- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Experiential Learning
- 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!
The University of Melbourne was established in 1853, and is a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, learning and teaching and engagement. It’s consistently ranked among the leading universities in the world, with international rankings of world universities placing it as number 1 in Australia and number 32 in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2017-2018). Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and home to nearly four million people. It is the second-largest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia and was voted the most liveable city in the world in 2013 by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Melbourne 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).
For more information about the university, see the Global E3 Melbourne page and the University of Melbourne website.
- Fall (Semester 2): mid-July to late November
- Spring (Semester 1): late February to late June
Melbourne accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year
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
Experiential Learning, International
Building 199, Level 3, 757 Swanston Street
The University of Melbourne
Victoria, 3010
AUSTRALIA
Tel.: +61-3-8344-7452
Fax.: +61-3-9348-2054
Email: studyabroad-exchange@unimelb.edu.au
The main Parkville campus is a unique blend of traditional and contemporary culture. It offers students a range of galleries, theatre and entertainment venues, bookshops, retail stores, cafes and restaurants all within walking distance from Melbourne’s city centre.
Mebourne has students from over 100 countries with student clubs offering something for everyone. There is also an extensive range of sport and recreational activities.
The University of Melbourne offers multiple housing options. Students are encouraged to research housing options early to ensure they get the option that bests suits their needs. Please refer to the GE3 website for more information.
Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.
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:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Computer Science & Software Engineering
- Computing & Information Systems
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Infrastructure (Civil, Environmental, Geomatic) Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
All exchange students are required to complete at least 50% of their classes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Minimum Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- Minimum 2.75 GPA for engineering students to study abroad.
- For the University of Melbourne, students must have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
- 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 Melbourse 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 Melbourne, please see the website.
Transcripts:
Please request that Melbourne 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.
N/A
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.
Items Billed by Pitt
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit | $2,000 | |
| Room & Board | $3,000 - 5,000 | |
| Personal Expenses | $1,000 - 5,000 | |
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the Melbourne website , the Global E3 Melbourne specific page as well as our budgeting page for more information.
The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the International Engineering Initiatives Office. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange 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.
Questions about Funding study abroad? Check out the Study Abroad’s funding search page and note that SSoE has funding specifically for Pitt engineering students- check it out on the PittFundSMe!
Pitt students enroll at Melbourne for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). Melbourne’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, Melbourne’s academic calendar follows a Spring-Fall progression, meaning Spring (late February to late June) is the first semester followed by the Fall (mid-July to late November) semester as the second. 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. Feel free to stop by during our walk-in hours or sign up for our information sessions every Tuesday 4-5 pm!
Schedule an appointment
Feel free to stop by during our walk-in hours or sign up for our information sessions every Tuesday 4-5 pm!
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!
You must first be accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering International Initiatives Office, then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. (Typically SSoE application deadlines are late September for Spring and early February for Fall.) A formal nomination from SSoE Engineering International Initiatives is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Melbourne. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to Melbourne's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Engineering International Initiatives does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.)
Each university might have an additional application. Please refer to the University of Melbourne website for details.
Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for engineering students
- For the University of Melbourne, students must have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
- Sophomore standing or higher
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 provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives 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.
In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival.
For those without the host country’s nationality, students may need to obtain a student visa to study on this exchange. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.
In general visa application requirements may include but are not limited to the following requirements:
- 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)
