Program Description

The Iowa Regents Semester in Australia program in Tasmania offers undergraduate students an opportunity to study for a semester at the University of Tasmania. Participants are fully integrated academically and socially with their Australian peers.

The program at Tasmania begins with a week-long orientation program that prepares students for the academic and cultural experience ahead. Students then enroll in regular courses offered by the university. Most courses in UTas' course catalog are available to visiting students, as long as the necessary prerequisites are fulfilled. This means students from the UI can sit in class with locals, enabling a type of immersion found in few locations.

Academic Program

Academic credit earned at the University of Tasmania transfers to the University of Iowa. The course fee for the program includes tuition for four courses, which typically transfer to Iowa as 16 s.h. Contact your UI Study Abroad advisor for details on the number of credits you will earn.

To find the courses (called 'units' at Tasmania) available to study abroad students, check under the Choose your units heading on Tasmania's Inbound Students page.

Remember that Australia's academic year begins in February and ends in November- Semester 1 takes place during Iowa's Spring semester, and Semester 2 takes place during Iowa's Fall semester. Ensure you select courses for the semester you plan to study abroad.

Note that study abroad students cannot enroll in courses in the Medicine, Paramedicine, or Nursing and Pharmacy disciplines.

Flexibility Regarding Course Offerings

Foreign universities are typically unable to provide a final course catalog for the upcoming semester until shortly before the semester begins. Students usually do not know which specific classes they can take before arriving abroad, and they usually do not register for classes until they arrive in their host country- this means that there is no way to guarantee that you will be able to enroll in your preferred courses. Your final course schedule may not be finalized until you are already abroad.

Because of these differences, all students must meet with their academic advisor(s) before going abroad to discuss how the differences in course availability will affect their degree progress and graduation plans. It is important to develop a back-up plan in case your preferred courses are not available when you enroll in your courses abroad.

The Grading System at University of Tasmania

As a study abroad student, you are required to undertake the same form of assessment as the local students in order to earn credit for your work. The grading system at your host university is significantly different from the US system. Iowa is not able to 'translate' the marks you earn on this program to US letter grades. Instead, passing grades for this program will be recorded with a grade of R on the UI transcript. Students applying for further graduate or professional training may be asked to present an original transcript reflecting the actual marks received.

Transcripts

Transcripts for Iowa's Fall semester are typically available by early December, and transcripts for Iowa's Spring semester are typically available by August. Transcripts are not automatically sent to Iowa by Tasmania- you will need to request that your transcript is sent to Iowa in order to receive credit for your work. When your transcript is available, Tasmania will contact you and you will need to use their secure system to ask that your Tasmania transcript is sent to the University of Iowa. You can expect your credit to be applied to your UI degree around 2-3 months after you have your transcript sent to the University of Iowa.

Applying credit toward a UI degree

Unless UI Study Abroad has an approval on file for the courses you take abroad to be applied toward a specific major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, you will receive general elective credit for your courses. The only exception to this is courses involving cooking or food/alcohol tasting- these courses are not eligible for credit at the University of Iowa.

If you plan to apply the credit you receive for your courses abroad to a major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, contact your UI study abroad advisor for details on the process. 

Program Dates

The University of Tasmania's academic year begins in February and ends in November. Tasmania's Semester 1 runs from February - June, and takes place during Iowa's Spring semester, and Tasmania's Semester 2 runs from July - November, takes place during Iowa's Fall semester.

Each semester begins with a week-long orientation program before classes officially begin. You can find links to the dates for the orientation on Tasmania's Orientation Program page. You can find the dates for the regular semester Key dates page.

Students should consider these dates tentative until they receive final dates for their session abroad from the host university prior to the start of the program. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for details on upcoming dates.

Arrival Date

Plan to arrive at your host university the day before official program activities begin. For example, if the program orientation starts on February 16, plan to arrive on February 15. Be sure to review the Travel Arrangements section for more information before purchasing your plane tickets.

For More Information

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. Before initiating an application for this program, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students will receive an email with their study abroad advisor assignment.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

The University of Tasmania

The University of Tasmania enjoys a national and international reputation for teaching and research excellence. It offers Iowa students a broad array of courses in the arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, agricultural sciences, architecture, and engineering. Tasmania offers strong support services for international students, excellent recreation facilities, and dozens of student organizations from the Bushwalking Club and the Rugby Union to the Cinema Society and the Environmental Studies Club.

The University of Tasmania, established in 1890, is the fourth oldest university in Australia. It has two major campuses, one in Hobart (12,000 students) and one in Launceston (4,000 students).

Hobart and Launceston

Tasmania, Australia's island state, offers a stunningly beautiful natural environment and a friendly ambience. The two major cities are Hobart and Launceston. About 40 percent of Tasmanians, nearly 200,000 people, live in and around the capital of Hobart in the south. Launceston, in the north, has a population of nearly 100,000.

Tasmania is a treasure trove of natural wonders. The jagged mountain peaks and glacial lakes are products of past ice ages. The forests have 60 million-year-old roots in the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. One-fifth of the state is dedicated as a World Heritage Area, a vast reserve of temperate rainforest linking 16 national parks where visitors can see first-hand Tasmania's natural wonders. Tasmania is home to the world's tallest flowering plant (swamp gum) and the world's oldest tree (huon pine), not to mention the Tasmania devil (and a host of other curious creatures). From miles of unspoiled beaches to magnificent mountains, Tassie is a special place, and the wilderness is easily accessible to University of Tasmania students.

Why choose Tasmania?

Great Southern Land

Tour Tasmania

As far south as Iowa is north, Tasmania enjoys four distinct seasons. Tempered by the surrounding sea, the temperatures are rarely extreme. The climate is generally dry and fine—"about the equivalent of Northern California but without the fog."

Australia

Australia ranks as one of the best places to live in the world according to measurements of income, human development, healthcare and civil rights. The sixth-largest country in the world by land mass, its comparatively small population of approximately 23 million people is concentrated in the highly-urbanized east and southeast coast of the Australian continent.

Australia is home to some of the globe's most stunning and recognizable World Heritage Sites, such as the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree National Park and Uluru. Its major cities, including Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, regularly rank among the most liveable and safe destinations in the world, and for good reason. Australia has a well-earned reputation not only for its beautiful environment and sunny days, but also for the sunny disposition of its hospitable locals. Beyond surfing, kangaroos and coffee, Australia is also well known for its robust healthcare and technology industries, as well as its rich arts and culture scene, which encompasses everything from Aboriginal art, to contemporary dance companies, to classical opera. A world leader in environmental conservation, with over 500 national parts and 2,700 nature conservation areas, you'll always be near an adventure.

US Department of State Country Information

The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.

Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.

Living Arrangements

The course fee includes accommodations at University Apartments. When you book your housing with the University of Tasmania, you should select housing at University Apartments. The costs for accommodations at that location will be covered by your course fee.

The housing deposit is not included in the course fee. You should plan to pay a housing deposit early in the semester prior to your departure.

Purchasing Plane Tickets

UI Study Abroad will not arrange a group flight to your study abroad destination. You will purchase plane tickets to your host country on your own, though UI Study Abroad can assist by providing advice regarding airline booking options.

You are advised not to purchase your plane tickets until:

1. You have received an official offer of acceptance from your host university, and have submitted confirmation materials to UI Study Abroad.
2. You have finalized your housing arrangements abroad.
3. You are aware of 1) the semester start date (including orientation programing) and 2) the move-in date for your accommodations abroad.
4. You have received your visa (if required- contact your study abroad advisor for more information).

If you are studying abroad during Iowa's fall semester or for the academic year, plan to purchase your plane tickets by April or May. If you are studying abroad during Iowa's spring semester, plan to purchase your plane tickets by early November.

Arrival Plans

Plan to arrive in your host country as early as possible the day before official program activities begin. To ensure that you meet your host country's immigration requirements and that you are covered by international health/travel insurance, do not arrive in your host country sooner than one day before the official start of program activities.

If you have questions about purchasing plane tickets, or would like to coordinate your travel with other UI students, please contact your UI study abroad advisor.

Eligibility

This program is open to University of Iowa students who fulfill the following requirements:

• Good academic and disciplinary standing- Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa. Students placed on either academic or disciplinary probation for any period of time overlapping with the study abroad program dates are ineligible to study abroad on a University of Iowa program. Academic and disciplinary history will also be considered when determining whether a student is prepared to represent the University of Iowa as part of this program. Students who are not in good standing at any point overlapping with the program dates will have their acceptance revoked, and will be responsible for the associated late withdrawal fees.
  
• Minimum 3.0 UI and Transfer GPA- Students must have a minimum 3.0 UI and Transfer GPA to participate in this program (transfer GPAs lower than 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis).
  
• Sophomore, junior, or senior standing required: Students must have sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the time the program begins. First year students cannot participate in this program.
  
• Approval by UI study abroad advisor: A student’s application must be reviewed and approved by their University of Iowa study abroad advisor.
  
• Acceptance by host institution: Students must be accepted by their host institution as a temporary visiting student. Acceptance by the host institution is typically automatic for students that have been nominated by their study abroad advisor, but the final acceptance decision is made by the international student office and the sponsoring departments at the host institution based on their own internal requirements.
• Attendance at mandatory orientation programming: Students must attend all in-person and online pre-departure orientation programming presented by UI Study Abroad.
  
• Clear interest and commitment- Students must demonstrate a clear academic or personal interest in the program’s subject matter, and a commitment to engage responsibly in coursework abroad.
  
• Demonstrated preparedness and maturity- Students must demonstrate preparedness to take on the heightened responsibilities associated with international study and travel. Students must demonstrate a commitment to behave responsibly abroad while respecting cultural differences. Students are expected to obey both local laws and program directives conveyed to participants before and during the program. The University of Iowa Code of Student Life applies to all program participants while abroad.
  

Costs

Students will be responsible for paying many of their program costs through their University of Iowa U-Bill, while other costs will be out-of-pocket costs paid by the student directly to vendors before and after going abroad. Refer to the cost sheets below for details on the costs associated with this program.

The cost sheets outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.

Costs for future sessions are usually similar to the current session, however students can expect a modest increase in overall costs each session. Final cost sheets for future sessions are typically available early in the semester before the session begins.

The course fee includes tuition at the University of Tasmania for four courses. It also includes housing at University Apartments and the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) insurance mandated by the government of Australia.

Cost Sheets

Cost Sheet- Iowa Regents in Australia- University of Tasmania- Spring 2026

Calculating Fees

The cost sheets are based on the fees described below:

• University of Iowa Study Abroad Administrative Fees
• University of Iowa’s CISI health insurance
• Program course fees, housing, flight, and other costs of attendance

Cost sheets do not include the following optional costs:

Personal Travel Costs

Costs for personal travel are not included in the cost estimates provided on the cost sheet. If you plan to travel outside of your host city or country during or after your study abroad program, you will need to budget for additional funds to cover the cost of your personal travel.

For more information about receiving financial aid while studying abroad, please review the following:UI Financial Aid Information

You can find more information about options for funding your study abroad experience including scholarships on Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad.

How to Apply

This is a two-part process. First, you will submit an application to the University of Iowa. Then, if approved, you will submit a separate application to the host university abroad. The host university abroad makes the final acceptance decision.

• Meet with the appropriate study abroad advisor to discuss your study abroad plans well ahead of the application deadline. Your application will not be approved until you've completed this step. You can set up an appointment with your study abroad advisor through the Advising Appointment section of your MyUI account.
• Meet with your academic advisor(s) to discuss how this program will fit your graduation plans. Make a back-up plan in case your preferred courses are not available when you register for courses abroad (see the Flexibility Regarding Course Offerings section for more information.)
• If you and your academic advisor agree that the program is a good match for you, complete the UI Study Abroad application. Please note that the non-refundable $50 application fee will be charged to your U-Bill as part of this online application.
• If you are eligible to participate, you will be nominated to study at the host university by UI Study Abroad.
• Once nominated, you will receive details about how to complete the visiting student application for the host university abroad. Your application will be reviewed by the host university, and they will contact you with your final acceptance decision.
• Academic Year and Fall semester students can expect to receive their final acceptance decision from the host university by late spring, and Spring semester students can expect to receive their final acceptance decision from the host university by late November.

Post-Acceptance

Confirmation

If you are accepted to your program, you will be asked to commit to participating in your program by submitting the University of Iowa Confirmation of Participation form, and by completing requirements for your host university.

After you have formally confirmed your plans to participate, you will work both with UI Study Abroad and your host university. Follow instructions from both. Later in the semester, your UI study abroad advisor will contact you regarding orientation sessions, registration, and other required UI procedures and documentation.

Application Deadline

Applications for Iowa's Fall and Academic Year sessions are due on February 24.

Applications for the Spring session are due on September 24.

Health & Safety Planning

Students should carefully review the following materials starting at least two months prior to departure:

Prepare for Departure

Health and Safety

Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information

Immigration/Visa

All program participants are required to complete immigration requirements to enter and study in your host country. UI Study Abroad and your program provider/host institution abroad will provide you with immigration instructions prior to departure.

Note that permission to enter and study in your host country is provided exclusively by the host country’s government based on that country's immigration requirements. Your host country’s immigration requirements may include considerations related to specific national origin, national heritage, criminal background status, and similar issues that can make it impossible to receive permission to enter the country in some cases. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for more information.

It is essential that you thoroughly review all of your immigration materials before you leave for your host country to ensure that they are absolutely complete and accurate. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that all of your immigration materials are in order and fully accurate before you leave for your host country. If any of your immigration materials contain inaccurate information of any kind, contact your UI study abroad advisor immediately to discuss your options.

Do not take steps to complete your host country’s immigration requirements until you receive more information from UI Study Abroad.

Review the UI Study Abroad Travel Documentation website for further guidance on the immigration/visa process.

Orientation

In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.

Online Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.

Program-Specific Orientation

This orientation will be facilitated by your UI study abroad advisor and will cover content specific to your program and host country. It could be conducted in a group setting or one-on-one depending on your type of planned activity abroad. Your study abroad advisor will send you more information about this mandatory in-person session.

There are no photos available for this program yet. Do you have any photos to share with us? If you do, please contact us at:

1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu