In partnership with the University of Western Australia, TEAN offers a unique opportunity for Kinesiology, Sports Science and Health Studies majors to combine an educational semester abroad with a professional internship. Located in Perth on Australia’s west coast, you’ll experience wonderful weather, beautiful beaches, and a laidback lifestyle, combined with a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city that’s home to a multitude of cafes, restaurants, and cultural activities. Intern with a local Australian Rules football team, where you’ll experience how passionate Western Australians are about this home-grown Aussie sport that dominates the country, or a public health-focused organization that produces widespread health programming, or one of our other exciting placements where you’ll gain hands-on experience in your field. In addition to the internship course, you’ll take two to three other courses at the top-ranked University of Western Australia.

Overview

Take three to four courses at the University of Western Australia (UWA), the oldest and top-ranked university in Western Australia, where you’ll learn from some of the country’s best academics in the fields of kinesiology and health

Undertake an internship for credit that will entail at least 80 contact hours during the course of the semester

Experience living in Perth - a beautiful city with an active outdoor lifestyle and population that is passionate about their sports

Participate in TEAN’s comprehensive Cairns/Great Barrier Reef Orientation Excursion prior to arriving in Perth. The experience includes a day out on the reef and orientation sessions designed to help you feel adjusted and ready to jump into your semester in Australia

Appreciate access to TEAN’s Perth Resident Director and other in-country staff for continued support throughout the semester

Live on campus in UWA housing with local and other international students to help you truly integrate into Australian life

Program Details

Orientation

TEAN’s exclusive “Welcome Abroad” Orientation Program takes place in Cairns in the north of Australia famous for its tropical setting and access to the Great Barrier Reef – what better way to start the semester than a week full of adventure, including snorkeling on the largest coral reef system in the world? Your Australia Orientation is designed to set you up for a successful semester by introducing you to the local culture and academics while also getting to know your soon to be friends and having an exciting journey in the process. On the final day of Orientation, students travel to their host city where they are met by their local TEAN Resident Director and introduced to their housing and local area.

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Housing

Students live in on-campus housing at UWA. The University of Western Australia has a residential college system which offers a great social and academic environment that will completely immerse you into the university experience in Australia. You will be joined by other international and Australian students as you dive into campus-based activities while having your own fully furnished study/bedroom and sharing bathroom facilities with a small group of other students. The residential colleges normally include three meals a day and regular cleaning.


TEAN Staff

Our team works with you start to finish through the study abroad process. Our programs staff will help guide you through the application process to go abroad, then upon arrival in Australia, you will meet our team who will provide assistance during your time in-country. Throughout your semester you will meet with the Perth Resident Director for informal discussions and excursions. Our staff is readily available and able to assist you with any academic, social, or cultural questions or issues that you may face during your time abroad.

Meet the Team

University

About the University of Western Australia

  • Founded in 1911, the university is the oldest in Western Australia. It was also the first free university in the British Empire, actively promoting equal access to tertiary education for all social classes.
  • Located three miles west of the Perth Central Business District on the banks of the Swan River and about four miles from the Indian Ocean, the self-contained campus is widely renowned for the beauty of its traditional architecture and lush gardens. With cafés, libraries, sporting facilities, an art gallery, museums and a range of shops, UWA feels like a small town with a electric social atmosphere.
  • UWA is well serviced by buses to local beaches and the city center, and is just a 25-minute ride to the port city of Fremantle.
  • Ranked in the top 100 universities in the world, and seventh in Australia, by the QS World University Rankings.

CRICOS Provider Code: 00126G


Location

The University of Western Australia is a traditional campus, located three miles west of the Perth Central Business District. Visit the google map link below to see the campus location.

View Map 

Courses

Courses

ABOUT THE COURSES

Course Levels 

  • The undergraduate course levels at UWA are 1000, 2000, and 3000. The 4000-level courses are restricted to honors students, and 5000-9000 is postgraduate (with a few exceptions for courses that are cross-listed as both undergraduate and postgraduate). 
  • In Australia, undergraduate degrees are 3 years instead of 4, so the first-level courses dive right into material specific to that discipline, without too much intro-level context.  
  • With this in mind, think of 1000-level courses as sophomore level, 2000-level courses as junior level, and 3000-level courses as senior level. Content in the 2000- and 3000-level courses will be very advanced and you must be confident that you have the required background knowledge before taking them. 

Credit Transfer 

  • Students enroll in 3-4 courses per semester, each worth 6 UWA credit points. Each course is equivalent to 3-4 US credits (as determined by your home institution). 

Prerequisites 

  • Your eligibility to enroll in courses will be determined by UWA faculty based on previous coursework reflected on your college transcript(s). For courses that have prerequisites, they will look for closely matching courses you’ve previously taken. 

Internship Course 

HOW TO FIND COURSES
  1. Visit the University of Western Australia Handbook search page. Alternatively, you can start at the Handbook home page to see all the options in a particular field of study, but you can’t filter further on this page, so you’ll need to be sure your selections meet the below criteria. 
  2. Filter by: 
    1. Level of study: Undergraduate 
    2. Availability: If you’re studying abroad during Feb-June, select Semester 1; If you’re studying abroad during July-Nov, select Semester 2 
    3. Unit Level: Show All, or select 1, 2, or 3 to narrow by level 
    4. Field of Education: Show All, or select one to narrow by field 
    5. Location: Crawley (Perth) 
    6. Keyword (above): Enter a keyword or leave the space blank, then press Search. Browse through the options that populate below, or change the Field of Education filter or keyword to bring up different results. 
  3. Click on an option to open the course description and review the details, and pay close attention to the following: 
    1. Course code: Must be in the 1000-3999 range (4000 and above indicates an honors or postgraduate course) 
    2. Offering 
      1. Availability: Ensure the course is offered during your semester abroad (Semester 1 is Feb-June; Semester 2 is July-Nov) 
      2. Location: UWA (Perth) 
      3. Mode: Face to face 
    3. Unit rules: Ensure you meet the applicable prerequisite requirements and enrollment restrictions – UWA faculty will look at your transcript to make sure you have taken equivalent prerequisites at your home institution. 
COMMON FIELDS OF STUDY

Below are some common fields of study at the University of Western Australia. Use the course codes listed to search for classes in each field of study. To search for classes in these fields, refer back to the University of Western Australia Handbook  

  • Accounting – ACCT 
  • Anatomy & Human Biology – ANHB 
  • Earth – EART 
  • Environment – ENVT 
  • Finance – FINA 
  • Geography- GEOG 
  • History – HIST 
  • Indigenous Studies – INDG 
  • Management – MGMT 
  • Marketing – MKTG 
  • Physiology – PHYL 
  • Psychology – PSYC 
  • Sports Science, Exercise and Health – SSEH 

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of the fields of study at the University of Western Australia. Please refer to the University of Western Australia Handbook for a comprehensive list of course offerings. 

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

This program allows students of Kinesiology and Sports and Exercise Science backgrounds to participate in a semester-long part-time internship, which counts as one of their courses.  

  • SSEH2260: Exercise Physiology 
    • This course explores physiology in respect to exercise. Topics covered include pulmonary ventilation, gas exchange and transport, as well as the cardiovascular system. Students learn about energy systems and how macronutrients contribute to energy during rest and exercise, with a focus on ATP production, and will also gain practical skills in assessing blood pressure, 12-lead electrocardiography, spirometry, and conducting sub-maximal and maximal exercise tests.  
  • SSEH2270: Psychology of Motivation 
    • This course emphasizes the motivational correlates of involvement in physical activity, sport, and other health behavior. Students explore topics such as motivation, communication, self-concept, competition and cooperation, physical literacy, health-related persuasion, stress and resilience, performance psychology, and exercise and well-being.  
  • SSEH2280: Applied Nutrition for Sport, Exercise and Health 
    • In this course, students explore key topics for understanding and applying nutrition science in diverse contexts, including the biochemistry of food and the macronutrients and micronutrients in our diet, nutrition and physical activity, the optimization of human performance, and nutrition and public health messaging, to enhance the general understanding of healthy nutrition in our communities.  
  • SSEH3554: Applied Sports Science and High Performance Sport 
    • Through the exploration of both team and individual sports, this course uses real-world scenarios to facilitate the practical application of sports science concepts, providing students with insights into the physical demands of different sports, the biomechanical principles underlying movement, strategies for enhancing skill acquisition, and the psychological factors influencing performance, to develop a holistic perspective on the role of sports science in high-performance settings.  

Internship

Internship Placement

Students will enroll in 3-4 UWA courses, including the Science Work Placement (SCIE2205) course. This course involves completing an internship for credit, which TEAN will source for you. 

The internship will entail at least 80 contact hours during the course of the semester. To complete the placement process, you will upload your resume and cover letter to your student portal and one of our Internship Program Managers will meet with you in a Career Advising Session to discuss this aspect of your program with you and help you make edits to your resume and cover letter for placement. 

One of the potential placements for students with an exercise science and sports medicine focus is with a local Australian rules football team. Students will experience first-hand the sports medicine culture in an Australian rules football club by engaging in numerous activities, including providing assistance in performance and conditioning activities within the club by conducting fitness assessments and interpreting results, and developing exercise prescriptions for injured athletes. Other options in the industry may be available but can be limited and depend on the time of year you’re participating. 

For other health studies related majors, internships focus on supporting organizations delivering various public health programs. These can include programs related to cancer prevention, healthy eating and exercise in schools, pre-diabetic intervention, and other global health initiatives addressed in Australia. 

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • 2.5 GPA.
  • Kinesiology, Exercise Science or Health Studies related major
  • Minimum sophomore standing at a four-year institution at the time of participation.
  • Students attending a two-year institution may be considered on a case by case basis.

Events & Excursions

ACTIVITIES / IMMERSION

Our local staff arrange various activities during the semester designed to help immerse you in the local culture. These activities are included in your semester program. In addition, if you have a specific interest or hobby, your Perth-based TEAN Resident Director will be able to point you in the right direction. Below are examples of previous activities arranged for students. Note that activities change each semester.

In addition to the TEAN-organized events, to make sure you don’t miss out on any opportunities, our local staff send out frequent emails letting you know what is happening in Perth. Ranging from community events to music festivals, we tap you into the local culture right from the start.

TOUR OF PERTH AND FREMANTLE

Get to know your new home with this tour highlighting all the local haunts in Perth and “Freo,” as well as providing historical background to the region.

AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL MATCH

While the Australian Rules Football League originated in Victoria, Western Australia was the first state outside of Melbourne to have two teams in the national competition – West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers. We join the vocal locals to cheer on one of these teams against an east coast rival.

LEARN TO SURF

Australians love the beach – being an island nation with beautiful coastlines and 85% of the population living within an hour of a beach, it’s not surprising. Surfing is the favorite pastime of Aussie beachgoers so we introduce you to this sport early on in the semester with a lesson to get you started riding the waves.


OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

During the semester, you’ll be busy with class and exploring your local area on the weekends. With this in mind, TEAN encourages students to travel to even more exotic destinations with excursions organized during school breaks. Participating in these excursions will depend on your program dates and semester abroad.

FIJI

The name “Fiji” conjures up images of lazy days in a tropical paradise and breathtaking sunsets. Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll also find some of the loveliest people to complement the stunning landscape. An optional excursion exclusively for TEAN students, take advantage of this mid-semester trip. 

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SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand’s South Island offers some of the most magnificent natural environments this planet has to offer and is home to some of the world’s most extreme adventure sports! From the Southern Hemisphere’s highest (and original) bungee jump, to jet boating through ravines, whitewater rafting raging rapids and hiking glaciers, you won’t be bored or disappointed! This excursion is usually offered as a mid-semester break excursion. 

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Program Dates

APPLICATION DEADLINES

TEAN has a rolling admissions process. We recommend submitting your application anytime from June for Spring applications, and from January for Fall applications. Late applications may be considered. Contact TEAN if the application deadline has passed.

Spring Deadline Oct 1
Fall Deadline March 15

PAYMENT DEADLINES

Your signed program contract and full payment for the program are due by the program deadline. Please note we do have options for using financial aid and enrolling in a payment plan if you cannot make full payment by the payment deadline. You can find more information about funding your program here

Spring Payment Deadline Oct 15
Fall Payment Deadline April 1

spring 2025

Depart the US Feb 8
Arrive in Australia Feb 10
TEAN Orientation in Cairns Feb 10-14
University Orientation Feb 17
Classes Begin Feb 24
Mid-Semester Break April 19 – 27
Program Ends June 15

Fall 2025

Depart the US July 5
Arrive in Australia July 7
TEAN Orientation in Cairns July 7-11
University Orientation July 14
Classes Begin July 21
Mid-Semester Break Aug 30 – Sept 7
Program Ends Nov 9

Fees & Inclusions

spring 2025

  • Tuition and program fees: $18,950
  • Housing (on campus): $8,050 – $9,350 (includes 16-21 meals per week)

fall 2025

  • Tuition and program fees: $18,350
  • Housing (on campus): $7,395 – $8,025 (includes 16-21 meals per week)

What’s Included

  • Full tuition (4 courses including internship course) and internship placement
  • Guaranteed, pre-arranged, on-campus student housing with meal plan
  • Overseas health insurance, plus evacuation and repatriation insurance
  • Internship placement and support
  • Career Readiness course and micro-credential
  • Professional development activity
  • 2 virtual workshops with the Internship Coordinator
  • Public liability insurance
  • Services of local Resident Directors
  • Five-day Orientation Program with some meals, excursions, accommodations and transportation
  • Cultural events scheduled throughout the semester
  • Wireless internet access in all housing
  • Access to pre-arranged and affordable cell phone packages
  • Access to unique and exciting optional excursions in New Zealand or Fiji
  • Access to competitive airfares and pre-arranged flight itineraries 
  • Extensive pre-departure counseling and information packets
  • University and course selection advice
  • Official academic transcripts from host institution
  • Credit approval and transfer assistance
  • Help with student visa preparation
  • Financial aid transfer planning
  • Airport pickup and reception in Perth
  • Arrival Welcome packet containing important local contact details and information
  • Perth Farewell Dinner at conclusion of program
  • Host university orientation

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

  • International airfare ($2,000)
  • Domestic airfare in US ($500)
  • Student visa ($1,060)
  • Books ($365)
  • Some meals
  • Airport transfer at the end of the semester ($50)
  • Travel insurance ($350)
  • Travel and personal expenses ($1,500 – 2,500+)
  • Background checks and relevant certifications to perform a role (First Aid, CPR, etc.): $25-$75

*Numbers are estimated based on previous student experience and budget. Actual amounts will vary depending on student.

PASSPORT

PASSPORT

Students must submit a current passport valid for at least 6 months after the program end date for acceptance.

If you do not currently hold a valid passport, please apply for one immediately as processing times can be very lengthy.

VISA

VISA

All students participating in a semester program in Australia (except for Australian passport-holders) are required to obtain a Student Visa prior to departing for Australia.

Students can only apply for their visa after the required documents are received from the host university. Once these documents are received (typically 2-3 months prior to departure), the Program Manager will send students step-by-step visa application instructions. The application is done entirely online, and visas are typically granted within 3 weeks of applying. The cost is $1,600 AUD (approximately $1,060 USD).

Scholarships

TEAN Scholarships

Apply for TEAN scholarships – starting at $1,000 – for the chance to receive money specifically for studying abroad. Each year we award thousands of dollars in need- and merit-based scholarships, diversity scholarships, a full ride scholarship and more. Visit our scholarships page for details!

From the blog

@TEANabroad