Program Terms:
Fall Semester, Spring Semester, & Academic Year
Overview:
Located in Australia’s capital city, Australian National University has a distinct national and global mission. The university is situated at the center of both Indigenous and colonial history, in the political center of Australia, where students can enjoy socializing at any of a number of local cafes and restaurants while enjoying the open and forested spaces for which the campus is famous. As a highly competitive university with a commitment to student quality of life, ANU is an ideal space for students to learn and live. (Source: http://www.anu.edu.au/about/campuses-facilities/acton-campus)
Founded in 1946 to apply the best minds to the biggest questions and advance Australia’s international standing, ANU has grown to become one of the world’s most respected centers of higher learning. Recently, it was ranked as the top university in Australia and 19th in the world, including top 10 rankings in Politics/International Relations (7th), History (9th), and Forestry (7th) (QS World University Rankings 2015-16).
In addition, ANU Global Programs guarantees personal attention and care to make sure students are well prepared before they arrive and well integrated in the first few weeks of arrival. Canberra, where ANU is located, is a young, energetic, and safe city, with students making up around 25% of the city’s population. In 2017, it was ranked the #1 most liveable city in the world by the OECD index, and in 2018 it was the #3 best city to visit in the world according to Lonely Planet, and the #22 best student city in the world according to QS Ranking. Throughout the year, the city offers many cultural events such as gallery exhibitions, concerts, and food festivals. It has been rated as the best city in the world for well-being by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.
If students wish they may participate in the ANU Global Programs Orientation Program. The program commences in Sydney, where students will go on a historical city tour, receive a traditional Welcome to Country by an indigenous elder, a trip to the beach and a dolphin cruise. Students will then move on to Canberra for their Compulsory Pre-Orientation, a Canberra Tour, and a bush walk in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve where they can see many Australian animals and visit the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.
Academic Details:
At Australia National University, 15 of their subjects are ranked in the top 25 worldwide. Their College of Asia and the Pacific is #1 in Australia for Politics and International Studies, and contains 27 majors and 41 minors. Their College of Arts and Social Sciences offers 60 majors and over 100 minors, and has a 5-star rating for their Anthropology, Demography, and Linguistics departments. Their Joint Colleges of Science, Health and Medicine boasts 4 Nobel laureates among staff and alumni, and contains 3,067 undergraduate students, 27% of which are international. Their College of Business and Economics is #1 in Australia and #21 in the world for Graduate Employability. The College of Engineering & Computer Sciences is #50 in the world and is home to RAIJIN, Australia’s largest and most powerful university based super computer. The College of Law is #1 in Australia for graduate employability and #12 in the world for Law, with 5-star ratings for their Law and Legal Research programs.
Most courses have a value of 6 units. The normal full load is 24 units each semester. This is expected to equate to 30 ECTS credits or 15 US credits. Be sure to check with your advisor or MIX about credit conversion before you leave. Your time at ANU will be divided between organized classes and private study. The teaching system, like those of other Australian universities, is a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory classes. The amount of time you spend in classes will vary depending on the specifics of the course. As a full-time student you should be prepared to put in the equivalent of a full-time working week (i.e. 40-45 hours of study). (Source: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/careers-opportunities/global-programs/exchange-study-abroad-study-guide-for-incoming)
There is no rush to sign up for classes. The university offers a flexible registration system, which allows incoming exchange students a month to decide the 4 courses they want to take at ANU for a semester. Course approvals are communicated a month before students actually arrive at ANU, and if for whatever reason, you want to add or drop a course, you can do so within 3 weeks of classes commencing and throughout orientation week.
ANU Global Programs also offers internship programs to inbound students while they are at ANU. These internships, which are very popular and highly-accessible to exchange students, are facilitated by the Australian National Internships Program (ANIP) and enable inbound students to work for the Australian Public Service or non-government organizations. The hosts of these programs include 11 state government hosts, 28 embassies, 23 NGOs, and 10 Think Tanks. For more details, contact a MIX Advisor.
Housing Details:
ANU has a strong focus on residential living, which enables students studying at ANU to socialize with like-minded peers, helping them to establish lifelong friends and valuable networks. There’s always something happening within the campus community to encourage collaborative pursuits beyond study. Returning exchange students and study abroad students often mention their residential hall as the thing they miss most about their experience.
ANU has 19 different residences for undergraduate students with both apartment-style and dormitory-style options. They also offer both fully catered and self-catered options, laundry facilities, computer labs, and study rooms. All of their options are withing walking distance of bus stops, gym and sports facilities, and shops and cafes.
Applying for accommodation at ANU is a separate process from applying for the exchange program; however, ANU guarantees incoming exchange students a place in one of the Halls, Colleges, Lodges, or approved accommodations (note: preferences cannot be guaranteed) so long as student apply and complete formalities by the required deadlines.
(Source: http://www.anu.edu.au/study/apply/applying-for-exchange-at-anu)
Eligibility:
- Sophomore standing
- Completed at least two semesters at UHM (variable for postgraduates)
- 2.5 cumulative GPA
