|
||
Program Highlights Brisbane, with a population of 1.6 million people, is Australia's third largest city after Sydney and Melbourne. It is quickly becoming one of the most desirable places to live. The population is very young and culturally diverse. Morton Bay, just miles from Brisbane city center and at the mouth of the Brisbane River, offers opportunities for recreational activities and exploration. The bay is home to over 300 islands. Many Australians head out to the islands for their beaches, some great surfing, or to check out the marine life. Griffith University is the 10th largest university in all of Australia. Its 34,000 students attend one or more of Griffith's five campuses in the Queensland region - Gold Coast, Nathan, Mt. Gravatt, South Bank, and Logan. Most study abroad students study at the Nathan or Mt. Gravatt campuses, both located in Brisbane. Griffith provides many opportunities for study abroad students to become acquainted with the area through orientation activities and arranged day or overnight trips. "I fell in love with the city because of how close it was to the school and the fact that it was easy to get to. I made many of my close friends because they would take me into the city and show me around." -- Angela Osting, Fall 2010 participant.
Academic Programs Griffith has multiple campuses, and study abroad students are able to take courses at one or more of the campuses during their stay. The Nathan and Gold Coast campuses are the main campuses, and they are 43 miles apart. It is not recommended that students take courses at both of these campuses during the same semester. However, students can easily combine courses from the Nathan, Mt. Gravatt, and South Bank campuses as they are only a 15-20 minute bus ride apart. (Griffith also has a campus shuttle to help you travel between these campuses.) Finally, the Logan campus offers courses, but this campus is not recommended for study abroad students. It is isolated from the rest of the campuses and has no on-campus accommodation. Study abroad students generally take 4 courses from one or more of the following academic areas: Arts and Communication, Business and Commerce, Education, Engineering and IT, Health, Law and Criminology, Music, Natural and Built Environment, Science and Visual and Creative Arts. You can search for course offerings for each semester and campus by clicking here. **Depending upon prerequisite requirements and/or selectivity criteria in specific departments, you may not be eligible to take certain classes. The International Office at Griffith will assist you in determining your eligibility. However, it is always a good idea to choose 2nd and 3rd choices for each class you would like to take.**
Student Life Most students are based at the Nathan or Mt. Gravatt campuses. The International Office is located on the Nathan campus and Gold Coast campus. Within the International Office there is a Study Abroad Office dedicated to assisting incoming study abroad students. The Griffith Study Abroad Office coordinates an orientation week as well as overnight and day trips for study abroad students. Some examples include a visit to Byron Bay, hiking in a rainforest, or feeding dolphins on South-East Queensland's islands. Brisbane is a hub of activity. You can visit numerous arts and crafts or food markets, go to a city festival, attend a show at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, sign up for city tours, or see a free outdoor cinema movie. If you feel the need to escape the city, try bushwalking in South East Queensland, or other various outdoor activities. On weekends, many students travel to other locations within Australia. Traveling within Australia can be done fairly easily (despite the country's size). The Brisbane Airport allows for easy and relatively inexpensive flights within the country. Two airlines that typically have reasonably priced flights within Australia are Virgin Blue and Qantas. You may also consider taking the Tilt Train or traveling by Greyhound bus.
Housing The Griffith Accommodation Office offers students many options for housing while in Brisbane. On-Campus Accommodation
Off-Campus Accommodation Temporary Accommodation ** You are responsible for making all housing arrangements and payments directly to Griffith University.** Foreign Entry Requirements Passport Visa Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Travel Document Systems (TDS) can also provide you with helpful information on every country, including entry requirements, cultural information, travel conditions, economy, and more. You are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet. It will provide you with a great deal of information to help you prepare for your trip. **Please be aware that you are responsible for obtaining the most up-to-date information on entry requirements. The Office of Study Abroad only provides general information, as visa regulations and procedures are constantly changing. Please consult the Consulate for more information. ** Please note that EIU does not own, operate, or sponsor this program. |
