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Study Abroad | Perth

Australia | Murdoch University | Fall 2024
perth-australia-fall
AIFS Abroad student in Perth, Australia.
A sunset over waters in Australia.
A waterfall in Australia.

Select Your Program Option:

  • Fall 2024

  • Spring 2025

  • Fall 2025

  • Spring 2026

Overview

Spend a semester or academic year in the vibrant capital city of Perth, Australia, with AIFS! Choose from a variety of course options at Murdoch University, a public university with a culturally diverse student body. Begin your program in spectacular Fiji with the Optional Pacific Studies Program in Suva (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 only). 

What’s Included

The AIFS inclusive program fee includes all of the great features below in addition to many pre-departure, on-site and upon-return services to help students make the most of their time abroad.

Review Our Policies

  • Tuition

    Up to 16 semester credits

  • Courses

    Wide variety of courses available; taught in English

  • Housing

    Single room in a university apartment

  • Excursions & Day Trips

    Fremantle, Cottesloe Beach, Caversham Wildlife Park and others

  • Cultural & Social Activities

    A wide range of AIFS-organized cultural activities and social events to enrich your experience

  • On-Site Program Director

    To help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program

  • Health & Safety

    24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance

  • Personal/Professional Development

    Access to the renowned Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and alumni network

  • Green Initiative

    Carbon offsetting for all participants’ flights to and from their program location

Additional Options & Opportunities

  • AIFS Flight Package

    U.S to Fiji/Fiji to Perth/Perth to U.S. flights with Optional Pacific Studies Program (Fall 2024/Spring 2025 only)

    U.S. to Perth/Perth to U.S. flights without Optional Pacific Studies Program

    Airport transfers to and from campus

  • Pacific Studies Program in Fiji (7 Days)

    Fiji (7 days)

  • Optional Excursions

    Australian North West (9 days)

Program Details: Study Abroad | Perth Multi Discipline

Program is closed

Dates

July 21, 2024 – November 24, 2024

Term

Fall

Institution

Murdoch University

Application Deadline

May 1, 2024

Inclusive Fees

$15,990

Stay for a year to save on cost

Eligibility

Open to Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Minimum of 2.5 GPA

 Additional requirements may vary by course selection. See Academic section below.

Visa Requirements

Students must obtain a mandatory visa for entry into Australia. After acceptance AIFS will provide detailed visa information and the official documents required for students to apply for the visa. Students will apply directly with the Australian consulate. A visa is not required to travel to Fiji if you are a U.S. citizen.

Areas of Interest

  • Agriculture
  • Art
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Criminal Justice
  • English
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fitness and Recreation
  • Health Sciences
  • International Relations
  • Marine Biology
  • Natural Resources & Conservation
  • Photography
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Sustainability
  • Travel and Tourism

Global Themes

  • Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
  • Business, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
  • Education, Social Services, and Psychology
  • Global Peace, International Security and Human Rights
  • Global Sustainability
  • Health Sciences and STEM
  • Language, History and Culture
  • Social and Criminal Justice
Learn More About Global Themes

Rolling Admissions

Admission into this program is done on a rolling basis. You can expect confirmation of your acceptance within 2 working days of completing all required tasks.

Academics

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

University

Murdoch University is a public university with a culturally diverse and vibrant student body of 22,000 students including over 3,000 international students. It offers a wide range of courses across many disciplines including some subjects you won’t necessarily find at home. A study abroad experience at Murdoch University will give you the opportunity to broaden your academic horizons while enriching your student experience with opportunities such as a 9-day outback camping trip and unique social and cultural events. 

Areas of Interest

  • Agriculture
  • Art
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Criminal Justice
  • English
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fitness and Recreation
  • Health Sciences
  • International Relations
  • Marine Biology
  • Natural Resources & Conservation
  • Photography
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Sustainability
  • Travel and Tourism

Optional Pacific Studies Program in Suva, Fiji

Available in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 only

Students choosing the Fiji option will begin their academic program with a course in Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji for 1 credit. This course is taught both in the classroom and the field with a wide variety of included field trips. A minimum enrollment of 5 students is required for this program to run. 

Fiji 

Famous for its palm-fringed white sandy beaches and clear azure seas, Fiji is a true paradise. Cultural roots and traditions are strong in Fiji and the population is an eclectic blend of indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. English is the official language and visitors will find themselves greeted by a welcoming shout of “bula!”

Suva, located at the south-eastern corner of Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu, is Fiji’s capital city and the largest city in the South Pacific with a population of 170,000. Once a flourishing colonial center, sights include fine historic buildings, rusting shipwrecks on the reef, the old cemetery with its Chinese area and a lively fish market.

University of the South Pacific

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the premier institution of higher learning for the South Pacific region, uniquely placed in a region of extraordinary physical, social and economic diversity.

Established in 1968, USP is the only university of its type in the world. It is jointly owned by the governments of twelve island countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Samoa. The university has campuses in all the twelve-member countries.

The University of the South Pacific’s main campus is located among pleasant surroundings in Suva, Fiji. The site of a former New Zealand sea-plane base, the campus includes a small botanical garden and the USP Oceania Center for the arts. AIFS provides a Social and Cultural Coordinator and an Academic Coordinator from the university to supervise the program. The list below is a sample of the lecture subjects covered by USP:       

  • Settlement and Colonization of the Pacific: Western Contact, Self-Determining and Independence Movements
  • Contemporary Issues in the Pacific: Climate Change and Sea–Level Rise
  • Contemporary Issues in the Pacific: Traditions, Capitalism and Globalization
  • Traditional Arts of Oceania

Housing and Meals in Fiji

The Optional Pacific Studies program in Fiji begins and ends with one night in a hotel in Nadi. For the remainder of the program, you will reside in a double occupancy homestay with a local family in the center of Suva. This will give you an insider’s view of how people on the island live; a completely different experience than you would get as a tourist in Fiji. The family will provide transportation to and from the campus, which is located just outside the city center and they will also provide breakfast and dinner every day. You must purchase your own lunch at the university cafeteria.

The flight from Fiji to Perth and airport transfers are included for students taking the Pacific Studies Program and the AIFS Flight Package.

Fall 2024 Program Options

Multi Discipline means that students can choose any course available on Murdoch University’s curriculum subject to prerequisites. 

The program is designed for students wishing to study in Australia and choose courses from across the university’s entire curriculum in a wide range of disciplines including business, communications, criminology, economics, ecotourism, environmental science, hospitality and tourism management and psychology. 

Special courses in Asian Studies and Australian and Indigenous Studies are also available. These courses will give you a deeper awareness and appreciation of Australia’s history and culture, past and present and an understanding of this region of the world. 

Courses are worth 3 points each and are equivalent to 4 U.S. semester credits. The minimum course load is three for a recommended 12 semester credits. The maximum course load is 4; however, students are advised to take no more than 3 since the workload per course is heavier than in the U.S. 

Students with an interest in exercise science have the opportunity to take an unpaid, for-credit internship as part of their course load. 

EXS 390 (4) 
Exercise Science Practicum 

This Work Integrated Learning unit has been designed to provide study abroad students with practical field experience in the area of Exercise Science. The practical skills gained in EXS 390 are essential to increasing one’s understanding of the need for exercise programs in a healthy population. From this practical placement, students should begin to recognize the skills that are necessary to develop and implement exercise programs in healthy individuals. Additionally, students will be provided with the opportunity to extend classroom theory to the field. 

Dependent on student enrollment, a student in EXS 390 will complete up to 120 hours of practical work experience (unpaid) in the field. This experience may include working within a gym setting, sporting team, clinic, or providing assistance to ongoing research within the fields of sport and exercise science. Current research projects within this area include the use of blood flow occlusion to increase performance in trained cyclists, the impact of high-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive function in older adults, the use of interval training in pre-diabetes, injury prevention programs in cricket and determination of visual cues associated with success in striking sports. 

POL 340 (4) 
Public Policy Internship

A Public Policy Internship is a cooperative arrangement with the Western Australia State Parliament and Western Australian Public Service. Students will undertake research under the collective guidance of a Member of Parliament (MP)/public sector representative and a Murdoch University academic supervisor. Assessment is a combination of participation in the placement, a research project and a presentation.

Spring 2025 Program Options

Multi Discipline means that students can choose any course available on Murdoch University’s curriculum subject to prerequisites. 

The program is designed for students wishing to study in Australia and choose courses from across the university’s entire curriculum in a wide range of disciplines including business, communications, criminology, economics, ecotourism, environmental science, hospitality and tourism management and psychology. 

Special courses in Asian Studies and Australian and Indigenous Studies are also available. These courses will give you a deeper awareness and appreciation of Australia’s history and culture, past and present and an understanding of this region of the world. 

Courses are worth 3 points each and are equivalent to 4 U.S. semester credits. The minimum course load is three for a recommended 12 semester credits. The maximum course load is 4; however, students are advised to take no more than 3 since the workload per course is heavier than in the U.S. 

Fall 2025 Program Options

Spring 2026 Program Options

View All Courses For Multi Discipline
Olivia Instagram Takeover

A DAY IN THE LIFE perth

Meet Olivia, a college student from Berry College who took over the AIFS Abroad Instagram story recently to answer questions about what it’s like to study abroad in Perth, Australia during her fall semester (which is actually springtime Down Under)! Watch as Olivia highlights what a typical day in the life looks like there.

Welcome to Perth sign.

Living Abroad

AIFS provides excellent accommodations, activities, resources and staff to help students learn about and integrate into their host community.

Housing

University Apartment

In Perth, you will live in a comfortable furnished apartment with other students, at Murdoch University Village, just a few minutes’ walk from the classroom buildings on campus.

  • Single room in an 8-bedroom apartment
  • Shared full kitchen, living room area, table and chairs, fan and two bathrooms
  • Wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, student lounge, TV room, e-library and study spaces, high-speed Internet, volleyball court and barbecue zone
  • 24-hour support for residents, with a dedicated team of Resident Assistants (RAs) and an evening duty manager

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Perth.

City Facts

Weather

Perth is considered the sunniest capital in Australia, boasting over eight hours of sunshine each day, even in the colder months.

Geography

With its strategic location, set between South East Asia and Eastern Australia, it only takes three hours to reach Bali in Indonesia.

Nature

One of Perth’s unique benefits include opportunities to see a quokka in the wild on Rottnest Island or swimming with whale sharks at the Ningaloo Reef.

Site Staff

AIFS in Perth Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

Details of the on-site staff will be confirmed before the program begins.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

Further cultural activities are also available, some of which may require an additional fee. These may include:

  • Movie nights
  • Visit to Perth’s Kings Park
  • Surf lessons
  • Visit to Perth Zoo
  • Bush trekking adventure
  • Feeding dolphins
  • Swimming with whale sharks and manta rays

Volunteering and Community Engagement

A volunteer experience can teach you about yourself, current issues, government services and the local community and it can also raise self-esteem. Volunteering and community engagement opportunities are arranged specifically for visiting international students and form part of the social and cultural program offered at Murdoch University each semester. The Student Union also has a “Volunteer Hub” to help match student interests with volunteer opportunities. In the past AIFS students have volunteered at wildlife parks, music festivals, sustainability festivals, the Perth Royal Show, Perth International Student Festival and more. You can find out more about volunteer opportunities during the orientation period.

Additional Features

Travel Pass

AIFS students will be given a TransPerth card (smart rider) on arrival which they can top up during the semester.

Sports Facilities

Australians love sport and the facilities at Murdoch University are extensive.

The Sports Center boasts a wide range of services and programs for students and visitors alike. Facilities include a multi-use sports hall (basketball, soccer, netball, hockey), basketball courts, badminton, volleyball and squash courts, outdoor multi courts for tennis and netball, an outdoor multi-use grassed oval, a group fitness room and a spin cycling studio.

The Murdoch Guild Fitness Center within the Sports Center is a modern facility with an extensive range of resistance machines and heavy duty floor space for multipurpose free weight training. Cardio machines include cross trainers, treadmills, rowers, bikes and steppers. Fitness classes such as spin, combat, fit ball and freestyle are offered as are yoga and pilates. Students pay a fee to use the sports facilities.

Orientation program

AIFS and Murdoch University offer an orientation program of meetings and events to help you settle in to your new environment as smoothly as possible. Events include:

  • An “Early Arrivers” dinner
  • Student Village (housing) orientation
  • Murdoch University orientation meeting with lunch followed by a trip to the beach
  • Seminars covering the Australian lifestyle and culture, how to use the Murdoch University portal, volunteering and community engagement, sports facilities and intramural sports
  • International student dinner to meet students from all over the world
  • A surf lesson

A Buddy Program is also available where international students are paired with a local Australian student.

Insurance

The Australian government requires foreign students to pay for mandatory health coverage (Overseas Student Health Charge). Included in the AIFS program fee, this is paid directly to the provider, OSHC Worldcare, by Murdoch University.

Excursions

This program offers a range of day trips and excursions that will take you outside Perth and deepen your social, historical and cultural understanding of Australia. Previous excursions have included:

*Please note optional excursion fees may change slightly depending on the term. Fee will be shown at time of application.

A cave in Australia.

North West Outback

Guided tours and entrance fees to Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, snorkeling, visit to Karijini National Park, opportunity to swim and hike in Monkey Mia, Shark Bay – a World Heritage Site, chance to feed dolphins. Includes round-trip transportation, all meals, and accommodations (camping fees/supplies). 

This excursion is arranged by Murdoch University each semester and will be advertised and sold at orientation.

  • Australia
  • 9 Days
  • Estimated fee: $1,700* AUD
Barcelona,Spain
A group of happy students at a carnival.
A view of Prague.

Social identity & access

One of the best things you can do before departure is enter into the journey knowing that your time abroad will be unique to this experience. The resources, community, and support available to you when abroad will likely be different as well. In order to help you prepare for your experience, we have compiled many resources about social identity and access in specific locations abroad. Your program staff will also provide you with more details pre-departure and during orientation.

Learn more

Important Dates & Deadlines

Request Info

Closed

Program is closed

Dates & Deadlines

Details

  • Early Application Deadline*
  • Application Deadline
    May 1, 2024
  • Deposit Deadline
    May 20, 2024
  • Scholarship Deadline
    April 15, 2024
  • Visa Deadline****
  • Optional Departure Flight from US***
    July 19, 2024
  • Program Begins
    July 21, 2024
  • Program Ends
    November 24, 2024
  • Optional Return Flight to US***
    November 24, 2024
  • *** Included for students on AIFS flight package.
  • **** AIFS Abroad offers visa processing services to applicants who enroll into the program by this date. All other applicants who enroll after this date will be responsible for securing their own visa with guidance from AIFS Abroad.

Optional Flight Package

Participants can select an optional transportation package for all AIFS Abroad programs that includes a round-trip flight from 25 U.S gateways and airport transfers to and from campus. Participants who choose to book their own flights will be responsible for connecting with the group at the program location and will need to make their own ground transportation arrangements from the airport.

Below are fees by departure city based on average historical costs and subject to change. If you select this option on your application, the total flight package price will be confirmed approximately one month prior to departure. Your program fee is guaranteed, and the optional flight package is an additional fee. Please note that once we have finalized the pricing for your flights the cost may change, and you will be responsible for making the additional payment if you want to participate in the flight package. Your program advisor will be in touch should there be any changes in the price of your flights.

Depature City

Fee

  • Atlanta
    $3,320
  • Boston
    $3,220
  • Buffalo
    $3,220
  • Charlotte
    $3,160
  • Chicago
    $3,080
  • Cincinnati
    $3,180
  • Columbus
    $3,140
  • Dallas
    $3,060
  • Denver
    $3,200
  • Des Moines
    $3,220
  • Detroit
    $3,300
  • Houston
    $3,260
  • Los Angeles
    $2,900
  • Miami
    $3,080
  • Minneapolis
    $3,260
  • New York
    $3,140
  • Newark
    $2,940
  • Orlando
    $3,180
  • Philadelphia
    $3,200
  • Phoenix
    $3,040
  • Pittsburgh
    $3,220
  • Raleigh/Durham
    $3,200
  • San Francisco
    $3,120
  • Seattle
    $3,020
  • St. Louis
    $3,140
  • Washington/Dulles
    $3,160
  • View more View less

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Ready to Study Abroad in Perth?

For more dates or questions, contact your program consultant:
(203) 399-5163 or email: aifsabroad@aifs.com

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