SFS-Australia: Rainforests of Australia
Program Details
| Program Location |
Yungaburra, Australia
|
| Sponsor |
School for Field Studies |
| Program Type |
Co-sponsored |
| Course # |
SA 35002
|
| Duration |
Summer
|
| Upcoming Program Dates |
| Summer 2026 |
06/01/26 to 06/30/26
|
Please Note: Programs may be altered or adapted with little notice
Overview
Venture into the lush rainforests, wild savannas, and vibrant reef systems of tropical northern Australia and discover what makes these ecosystems some of the most unique on Earth. Explore the Wet Tropics up close while learning how climate, fire, and human history have shaped this biodiversity hotspot. Hike through ancient forests, collect ecological data in the field, and snorkel on an island on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you’ll gain field research skills, view some of Australia’s extraordinary wildlife, and dive into big questions of conservation and climate resilience.
- Hike through the World Heritage Wet Tropics, home to ancient rainforest species, endangered marsupials, and evolutionary lineages stretching back to Gondwana.
- Snorkel near the Great Barrier Reef and explore the relationships between land, sea, and the species that depend on both.
- Use scientific tools to identify species, track biodiversity using citizen science platforms, and analyze habitat fragmentation.
- Explore diverse habitats to compare ecosystem structure, disturbance, and recovery across landscapes.
For more program information, please visit the
program website.
This program is sponsored by:
School for Field Studies.
Eligibility
The program is open to Purdue students in good standing who have completed at least two semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity, and a desire to experience another culture.
GPA Requirement:
2.6 on a 4.0 scale
Language Requirement: none
Purdue Credit
Direct Credit
available from the following:
[
College of Agriculture] [
College of Liberal Arts]
Specifically from:
All (AG) and Liberal Arts majors fulfilling their science requirement
Students interested in completing courses while abroad from Purdue colleges or departments that are not listed above should discuss this with their study abroad advisor before applying to the program.
Academic Program
This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Australia. All students will take Rainforests of Australia for 4 credits.
Major academic themes include:
- Rainforest and tropical biome ecology
- Conservation and biogeography of Australian flora and fauna
- Ecosystem restoration, fragmentation, and resilience
- Climate change and anthropogenic impact
Attention liberal arts majors! Although credit is awarded by the College of Agriculture, the College of Liberal Arts will count this summer program as fulfilling your four-credit lab science requirement. Please speak to your study abroad advisor for more information!
Non-liberal arts majors should check with their academic advisor to see if this might fulfill their science requirement.
Attention Education Majors! You can earn two credits for EAS/EAPS 31200 (your EAS/EAPS capstone) and two credits FNR 40000 for a total of four credits for this particular program!
Please see
SFS website for full course information.
Excursions
You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include primary/old-growth rainforests, Indigenous protected areas, rainforest restoration projects, fruit farms and other agricultural sites, and an eco-lodge in the rainforest.
Housing
At the end of a narrow, winding road, in the middle of a lush rainforest, lies the field station, a 153-acre property surrounded by protected World Heritage forests and the nearby town of Yungaburra 20 minutes away.
- Group living in 8-person cabins
- Main building with classroom, lab, and study spaces
- Student lounge with scenic porch views
- Covered outdoor dining area, on-site cooking staff
- Volleyball and extensive trail network for hiking
- Swimming and running trails a nearby Crater Lake
Estimated Program Costs
Students pursuing program participation accept financial responsibility. Purdue will take measures to mitigate financial risks, although will not be liable for loss. Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to a co-sponsor or agency, and what costs need to be paid at the overseas study location. This will vary by program. The program and housing fees include: tuition, housing, daily meals & snacks, field excursions, airport transfers, 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support, and insurance.
Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are
for: Summer 2023
|
Costs per term to be billed by Purdue
and Co-sponsor
|
| Program Fee |
$5,400.00
|
| Study Abroad Fee |
$609.40 |
| Housing |
$2,580.00 |
| Purdue International Insurance (per month) |
$32.00 |
|
Approximate additional costs per term
|
| To be paid by the student.
|
| Round-trip Airfare |
$3,000.00 |
| Visa |
$100.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses |
$0.00 -
$800.00 |
| Travel Documents (passport, photos) |
$175.00 |
Financial Aid
Students needing to use Purdue financial aid in order to participate in this four-credit summer program will need to enroll in at least two more credits during the summer term at Purdue.
SFS offers many scholarships and/or 0% interest loans (no FAFSA form required). Please see the SFS website for more details.
Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should
NOTE: Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad. Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.
Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.
Application Deadlines
For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents (typically an essay, transcripts, 1-2 recommendations, and copy of passport) before or by the application deadline. Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline. To ensure a place in a program, apply early.
As soon as a student submits an online application, a My Study Abroad account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.
| Program Application Deadline
|
| Summer Programs |
Mar 1 |
Returnees Information
Click below to search for Purdue students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted. If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who studied in the country you are interested in.
Resources
The websites listed below contain information about this program. The accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.
For more information on this program, please contact the Study Abroad Office by phone (765) 494-2383
or email
studyabroad@purdue.edu.
