University of Western Sydney

Welcome to one of Australia’s largest universities – the University of Western Sydney (UWS). UWS is a large research-led and comprehensive university serving a growing and diverse urban region, with a student population well in excess of 35 000. As a major urban university, UWS boasts six unique campuses spread throughout the Greater Western Sydney region: Bankstown, Blacktown*, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Penrith. While each campus offers a unique learning environment, they all share the same friendly, communal atmosphere that makes UWS a great place to study, make friends and gain real world training and expertise in your chosen field.

Each self-contained campus offers a range of high-quality facilities: libraries, cafeterias, co-op bookshops, student services, sport and recreation areas, computer labs and specialist facilities. Some of our specialist facilities include multi-million dollar performance venues, law ‘moot’ courts, residential colleges, Olympic-sized swimming pools, medical facilities and wet labs, a health clinic, a food processing pilot plant, mechatronics facilities and much more.

As a student at UWS, you become part of an exciting learning environment that attracts world-class staff and students from metropolitan and regional Australia, along with exchange students from our partner institutions all over the world. After class, students can relax over a coffee or get involved in the wide range of student groups: special interest groups, sporting teams, outdoor adventure trips — whatever suits your time and interest.

At UWS, we strive to play a key, supportive role in your academic growth. Our courses are taught by staff who are leaders in their field and work hard to share their knowledge and passion with every student, every day.

It’s simple. UWS is inspired by the promise and challenge of the future. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with a quality education delivered in an environment tailor-made for academic excellence.

UWS offers a wide range of courses across broad areas of study. They are designed to nourish your mind and prepare you for the real world.

So you’ll enjoy an exciting, contemporary mix of theory and applied knowledge. This means you can be involved in your industry before your professional life even begins.

In a recent audit by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA), UWS was commended for being ‘a University of the people’. This highlighted our commitment to embed ourselves in the culture of the communities supporting UWS and the powerful sense of identification and loyalty the community and UWS shares. The AUQA audit also found that our students enjoy innovative and flexible teaching programs and that our graduates benefit from strong employment rates, as they are ‘very well prepared to enter professional roles’.

As part of the fabric of a vibrant and growing region, UWS seeks to ensure that its activities make a difference to the lives of individuals and the community by ‘Bringing Knowledge to Life’.

*Blacktown campus will be closing in mid-2009. If your area of study is based on this campus, continue your enrolment. Once the campus closes, you will be transferred to the Parramatta campus. (If your key program is in Campbelltown you may choose to transfer there at the time.)

Contact details

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Open Days, exhibitions and interview sessions

In Australia
The UWS Open Day will be held on Sunday 17 August, 2008. Visit www.uws.edu.au/openday for further updates.

Overseas
UWS regularly participates in exhibitions and interview sessions in many countries around the world. For more information visit www.uws.edu.au/international/visits.htm.

For details of UWS's overseas agents/representatives visit www.uws.edu.au/international/int_reps.html.

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Important dates for 2009

The academic year at UWS is divided into two main sessions:
• Autumn Session (23 February – 29 June 2009)
• Spring Session (27 July – 30 November 2009).

It is possible to start most courses in Autumn Session or Spring Session. Check the course search or check our fees schedule at www.uws.edu.au/international/coursefees.html to see when you can start each course.

Orientation dates
Autumn Session (February): 13 and 16 February 2009
Spring Session (July): 17 and 20 July 2009

Academic calendar
For important dates concerning orientation, teaching periods, study breaks and vacation periods check the main University Calendar at www.uws.edu.au/international/date.html.

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Admission requirements

Read Admission and selection for general information.

Admission requirements are the minimum qualifications you need before you can be selected for admission to a course of study.

As an international student attempting one of the following qualifications, you will apply for admission through UAC International and will generally be selected on the basis of your performance in these studies (that is, your UAI or equivalent):
• an Australian Year 12 qualification (either offshore or in Australia)
• an International Baccalaureate in Australia
• a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 3.

When assessing your application UWS may take any or all of your qualifications or attempts at study into account.

Limited UAI
The University accepts the NSW Limited UAI for admission purposes - read UAI.

Additional selection criteria
In addition to achieving the standard of performance required for admission, for certain courses you must also satisfy additional selection criteria. These criteria include portfolio, interview, audition, questionnaire or test and are taken into account either instead of, or in conjunction with, your UAI or equivalent.

Details of additional selection criteria and how applicants can meet these requirements are outlined in the course descriptions. For course descriptions, visit the course search.

If you are undertaking your Year 12 studies offshore and are applying to a course that has additional selection criteria that you will find difficult to meet, contact the Course Information Centre on +61 2 9852 5499.

Offers made to applicants who have a UAI (or equivalent) below the published cut-off

UWS has a number of alternative pathways for admission, which may allow applicants to receive an offer to a course even though they have a UAI or equivalent below the published cut-off. They are:
• UWS Regional Bonus Scheme
• UWS Subject Bonus Scheme.

UWS Regional Bonus Scheme
If you currently live or study in the Greater Western Sydney region, you will receive an automatic five point bonus when you apply for a UWS course through UAC.

To be eligible you must:
• be sitting the NSW HSC or IB in 2008 and qualify for a UAI or IB Diploma
• live in or attend a high school in the Greater Western Sydney region.

The Regional Bonus is applicable to all UWS courses except those with additional selection criteria. For more detailed information, visit www.yourfuture.uws.edu.au/tripleadvantage.

UWS Subject Bonus Scheme
Bonus points may also be awarded to a limited number of students on the basis of outstanding performance in a nominated range of HSC or IB subjects.

To be eligible, you must achieve excellent results in Year 12 subjects relevant to the UWS course you have applied for. For more detailed information, visit www.yourfuture.uws.edu.au/tripleadvantage.

International applicants applying for admission on the basis of qualifications other than those listed above must apply directly to the University, not through UAC International. For details visit www.uws.edu.au/international/apply.html.

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Students under 18 years of age

Before you are granted a student visa, the Australian Government must be satisfied that you have appropriate accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements in place for the period that you will be under 18 years of age while in Australia.

UWS does not accept responsibility for welfare arrangements for international students who are under 18 years of age.

For more information on what arrangements need to be in place, visit www.immi.gov.au/students/students/573-1/eligibility-student-18.htm.

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Areas of study

UWS offers a wide range of undergraduate courses in:
• Agriculture, Horticulture, Food and Natural Sciences
• Arts, Humanities and Languages
• Business
• Communication, Design and Media
• Contemporary Art and Music
• Engineering, Industrial Design and Construction
• Forensics
• Health Sciences and Sport Studies
• Information Technology and Computing
• International Studies
• Law
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Natural Environment and Tourism
• Policing and Criminology
• Psychology
• Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Teaching and Education.

For course descriptions, visit the course search.

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Tuition fees

For information about tuition fees check the course search on this website.

The first semester tuition fee must be paid in order for UWS to accept and issue students with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). Fees are then invoiced each session. Annual course fees only cover the cost of your tuition. They do not include other expenses associated with university study such as accommodation, books, equipment, and living expenses. Your Offer of Admission Letter will list the exact fees you should pay, including compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover fees and any other general charges levied by the University. The tuition fee must be paid in advance for each semester or teaching period. Annual tuition and other fees are subject to change on 1 January each year after commencement of study.

You can find more information about our course fees list by visiting www.uws.edu.au/international/coursefees.html.

Fees policy
If you require a refund of your fees it is important that you notify UWS International in writing as soon as possible. You must also provide a copy of your Confirmation of Enrolment, together with the mailing address to which you would like your refund to be sent. The exact refund you will be entitled to depends on the reason why you need a refund, and how quickly you notify the University, in writing, that you require a refund. For further information visit www.uws.edu.au/international/feepol.html.

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Living expenses

Read Money matters for general information.

All students will require between A$12 000 and A$15 000 per year to cover living expenses. Depending on your lifestyle you may require more or less than this. (This is a rough guide only. Remember, your living expenses are separate from your tuition fees.)

If you require further information or need a simple guide to follow regarding Australian living expenses visit www.uws.edu.au/international/costliving.html.

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Scholarships

Read Money matters for general information.

UWS does not currently offer scholarships to undergraduate international students undertaking their first year of study.

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Sponsored students

Read Money matters for general information about sponsored students.

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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Read Government requirements for general information.

OSHC Worldcare is the UWS preferred OSHC provider for all newly commencing international students. Commencing students using another OSHC provider, such as Medibank, must make payment arrangements with the provider directly as UWS only accepts payment for OSHC Worldcare. For more information visit www.oshcworldcare.com.au.

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Health services on campus

Uniclinic offers a range of therapeutic health practices. For further information visit www.uws.edu.au/biomedical_health_sciences/sbmhs/uniclinic.

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Working while studying

Read Government requirements for general information.

After officially commencing your course of study at UWS you can apply for permission to work (your initial student visa does not give you permission to work in Australia).

For further details visit www.uws.edu.au/international/workinoz.html.

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Preparing for student life

UWS offers you a range of services to help you prepare for student life. For further details visit www.uws.edu.au/international/support.html.

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Acceptance, orientation, enrolment and deferment

Read Acceptance, orientation, enrolment and deferment for general information.

Acceptance

To accept an Offer of Admission you must sign and return the Letter of Acceptance that accompanies your Offer of Admission. You must also pay your first semester tuition fees and any other charges described in the Offer of Admission at this time. Visit www.uws.edu.au/international/apply.html for further details.

Orientation

The UWS Orientation program is designed to introduce you formally to the University and to the key staff with whom you will be dealing. It also provides information and advice that will assist you in adjusting to the living and learning environment of UWS. It will also provide you with the opportunity to meet other students and participate in social activities and excursions.

For more information visit www.uws.edu.au/international/events.html or www.uws.edu.au/international/date.html.

Enrolment

Once you have accepted an offer at UWS, paid fees and have received a CoE you will be able to enrol online via MySR. With MySR, UWS's online student records system, you'll be able to access your enrolment details at UWS. For more information visit www.uws.edu.au/newstudents.

Deferment

If an international student has accepted an offer they may have the opportunity to delay enrolment for no longer than one year. For more information visit www.uws.edu.au/international.

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Student support

Airport reception program

UWS participates in an airport reception program with a number of other New South Wales universities. For further details visit www.uws.edu.au/international/downloads.html.

International Academic Preparation Program

Designed to assist international students in your transition to the Australian university setting, the International Academic Preparation program gives you valuable information and hands on practical experience on:
• Australian academic culture
• tutorial participation and working in groups
• time and stress management
• forms of assessment
• assignment preparation
• academic writing
• rules of plagiarism.

International Student Adviser

International Student Advisers spend time each week on all UWS campuses to provide general advice on all aspects of student life including visa renewals and family support.

For further details visit www.uws.edu.au/international/support.html.

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Accommodation

Whether you’re living on or off the UWS campus, you’ll make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. You can choose from a range of quality, affordable accommodation including residential halls and townhouses, cottages and units.

At each of our on-campus residences there is a student welfare support system in place and an active student-based Social Club that provides events and activities that encourage residents to mix, mingle and have fun. Note: Not all services are available on all campuses.

For more details visit http://residences.uws.edu.au, call UWS Residential Colleges on +61 2 4570 1248, or email residentialcolleges@uws.edu.au.

At Parramatta campus, University of Western Sydney Village is currently being developed by Campus Living Villages and will open for UWS students in January 2009. A range of fully furnished one, two, three, five, six and eight bedroom apartments will be available, with a total of 342 beds. For more details visit www.uws.edu.au/international/accommodation/campuses.html.

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Campus services and facilities

Careers advice

UWS provides a high-quality online career and employment service for students and new graduates. Students can register online via Career Hub to access job vacancies, articles, web links, news and information on events. On-campus activities include career and employment events such as careers expos and graduate employer activities. For more details visit www.uws.edu.au/careers.

Chaplaincy

Chaplains are available on all campuses to cater for different religious groups and various needs. Activities include regular meetings/small group work, spiritual counselling and general support. For further information visit www.uws.edu.au/students/ods/chaplains.

Counselling

Free and confidential counselling is available to all students. Counselling services offer individual and group assistance in personal, social and educational support. For further information contact your local campus counselling service or visit www.uws.edu.au/students/ods.

Library/computing services

UWS libraries have extensive modern facilities, including full text and indexing databases and online access to other Australian and international institutions. Students have access to one of Australia's largest electronic collections.

The collection is available to students and community members. The library makes available a wide range of learning resources, including books and periodicals, print and electronic. It also provides full professional support and assistance; both face to face and through its virtual email and web-based services.

Learning assistance

UWS provides a variety of workshops and online programs to assist students at tertiary level with academic writing and literacy study skills, maths skills, and critical thinking and research skills. Programs cover a wide range of topics, including assignment writing, note-taking, essay writing, thesis and report writing, examination techniques and grammar. For further information on learning assistance services visit www.uws.edu.au/students/ods.

Sports and recreation

Australia is renowned as a sports-loving nation. UWS realises the importance of a healthy lifestyle and supports the sporting, recreation and leisure pursuits of students by providing sporting and recreational opportunities at all campuses.

Student organisations

Student organisations provide on-campus social, cultural and recreational facilities and they support students while they study. The organisations aim to promote the interests and welfare of all students and to provide amenities, activities and subsidised quality services.

Students with disabilities

UWS provides services that focus on the educational requirements of students with disabilities. These services include peer note-taking, sign language interpreters, reader assistance, individual examination arrangements and alternative methods of assessment. A range of assistive technologies is also available. For further information visit www.uws.edu.au/students/ods.

Transport

Each campus is easily accessible by both public and private transport and all campuses have extensive facilities for student parking.

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FAQs and further information

For more information about studying at UWS as an international student visit www.uws.edu.au/international.

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