Global E3: University of New South Wales- Australia

 

Overview: 

SSOE students:  Please note that UNSW is not accepting any students for the Spring 2024 semester.  Fall 2024 space is  TBD. 

Spend a semester studying engineering in Australia, a country with diverse wildlife, endless beaches, growing international cities, and well-established engineering programs!

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) 's  Faculty of Engineering is the largest in Australia and offers the widest choice of engineering degree programs for students. It is consistently ranked as the number one engineering faculty in Australia and one of the top 50 in the world.

This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. UNSW and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) 

You must apply to both the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office (link on this page) and to the Global E3 consortium (link on Global E3 page). Prior to application, please review the Global E3 UNSW page and the University of New South Wales website for application instructions, deadlines, course descriptions, academic calendar, etc. To complete your application, you will need to meet with the program manager. Make an appointment with Alicia here. In the past, application deadlines have been early September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.

Note: In 2019, UNSW Sydney transitions to a new academic calendar titled UNSW3+. Comprised of three terms plus a January term, UNSW3+ is designed to better align calendars with global partners, eliminating overlap with the Northern Hemisphere summer and creating new opportunities for students. Review the UNSW Global E3 site for details.

UNSW accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year or Calendar Year.

 

 

Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop: 

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment. 
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path. 
  • a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Australia.

 

Partner Information: 

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Study Abroad and Student Exchange
Mr. Sean Robertson
Exchange Advisor
Tel: + (612) 9385 3179
E-mail: Advisor4USA@unsw.edu.au
Address:
Study Abroad and Exchange Office
Rm G30, West Wing, Goodsell Building
The University of New South Wales
SYDNEY 2052 AUSTRALIA
 

Location Description: 

UNSW is renowned for the quality of its graduates and its commitment to new and creative approaches to education and research.
Established in 1949, UNSW has expanded rapidly and now has over 50,000 students, including more than 14,000 international students from over 130 different countries. The University offers more than 300 undergraduate and 600 postgraduate programs, and has developed an extensive network of alumni chapters throughout Asia.
The main UNSW campus is located on a 38-hectare site at Kensington, seven kilometers from the center of Sydney.

Housing Description: 

The University of New South Wales offers multiple housing options. Please refer to the UNSW GE3 website for more information.

Academic Description: 

Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.  
Academic Departments: 

Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings and check the GE3 website for general course information. The following disciplines are available: 

*Please note: Biomedical Engineering (BIOM) courses are extremely limited and not guaranteed to exchange students at the UNSW. 

  • School of Biomedical Engineering
  • School of Chemical Engineering
  • School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • School of Computer Science & Engineering
  • School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications
  • School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
  • School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering
  • School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering

Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students to study abroad
  • For the UNSW, students must have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
  • Sophomore standing or higher 

 Of note: 

  • All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office.
  • Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.    
  • Courses taken at UNSW will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 
  • Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.      

 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Engineering
Grading: 

For information about the grading scale at UNSW, please see the website.  

 

Transcripts: 

Please request UNSW  to provide the Engineering International Initiatives Office an official transcript. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street,  Pittsburgh, PA  15261, USA. 

Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received. 

 

Program Fees: 
Items Billed by Pitt
 
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad. 
 

Items Billed by Pitt

Tuition and mandatory fees: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs: https://www.tuition.pitt.edu/undergraduate/tuition?campus=30 
 
Study Abroad Fee $400 
 
Total Billed by Pitt: Estimate your Pitt expenses based on current tuition and fees.
 
 
How Much To Budget: 

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

 
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000 
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000 
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000 
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the UNSW's website, the Global E3 UNSW's specific page, as well as our budgeting page for more information. 
 
The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.  
 

Questions about Funding study abroad?  Check out the Study Abroad’s funding search page and note that SSoE has funding specifically for Pitt engineering students- check it out on the PittFundSMe!

 
 
Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at UNSW for either a Fall, Spring, Academic Year, or Calendar Year. In 2019 UNSW Sydney transitions to a new academic calendar titled UNSW3+. Comprised of three terms plus a January term, UNSW3+ is designed to better align with the Northern Hemisphere summer and creating new opportunities students. Please see see the UNSW Global E3 site for details. UNSW’s calendar will differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Unlike Pitt, UNSW’s academic calendar follows a Spring-Fall progression, meaning Spring is the first semester followed by the Fall semester as the second. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.

Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering.  After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue  explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education.  I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities! 

Schedule an appointment

SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!

non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!

 

Application Instructions: 
SSOE sends a limited number of students per semester through the Global E3 exchange consortium.  In addition to the Pitt GEO application (at the right), be sure to review the Global E3 consortium application instructions and the host institution information.  A formal nomination from the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office is required for Pitt students to be recognized as a study abroad student at UNSW. Therefore, SSOE students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to UNSW requirements. In other words, acceptance by SSOE Global experiences does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
 
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 consortium website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been mid-September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.) 
 
Minimum Requirements: 
SSoE student in good standing 
For UNSW, minimum 3.0 GPA for engineering students 
For UNSW, students must be in their third or fourth year of study during the exchange period
 

 

Additional Information: 

Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website. 
 

Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency. 

 

 

Insurance Requirements: 

The University of Pittsburgh automatically provides international health and accident insurance for students participating in study abroad during the official program dates.  More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the GEO office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program. 

 

Visa Requirements: 
In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 
 
Your host institution will provide general directions after formal admission on how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:  
  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)
 
Failure to follow the visa/permit instructions fully may result in additional costs beyond the visa application fee or visa denial.