Location

The University of Notre Dame operates two study programs in Australia. One of its programs is located in Fremantle, Australia at the University of Notre Dame Australia (NDA), the first private Catholic university in Australia. NDA was founded in 1990 through an act of the Western Australian Parliament and a Canonical statute from the Archdiocese of Perth which took effect on July 2, 1991. Notre Dame Australia has strong collegial links with the University of Notre Dame Du Lac (NDUS).

Fremantle, a port city established in 1829, is Western Australia's principal port and is located at the mouth of the Swan River on the shores of the Indian Ocean. It is twenty minutes from the center of Perth, the capital of the State of Western Australia. This port city boasts a colorful history, heritage architecture, a thriving industry and a cosmopolitan lifestyle alive with sidewalk cafes, galleries, restaurants and pubs. Western Australia covers more than one-third of the Australian continent and is one of the six states and two territories that make up the commonwealth of Australia. Australia is a land of contrasts, featuring a wide range of climatic and geographical conditions. Since two-thirds of Western Australia lies below the Tropic of Capricorn, much of the area experiences tropical and subtropical weather.

Program of Study

The semester-long academic program is designed for juniors, and is open to students from the Colleges of Business and Arts and Letters. The University of Notre Dame Australia (NDA) offers courses at the undergraduate level in the liberal arts, including communications, psychology, theology, business and several foreign languages. In addition, NDA offers undergraduate courses in law and education. Notre Dame Du Lac (NDUS) students in the Colleges of Business and Arts & Letters may enroll in courses in any of these fields at Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle. Business students typically enroll in the fall semester program, as special units have been developed to expose them to business in the Asia-Pacific Rim region. This includes a field trip to Singapore. In both semesters, students are required to enroll in a specially designed course titled Australian History and Society. Participants in this course will have the opportunity to travel to the north coast town of Broome where a special field component in Aboriginal culture is conducted. Click here for links to courses offered in Fremantle.

Upon successful completion of the Fremantle program, all students will be awarded a Certificate in International Studies. Students in the College of Business however, can choose to enroll in specified units with a regional business focus which will qualify them for a Certificate in Asia Pacific Business.

The academic calendar for each semester is closely allied to other Australian institutions, with the first semester arrival and orientation occurring in mid July (Australian spring) and concluding in late November. Second semester students arrive in Fremantle in mid February (Australian summer) and depart in late June. Grades are assigned according to the American system and are entered on the students' records at the home campus. Grades obtained in Fremantle will be included in the computation of the grade point averages.

Eligibility for the Program

The program is open to qualified juniors of the University of Notre Dame in the Colleges of Business and Arts and Letters. Candidates must have a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale, must demonstrate adaptability to new situations, desire and motivation for residence and study abroad, and be free of serious moral, social, or psychological problems. Participants are chosen by the Office of International Studies selection committee.

Application Deadline: November 15 (both fall and spring semesters).

Additional Information

There is so much more to tell you about the vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of Fremantle's community. Information about student housing, transportation, health care and much more can be found by clicking here. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing.