- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Pricing and Dates
- Program Staff
- Application Instructions
- Additional Information
Spend a semester studying engineering in Australia, a country with diverse wildlife, endless beaches, growing international cities, and well-established engineering programs!
In its 50 years of existence, the University of Newcastle (UoN) has transformed its local focus into a global vision for the future. Ranked in the top 3 percent of universities worldwide, UoN has earned its reputation as a place of equity, excellence, and engagement, making an impact in the local community, the Hunter region, Australia, and the world.
This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Newcastle and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
You must apply to both the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office (link on this page) and to the Global E3 consortium (link on Global E3 page). Prior to application, please review the Global E3 Newcastle page and the University of Newcastle website for application instructions, deadlines, course descriptions, academic calendar, etc. To complete your application, you will need to meet with the program manager. Make an appointment with Alicia here. In the past, application deadlines have been early September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.
UoN accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year.
Typically, semesters are:
- Fall: (Semester 2): late July to late November
- Spring (Semester 1): late February to late June
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:
- the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
- non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
- a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Australia
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Study Abroad
Ms Erin Hilaire
Mobility Officer
E-mail: study-abroad@newcastle.edu.au
The University of Newcastle is located in Callaghan, a suburb of the vibrant and diverse city of Newcastle. With a population of 350,000, Newcastle is Australia's seventh-largest city, and has been named by the well-respected Lonely Planet travel guide as one of the world's Top 10 Cities. Newcastle is nestled on the fabulous coast of New South Wales, surrounded by some of the state's world-famous travel destinations, including the Hunter Valley Wine region, historic Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Barrington Tops National Park.
Formerly known as the "Steel City," Newcastle - much like Pittsburgh - is in the midst of an ongoing renewal, reinventing itself as the "place to be" for the creative arts. Currently, Newcastle has the highest ratio of artists per capita in Australia. This thriving local scene is further enhanced by the great weather, beautiful surroundings, and lifestyle that are characteristic of Newcastle. The city itself is an interesting mix of historic and modern architecture, the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral presiding from atop The Hill. Take part in all that Newcastle has to offer, including world-class galleries, museums, theaters, and an emerging small bar scene!
The University of Newcastle offers a range of on-campus accommodation at both the Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses. To learn more about available options, costs, and the application process, please review the UoN on-campus accommodation guide. In addition, the University Accommodation Service maintains a comprehensive database of off-campus housing options.
(If you are interested in familiarizing yourself with the University and the surrounding area before you start school, you might want to consider staying in temporary accommodation).
Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad. W
Academic Departments:
Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings and check the GE3 website for general course information. The following disciplines are available:
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Software Engineering
Minimum Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students
- Sophomore standing or higher
Of note:
- All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office.
- Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.
- Courses taken at Newcastle will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
- Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
For information about the grading scale at Newcastle, please see the UoN website.
Transcripts
Please have Newcastle provide a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the Global E3's specific page, as well as our budgeting page for more information.
Pitt students enroll at UoN for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). UoN’s calendar may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Unlike Pitt, UoN’s academic calendar follows a Spring-Fall progression, meaning Spring is the first semester followed by the Fall semester as the second. Typically, UoN's semesters are as follows: Fall (Semester 2): late July to late November Spring (Semester 1): late February to late June. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.
SSOE Global Experiences and Engagement Office Team
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Schedule an appointment
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.
Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering. After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education. I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities!
Schedule an appointment
SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!
non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!
Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website.
Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers will be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
The University of Pittsburgh automatically provides international health and accident insurance for students participating in study abroad during the official program dates. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the GEO office. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.
- Visa application
- Valid Passport
- Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
- Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
- Passport photos
- Application fee
- Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)