisbane was very well structured. Information guides answered almost every question.
When it comes to academics, ACU offers a wide variety of interesting classes with excellent lecturers. The classes where very well structured and the lecturers where happy to help wherever they could.

What would you improve about this program?
If there was anything that needed improvement in my eyes then it would be ACU’s effort to bring students together making their social lives even more enjoyable. I lived together with students from other universities and all of them had a lot more activities offered by their universities. Making it a lot easier to get to know other international or local students. However, there are some clubs and activities one can participate in. I joined ACU’s rowing club and had an amazing time!
7 people found this review helpful.
Megan
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Australian Catholic University

I attended the exchange program at Australian Catholic University for the July through November semester. I was at the Melbourne campus.The staff at ACU was extremely helpful with the process by providing a guide about visas, accommodation, scheduling classes and everything you needed to know before coming. Upon arriving you attended an orientation where you met the staff in person and they provided further information about classes and life at ACU. I received many emails of support throughout the semester and they also arranged a few fun activities such as a footy match and dinner at a local pub. I would highly recommend the Melbourne campus as there was something to do everyday in the city. I was there for 4 months and still left without doing everything that I had wanted to do. I had a really pleasant experience and will definitely be coming back to Australia.

What would you improve about this program?
My only complaint about ACU is that I wish there were more clubs to join. I had friends from other universities within the city and I noticed that other universities had many more club options such as a surf club, an outdoor club, etc. I wish that ACU had more club options as I think I could have made more friends with the locals there and would have had an even more enjoyable experience.
9 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

I can only speak for Melbourne as thats the campus I was at, but it was extremely easy to get around. There is a free tram zone within the city business district, and there are also buses and trains. If you are an exchange student you will get a concession card which saves you a lot of money on transportation! I lived within walking distance to campus which was very nice and I'd recommend it if...

The best part about living in Melbourne is that there is always so much to do. Theres heaps of free museums and attractions such as the Eureka Sky Tower. Theres so many places to eat that you could eat out for every meal and still not even go through all of them. Its a major city but the people there are so friendly and you meet tons of people throughout your stay which might be my favorite part...

Absolutely! I would like to possibly go back for the working holiday visa at some point because I think it would be cool to live and work there for a year and get too see all of the parts of Australia that I didn't get the time to see the first time around.

The ACU campus in Melbourne does not offer any dorm style living so you do have to find housing on your own. I would recommend staying in a hostel for about two weeks when you first get there and looking for housing in person to ensure you don't get ripped off. There are many ways to find housing. I personally used flatmates.com.au which allowed me to find houses online and go visit them in person...