Do you ever wonder why everyone around you looks the same? Maybe Australia is the place for you. At the Wesley Institute, you will join in the pursuit of faith and art with students from around Australia and the world. Not only that, these people get excited about the process. And that’s not all. Through your homestay and time with locals (at the beach and the coffee shops and the classroom) you can explore all this with others who are searching. It’s a community that won’t be confined by expectations and might just last long after the semester ends.

Who should apply?

The Australia Studies Centre is interdisciplinary and gives no preference to students in a particular field of study. However, a serious Christian commitment and a good academic record are necessary. In order to maximize the program's effectiveness, students are required to have a grade point average of at least a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

The program gives priority for acceptance to qualified full-time juniors and seniors earning credit toward their degree from a Council member college. The ASC may, however, accept any exceptional student it believes can meet the rigorous demands of the program, and students from Council member and affiliate campuses are given priority above students from non-Council institutions (when space permits).

When non-Council students are admitted, an additional $200 is charged for their participation. Click here to find out if you attend a CCCU school.

How do I apply?

The easiest way to apply is by filling out an online application. Each campus makes its own policies regarding off campus study, so students should consult the academic dean, off-campus study coordinator or ASC faculty contact at their institution to ensure completion of all requirements.

To participate in the program, students must submit these application materials:

• completed online application form
• $50 application fee (payable by check or credit card)
• faculty reference
• student affairs reference
• personal reference
• official transcript of all college course work
• certification form
• copy of passport

Students admitted into the program are required to confirm their participation by submitting a non-refundable $300 confirmation fee which is used to cover the administrative costs and secure travel reservations. They are also asked to complete a waiver form, apply for a visa, secure an International Student Identification Card and complete a medical information form.

What is the best time to apply?

To be considered for admission, all of the application materials listed above must be received by the Australia Studies Centre office in Washington, D.C. by the following deadlines:

• For Fall Term: April 1
• For Spring Term: October 1

What does the program cost?

Each campus makes its own policies regarding off campus study costs, so students should consult the academic dean, off-campus study coordinator or ASC faculty contact at their institution to find out their specific school's policy.

Since the program is an extension campus of each member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, payment is received by a student’s home institution for the cost of participating in the program. The only expenses paid by the student to the CCCU are the application fee ($50) and confirmation fee ($300). Click here to read about our refund policies.

Students can expect to use all of their federal financial aid to study abroad through BestSemester programs. Additionally, most campuses allow students to transfer some of their institutional financial aid to BestSemester programs. Students should contact their Off-Campus Studies Coordinator or their Financial Aid office for more information and to determine how much financial aid can be applied to their off-campus semester.

Expenses covered by ASC fees:

• Round trip transportation: Los Angeles, Cal. to Sydney, Australia
• Tuition for recommended 16-17 hours of credit 
• Room and board 
• All necessary expenses for program-related travel within Australia 
• Local transportation

Expenses students are expected to cover:

• Travel between home and Los Angeles, Cal.
• Books and materials required for elective classes (example: art supplies, dance shoes, photography materials, etc.)
• Personal medical expenses, if incurred 
• Fee for International Student Identification Card  
• Personal discretionary expenditures
• Cost of student visa

Apply online now.