Drexel in Australia: Swinburne University
Students have the opportunity to spend a semester -- 18 weeks -- studying at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia. Swinburne University has several campuses but Hawthorne is the main campus and where all classes will soon be held. This program fully immerses students into Australian education and culture, as you take classes with local Australian and international students. Drexel students can choose to stay in Australia for their co-op or return to Philadelphia to pursue a domestic co-op. Students will be responsible for finding a co-op through independent search.
More information about Swinburne University
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- Open to all Drexel students, but priority is given to sophomore Film & Video students and 4 year non-co-op students.
Drexel students take between 4 to 5 courses relating to their major. Please check with your advisor to make sure you understand your program requirements.
Search Swinburne's course catalog
Keep in mind when searching Swinburne's site that a Swinburne "course" is Drexel's equivalent of major and a unit of study is Drexel's equivalent of a course or class. One unit (or class) at Swinburne equals 12.5 credit points. While studying at Swinburne, students are required to be enrolled full-time which equals 50 credit points or 5 units of study. Drexel requires that students are enrolled for 12-20 Drexel credits or 4-5 courses.
Swinburne University - Course Equivalents
Grading
Students are taught and graded by Australian faculty at Swinburne University. Grades are noted as "CR/NCR" on their transcript and will NOT affect their GPA. In order to receive CR students must earn a "C" or above at the host institution.
Co-Op Option for Film-Video Students
Students will need to find an independent co-op either in the US or in Australia for December through the beginning of spring term. In Australia students should consider working with an
internship agency that will assist students in their search, for a fee. Co-ops in Australia are rarely paid, so you will need to make sure you have enough funds to live during your coop. As always co-ops are not guaranteed.
| Mid July |
August |
September |
October |
Mid November |
December |
January - March |
Late March |
Begin Study in Australia
Design and Merchandising students: You will officially be on vacation during the summer term. Your Swinburne courses will replace your fall term classes |
Study in Australia |
Study in Australia |
Study in Australia |
Film/Video Students : Finish Study/ Begin co-op in Australia or return for domestic co-op
4 year Non co-op students and Design and Merchandising Students : you may either return to the US or travel |
Film/Video Students: Continue Co-op in Australia or in US |
Film/Video Students : Continue Co-op in Australia or in US
4 year Non co-op students and Design and Merchandising students : you will return to Drexel for winter term. |
Begin spring term study at Drexel
|
Film/Video students please note: This program begins during the summer of sophomore year and extends into fall term of junior year. Therefore, students will miss part of their fall term co-op. Students have the option of either returning home for co-op after their studies are completed OR staying on for co-op in Australia. All students will resume classes spring term in Philadelphia.
4 year non co-op students please note: This program begins during the summer term and extends into the fall term. You will have to leave Philadelphia in early summer. You will be registered for Fall term classes, as your coursework in Australia will replace your Fall term at Drexel. Your term in Australia will end Mid-November, allowing you to return to the US or travel. You will resume classes winter term in Philadelphia.
Design and Merchandising students please note: This program begins during the summer term of your sophomore year and extends into the fall term of your junior year. You will need to change your sophomore schedule so that you will be on vacation during the summer as you will have to leave Philadelphia in July. This means that you will need to work with your academic advisor to take your sophomore summer courses during other terms. You will be registered for Fall term classes, as your coursework in Australia will replace your Fall term at Drexel. Your term in Australia will end Mid-November, allowing you to return to the US or travel. You will resume classes winter term in Philadelphia and go on co-op spring/summer of your junior year.
Spring Semester Dates and Itinerary
| Program Start Date |
Mid February |
| Program End Date |
Mid June |
Students must be scheduled for fall/winter co-op and leave their co-op early in order to participate.
Current courses approved by various Drexel departments. If you would like to take courses abroad that are not listed, you will need to get equivalents approved by the appropriate department at Drexel. For example, if you want to take a sociology course for Drexel credit, the Sociology Department at Drexel must pre- approve the course and equivalency.
Students may choose to either live in a student residence hall, an apartment or with a host family. Students are responsible for their own housing. Housing costs are for 18 weeks of housing which reflects the length of the Swinburne semester. Students who are not awarded on-campus housing may have to look elsewhere for apartment accommodations.
American and Canadian citizens are required to obtain a visa for the study only option of this program. If you plan to stay in Australia for co-op a work visa is also required.
Click here for Visa Instructions
This is a Drexel sponsored program, thus all of your financial aid travels with you. If you are interested in seeking additional funding, you should considering applying for study abroad Scholarship & Funding Opportunities. Remember that scholarship deadlines may be much earlier than study abroad deadlines, so plan accordingly.
- Remember the weather seasons "down under" are opposite of Philadelphia:
- July = Australia's winter
- September= Australia's spring
- December = Australia's summer
- March = Australia's fall
- Read a Drexel's student's Australia Blog for an inside perspective on life at Swinburne!
