UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG
UOW is one of the top Australian universities and was twice voted “Australia’s University of the Year.” It has a vibrant and challenging academic community that offers a number of programs and courses not available at Hanover.
The Library has extensive book and periodical holdings, as well as online databases, including several with full-text serials. Online services are available through computer stations in the library and via the Internet. All residences have computer labs that are connected directly to the campus network.
Teaching styles vary considerably from one discipline to another and from the introductory to the more advanced levels; some classes are primarily lectures, while others are discussion- or studio-based. In the larger classes, you can participate in discussion sections (or “tutorials”). As in European universities, Australian students are required to be self-directed in their studies and come with specific goals in mind. Courses tend to emphasize the final examination. UOW also requires a considerable amount of written work in assignments and seminar or tutorial papers. As a Hanover student, you’ll find yourself well prepared for the expectations for written work and will likely just need to adjust simply to the weight of the final exam.
A typical full-time course load is 24 credit points, and at least 18 credit points per session are required for a student visa. A credit point implies a workload of two hours per week and a typical course receives six credit points. You’ll take between three and four courses per term, each requiring twelve hours of study per week.
UOW provides a wide variety of support services to meet the needs of its large population of international students. The International Office oversees admissions, enrollment, visas, academic concerns and personal problems. Each department provides academic advisors for their students. The University has a medical center located on campus, staffed by doctors, a dentist, an optometrist and professional counselors.
THE SETTING
The campus is close to the city of Wollongong, yet there is a secluded feel to the main campus. The university is located in a beautifully landscaped setting, situated on the forested lower slopes of Mount Keira. Its coastal location gives ready access to beautiful beaches and natural bushland in nearby national parks. At the same time, a wide variety of easily accessible cultural attractions can be found in and around the campus and town.
Wollongong is 80 kilometers (48 miles) from Sydney International Airport, and UOW provides a shuttle service to take you from the airport to your residence hall. Sydney is accessible from Wollongong by train, car or bus. The national capital of Canberra is a day trip if you want to explore. The residence halls offer a variety of short-term travel experiences, as do a number of the student organizations on campus. Most of the travel done by students from other countries is informally organized by groups of students.
HOUSING
The University manages two dormitories that house 200 students and are a 20-minute walk from campus. Meals are served in these halls and staff and students organize a variety of social and sporting activities. Resident tutors (primarily graduate students) can give you academic assistance. The University also has two residence halls that offer greater independence. One of these provides furnished apartments where you do your own cooking and cleaning, while the other has two to a bedroom “flats,” each with its own bathroom.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
UOW’s academic calendar reflects its location in the southern hemisphere. Autumn Session spans early March (orientation in late February) through early July; Spring Session runs between mid-July and late November; and an eight-week Summer Session runs from early December into February.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINES
The application process is initiated in and coordinated through the Study Abroad Office. The application procedure is necessarily lengthy, due to the requirements of international study and the need to maintain satisfactory progress toward graduation from Hanover. The application deadlines are strictly enforced. We urge you to contact the Study Abroad Office for an application for off-campus study. Consult your academic advisors or the study abroad advisor early in your career, so that you can plan ahead. Studying off-campus for a term requires careful planning to ensure timely completion of the Liberal Arts Degree Requirements and major course requirements.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Obtain a passport and visa. See the Study Abroad Office for information on obtaining these documents.
- Attend a one-week orientation program at UOW. The program includes course enrollment, field trips, and lectures on Australian history, politics, geography, and local customs.
- Purchase an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The holder is eligible for basic medical, accident, and illness insurance, and gains a variety of discounts.
- Have at least a 2.7 GPA for assured acceptance, though students with a lower GPA will be considered.
ON-CAMPUS EXPERTS
Our faculty that have visited UOW include Professors Van Iten, Katsov and Thornton, all of whom are happy to answer your questions.
Visit UOW’s website: http://www.uow.edu.au
