AUSTRALIA - ISEP University of Southern Queensland

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have junior status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up.Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

USQ Toowoomba is a fun, vibrant campus, and you’ll find plenty of ways to unwind on-campus and around town. There are cafes and eateries, events, shopping centers, and a huge range of sports and social clubs just waiting for you to join. By studying on-campus at USQ Toowoomba you will have access to advanced facilities, including contemporary lecture theatres, performing arts theatre, science and engineering laboratories, the Japanese gardens, and various sporting facilities, just to name a few.

To learn more about the visa process for this country, please visit the ISEP Country Handbook for Australia. 

The University of Southern Queensland has built a reputation for offering quality academic programs including Engineering and Surveying, Education and Business degrees, that are recognized worldwide by other higher education institutions, employers, and internationally accredited professional bodies. As an ISEP student, you can build your own program by choosing your courses from a variety of fields. Use the notes for course searching to help you find which courses are available.

Unites (the equivalent of classes) are given credit points. These credit points are not equivalent to US credits and vary by institution. A normal course load for an Australian student is three to four units (classes) per semester. Many Australian schools provide an explanation of credits on the back for heir transcripts.  

To earn 4 lake Forest credits, students must take 4 credits at USQ.

To earn 3 Lake Forest credit points, students must take 3 credits at USQ. 

The number of credits listed here is estimated, and GEO will work with you, your advisor, and the registrar to ensure you are earning enough credits to keep you on track for graduation.

TEACHING AND LEARNING STYLES

Classes involve a combination of fairly formal lectures (often with large numbers of students in attendance) and discussion-oriented “tutorials” (with around 10-15 students). Professors present core material during lectures but students should not expect to ask questions during that time; the tutorials are the time to work through the material in small groups and student participation is encouraged. Laboratory sessions for students in the sciences and practical studio time for design students are also incorporated into the curriculum.

Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm.  Professors are often more formal than those in the United States.

You will typically find yourself in lectures and tutorials for 15 hours a week. The rest of the time you are meant to study and research on your own. The Australian education system generally emphasizes independent study over class time, attendance, and participation. There are usually fewer assignments counting towards the final grade, so a final exam or paper carries much more weight. For all these reasons, independence and self-discipline are very important in keeping up academically.

The student-teacher relationship in Australia tends to be very informal, with students addressing lecturers and tutors on a first name basis. Most lecturers will keep office hours during which you can schedule an appointment.

SPECIAL ISEP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Creative Arts programs require an audition tape or portfolio.

The Fraser Coast campus is available only on ISEP Direct; students should be sure to download and submit the correct application labeled ISEP Exchange or Direct.

HINTS FOR RESEARCHING COURSES

REMEMBER that this site operates on the Southern Hemisphere calendar! Be sure to search for courses using the correct semester parameters: Southern hemisphere SM1 (NH SM2) is February – July; Southern hemisphere SM2 (NH SM1) is July – November. 

From the Program and Course page, you may either use the “Program (degree) Search” at the top of the page to search for your specific degree program OR you can “Refine your Search” by choosing the correct semester, program, mode of study, and campus parameters. From here you can choose the program you are searching for. This will take you to more detailed information for your program. 

You may also browse all courses alphabetically. For a course description, just click on the name of the desired course.  You can also search through the list of all current programs at USQ.

Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system, grades, class hours, and classroom etiquette.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has a unique culture that focuses on support, flexibility and quality education. When you commence your studies with USQ you will join a vibrant, multicultural and engaging community of students committed to creating bright futures.In less than fifty years we have become a prominent multi-campus teaching and research institution providing education worldwide. Over 27, 000 students from around 116 countries take advantage of our flexible learning options.

ORIENTATION

Attendance is compulsory for all international students. The objectives of the week are to provide students with all the necessary advice regarding the Australian education system, coping with new living and learning surroundings, Australian customs, being independent etc. Various sessions include a talk regarding banking, police regulations, accommodations, tours of the city and campus, study skills and careers, to name a few. Various social activities are included throughout the week. Students have found the program to be a fantastic way to start friendships while providing a wonderful introduction to the university and Australian life. It is also a time when the Study Abroad Coordinator can meet you, verify your contact and course information and give you additional information about living in Australia. The Study Abroad & Exchange Club also runs events in the Orientation period on Toowoomba campus. 

ARRIVAL DETAILS

Free airport pick-up is provided. Students should contact the ISEP Coordinator at USQ for more information.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

University isn’t just about studying! Phoenix Central creates student programs and events that enrich the university experience of students outside the classroom. By providing opportunities for students to engage in university life, Phoenix Central hopes to help you make new friends, reach your personal goals, develop your graduate skills, establish social networks, connect with the local community and most importantly, enjoy your time at university. Whether you are looking to join a social sporting team, get involved in a student club or even develop your leadership skills, Phoenix Central provides you with lots of great opportunities. So why not get involved!

ISEP Exchange students are housed in fully furnished private rooms in one of the three University residences on campus. Each residence has a dining hall and common living rooms with pool tables, televisions, and laundry facilities. ISEP Exchange students receive a meal stipend to be used in the cafeteria. 

ISEP Direct students on the Toowoomba Campus are housed in fully furnished 3-bedroom villas or 4-5 bedroom townhouses in the Student Village complex. Laundry and cooking facilities are provided. ISEP Direct students do not receive meal benefits. 

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange to University of Southern Queensland includes orientation, on-site director, university fees, housing, and the equivalent of 19/meals per week. 

ISEP costs for Exchange are usually the most cost-effective, as it is intended to promote mobility of students around the world. Direct options are available for those students that prefer to attend a school with limited availability for Exchange, though costs may be different as they are set by the host school. However, the program fee may be different than that of Exchange, which tend to be less expensive to promote more exchange opportunities for all schools.

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2019/Spring 2020 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of March 2019. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Deposits to other programs, if required, are paid by the student to the host program, and will appear as a credit on your study abroad term bill from the College.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.