PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

•  Immerse yourself in Australian culture while surrounded by picturesque Victorian-era architecture and breath-taking landscapes  

•  Thrive in a supportive campus environment that offers small classes while studying fields of study including education and health sciences 

•  Connect with local and international student communities by joining one of the campus sports, cultural, or creative clubs 

•  Contribute to a greener future while studying at ACU, the #1 university in Australia for energy efficiency, where all seven campuses are fueled by 100% renewable energy

LIFE ABROAD  

Experience the charming town of Ballarat, known for its historic streetscapes, incredible wildlife, and vibrant arts scene. 

LIVE 

Enjoy living close to class while staying in a single room at a residence hall on ACU’s beautiful park-like campus.  

DINE 

Prepare meals alongside new local and international friends while having access to kitchen facilities for self-catered meals. After class, embrace the foodie scene of Ballarat by trying some Australian specialties like meat pies or fish and chips. 

EXPERIENCE 

ACU offers ample opportunities to get involved in clubs on campus tailored for a vast range of students’ interests. Maintain or start a physical fitness routine by joining a campus sports club or pick up one of the favorite local activities by biking around town. Gain a unique perspective through cultural clubs including the social justice society and faith-based student organizations. Off campus, delve further into Australian culture by visiting Ballarat’s Wildlife Park, beautiful botanical gardens, or stunning art galleries.  

EXPLORE 

Experience Australia’s vast range of attractions at large by taking an hour and a half train ride to Melbourne, known as the cultural capital of the country. Spend your weekend visiting Australia’s bucket list destinations by hopping on a flight to the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, or Brisbane. 

What We Love About Ballarat

Ballarat is an affordable Australian destination that is known for its warm and tight-knit community feel, rich history, natural wonders, and its thriving arts scene! 

See ISEP Exchange budget and estimated expenses

Please note that as of Jul 1, 2025 the cost for an Australian visa has increased to AUD $2,000 (approximately USD $1,300).

Program Website

Course Description

Studying at ACU means students have essentially a full catalog of classes and programs available to help advance them through their degree requirements. Below is a chart of some of the more popular classes ISEP student have taken in the past to help get you started on your academic journey to Australia. 

Credits Earned 

Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn a minimum of 30 credit points per semester which ISEP recommends is the equivalent of 9-12 U.S. Credit Hours. Each class is usually worth 10 credit points. (See "Other Academic Conditions" for more details.)

If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid. 

Sample Classes Available: 

Education 

Nursing 

Understanding Learning & Teaching 

Indigenous Health and Culture 

Foundations of Literacy 

Human Biological Science 1 

Young Children’s Social and 

Emotional Competence in Early 

Childhood Contexts 

Integrating Practice 1 & 2: 

Assessment in Health 

Effective Teaching 1: 

Becoming A Teacher 

Physiotherapy Anatomy 1 & 2 

Effective Teaching 2: 

Curriculum, Planning and 

Pedagogy 

Clinical Leadership 

For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.

Website for Course Availability

ISEP STUDENT SERVICES OFFICER Olivia Cordero 703-504-9980 | Ocordero@isep.org Thank you for your interest in ISEP Study Abroad! I’m your Student Services Officer and main point of contact here at ISEP. As you search for programs, I’ll be available to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to contact me at any point in your search process for help, tips or advice.

Australian Catholic University

Since Australian Catholic University first opened in 1991, it has been an institution committed to delivering excellence in education, research, and engagement. It is currently ranked in the top 2%...

Academics

Undergraduate
(in English)

*This program is OK for Sophomores

Fields of Study

  • Education Recommended!

  • Health Sciences Recommended!

    Nursing Science

Academic Requirements

  • TOEFL iBT Score: 79
  • TOEFL Writing Score: 22
  • IELTS Score: 6
  • IELTS Writing Score: 6
  • IELTS Reading Score: 5.5
  • IELTS Listening Score: 5.5
  • IELTS Speaking Score: 6

Special Application Instructions

Students must have completed a minimum of 2 semesters at their home university prior to arrival.

Students wishing to take units within the Law, Nursing and Education programs may be required to have a higher level of English proficiency than what is listed on this page. Full entry requirements are listed in Schedule 3 of the ACU Handbook.

Students are required to submit an internal application following their placement which is required of the host institution. Instructions will be sent by the ISEP Host Coordinator by email. 

  Proof of English proficiency may be required if you are from a non-native English-speaking country or university.

o   Please check the Document Toolkit to confirm the proof of English proficiency you may need. Make sure to pay special to the "English Proficiency" drop-down on the page.

o   NOTE: IELTS and TOEFL tests must be taken IN PERSON for this requirement. Online IELTS results are NOT acceptable for the visa requirement.

o   Be aware that proficiency requirements for your host university admission (for example, accepted tests) may differ from the requirements to obtain a visa.

PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.

VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT: Most students attending this program will be required to obtain a visa/residence permit. For more information on the process and estimated cost, please review the ISEP Country Handbook herePlease note that as of Jul 1, 2024 the cost for an Australian visa has increased to AUD $1,600 (approximately USD $1,075).

Special Needs Support

  • Mental Health
  • Mobility
  • Hearing
  • Visual
  • Speech
  • Learning

Other Academic Conditions

A “course” is a program of study and a “subject” or “unit” is a class.  Classes are composed of both required “lectures” and required complementary “tutorials” or “seminars”, which are like discussion groups. The maximum full time study load per semester is 4 units (40 credit points), and the minimum full time study load per semester is 3 units (30 credit points). For reference, 1 ACU unit = 10 ACU credit points = 7.5 ECTS = 3-4 US credit hours.

This site operates on the Southern Hemisphere calendar. Be sure to search for courses using the correct semester parameters: Southern Hemisphere SM1 is February to June; Southern Hemisphere SM2 is July to November. 

If you are planning to study for a full-year in Australia, you should consider starting your program at the beginning of ACU’s academic year in February. 

The ACU Study Abroad Program is very flexible and available in both undergraduate and postgraduate level for study abroad. You can take all your units (subjects) within your major or several across different faculties. However, when looking up units at Subject/Unit Search, be sure you are looking at classes available at the correct campus (Ballarat or "BALL").

Study Abroad and Exchange students have restrictions for various study areas including Paramedicine, Midwifery and Occupational Therapy. 

In addition to the TOEFL and IELTS, ACU accepts Cambridge Certificate of Advance English (CAE) or the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with the following scores:

Undergraduate

- Cambridge Certificate of Advance English (CAE): 176 Overall 

- 169 Writing and Speaking 

- 169 Listening and Reading 

- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): 180 or Grade C1 

Graduate

- Cambridge Certificate of Advance English (CAE): 176 Overall 

- 169 in All Sections

- CPE not accepted for Graduate studies

Semester & Prices (based on your filters)

Select a semester to calculate the price. Semesters are named according to host university's calendar.


Loading Semester Data...

Semester Tuition

  • Priority Admissions Deadline: {{schedule.semester.semesterTranslation.displayPriorityDeadline}}
  • Chance of Placement: {{schedule.chancesOfPlacement.name}}
  • Application Deadline: {{schedule.applicationDeadline}}
  • Average Classes Per Week: {{schedule.semester.classesPerWeek}}
  • Average Class Hours Per Week: {{schedule.semester.hoursPerWeek}}

Required Expenses

Pre-Sessions

{{child.getBenefitsRangeDisplay()}}

University Deadline: {{child.studentDeadline | date:'longDate'}}

Housing
{{plan.housingPlan.getNumPeopleDisplay()}} , accommodates dependents {{plan.housingPlan.url}}
Meals
{{plan.name}},

Optional Expenses

Pre-Sessions

{{child.getBenefitsRangeDisplay()}}

University Deadline: {{child.studentDeadline | date:'longDate'}}

Housing
{{plan.housingPlan.getNumPeopleDisplay()}} {{plan.housingPlan.url}}
Meals
{{plan.name}} ,
{{addon.addonType.name}}


Australian Catholic University

Ballarat, Australia

(17)

Tuition

Select a Semester


Total: US$0

{{programScheduleCollection.selectedSchedule.semester.name}}

Tuition
Options

{{child.childProgram.name}} Options

Housing (Estimate) TBD Home University Housing Price (Included) Options

Meals (Estimate) Home University Meals Price Options

{{addonType}} US${{programScheduleCollection.selectedSchedule.selectedAddonDisplaySums[addonType]}} (Estimate) Options

ISEP Application Fee US$100

ISEP Acceptance Fee US$450




Total:




Program Deadlines
{{programScheduleCollection.selectedSchedule.priorityDeadline}}
{{programScheduleCollection.selectedSchedule.applicationDeadline}}
Chances of Placement: {{programScheduleCollection.selectedSchedule.chancesOfPlacement.name}}
Program added.View application
Program saved.View all
{{ programScheduleCollection.Message }}