Hunter-Deakin University Exchange

Students from around the world flock to Deakin University for its scholastic excellence, exciting course offerings, and top quality research. This exchange program offers Hunter students a chance to enrich their academic experience and embrace a new culture, all while earning credits at Hunter.

Photo of Deakin University's Geelong Waterfront Campus, southeast of Melbourne

Two Unique Opportunities

Students from around the world flock to Deakin University for its scholastic excellence, exciting course offerings, and top quality research. This exchange program offers Hunter students the chance to enrich their academic experience and embrace a new culture, all while earning credit for a Hunter degree. Hunter College’s partnership with Deakin University gives students two unique opportunities to earn credits in Australia:

  • Track 1: Semester Exchange: Hunter students attend Deakin University for the fall or spring semester, or a year-long exchange, in Melbourne, Geelong, or Warrnambool.
  • Track 2: Australian Studies Program: In July and August, Deakin’s Warrnambool campus hosts Hunter students for a three-credit program exploring historical and contemporary elements of Australian society.

Both tracks are part of Hunter’s reciprocal tuition exchange agreement with Deakin University. Hunter students will continue to pay Hunter tuition for the credits they receive as part of this program.

For information about the cost of living, visit these links:

All students participating in the exchange program are required to enroll in the CUNY comprehensive travel insurance policy through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) in addition to the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) required for your student visa in Australia. Visit this link to learn more about the CUNY policy and view monthly rates. Accepted students will receive the appropriate code to self-enroll.

Track 1: Semester Exchange

Participants must enroll in a full-time semester. Students may choose from Deakin’s three principal campuses: the Melbourne campus boasts a busy multiculturalism, while the bayside and coastal campuses of Geelong and Warrnambool offer a distinctive regional flavor. Deakin is one of Australia’s largest universities, yet the campuses are not huge and overwhelming. Each Deakin campus has a unique atmosphere and a strong sense of community.

For more information, visit their website and view the Deakin Handbook and check out the Housing Options at Deakin.

Track 2: Australian Studies (info TBA)

Students may choose the July or August session. Students in both programs will take the class “Australia Today” (Hunter equivalent course: GEOG 38397) at the Warrnambool campus. Wrapped in the spectacular beauty of the Great Southern Ocean, Warrnambool offers a unique lifestyle blend of nature and wildlife, breathtaking landscape, whale-watching, arts and culture, and a welcoming community.

Hunter students will pay a program fee which includes airport transfer, social/cultural activities, Welcome Dinner, Beach Day, and on-campus accommodation. In addition to this payment to Deakin, students are responsible for tuition costs at Hunter (3 credits), flight, visa, and self-enrollment in CUNY’s required international health and travel insurance. Applicants must have completed six credits, including at least one 100-level social science course (GEOG, ANTHC, SOC, PSYCH, POLSC, HIST), and have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

How to Apply

Australian Semester System

Australian universities use a different semester system. Be mindful of this when researching opportunities. Hunter students cannot apply for Australian trimester 3 (Nov-Feb) because it overlaps with CUNY’s fall & spring semesters.

  • Australian Trimester 1 (Feb-Jun) = Hunter Spring Semester
  • Australian Trimester 2 (Jul-Nov) = Hunter Fall Semester
  • Australian Trimester 3 (Nov-Feb) = Does not apply

Application Deadlines

  • Fall/Year program application deadline: February 15
  • Spring program application deadline: September 15
  • Australian Studies (July or August) information TBA

Semester or Year-Long Applicants
must have the following:

  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of your application
  • At least 60 credits at the end of the semester in which you are applying

Australian Studies (July or August) Applicants
must have the following:

  • A minimum GPA of 2.5 at the time of your application
  • At least 6 completed credits at the time of your application, including at least one 100-level social science course.

Please submit the following application materials by the deadline (see deadlines above):

  1. Faculty Recommendation Form: This form must be completed by someone who has instructed you at the college level. When you submit your application (Step 2 below), you will enter the name and email address of a faculty recommender. We will then reach out to them directly to request the form by the appropriate deadline. Please ensure that you contact your faculty recommender before entering their information in the application form!
  2. Online Application Form: Have the following documents prepared to upload with your online application:
    • 1-2 page personal statement. Describe how study abroad will contribute to your academic or professional goals and how you will engage with the local community abroad.
    • Copy of your unofficial Hunter transcript, downloaded from your CUNYfirst account.We encourage transfer students who have completed at least one full semester (minimum of 12 credits) at Hunter to apply for our exchange programs, provided they meet the other requirements. Qualified transfer students with fewer than 12 completed Hunter credits may be considered on a case-by-case basis. All students who have transferred to Hunter must also provide an official transcript from their previous institution(s) with their application (we will accept unofficial transcripts printed from CUNYfirst only). You will be able to upload multiple transcripts via the Online Application Form.
    • Scan of the photo page of your passport. We require a copy of your valid passport before you go abroad. If you are in the process of applying for or rewewing your passport, you may submit the Online Application Form without this; however, you must be prepared to email a scan of your new passport as soon as you receive it.
  • All application materials must be submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • You must apply to Hunter’s Office of Education Abroad before completing Deakin’s online application. We will send nominees instructions for completing this component after acceptance.
Apply to Education Abroad