University of Newcastle

University Drive
Callaghan
New South Wales 2308
Web address: www.newcastle.edu.au
ADS contact phone: +61 (2) 4921 6617
ADS contact fax: +61 (2) 4921 7016
Relevant campuses: Callaghan, Ourimbah.

Community and surrounds

The main campus of the university is in the city of Newcastle. Newcastle is a regional city on the east coast of Australia. It has a population of 350,000, which supports a thriving business and commercial sector. Situated just two hours from Sydney (160 kilometres), Newcastle is home to one of the world’s most dynamic regional growth centres.

Newcastle is a popular tourist destination, set around the commercial port of Newcastle. It has a casual lifestyle with a low cost of living, a warm climate and beaches. To the north is the impressive harbour of Port Stephens. To the west are the famous wineries of the Hunter Valley, many of them more than a century old. A few kilometres south of the city is Australia’s largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, scene of many national and international sailing events.

The university’s Ourimbah campus is situated on the Central Coast, one hour’s drive south of Newcastle. The 1,700 square kilometres of the Central Coast is an area noted for its clean air and healthy coastal lifestyle. This region also has city comforts including large shopping centres, entertainment venues, restaurants, clubs, cinemas and art galleries.

Climate

Summer temperatures (December to February) range from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius and winter (June to August) 10 to 18 degrees.

Cost of living and accommodation

International students will need around $11,000 to $12,000 per year to cover living expenses, including accommodation.

There are three residential colleges and a 'motel type' residence located at the Callaghan campus and one self-catered residential unit at the Ourimbah campus. The cost ranges from $140 (self-catered) to $200 (fully catered) a week.

The university also offers a comprehensive accommodation service to assist students in their search for off-campus accommodation.

In Newcastle, rented properties can range from $100 a week and upwards, depending on the size, condition, and location of the house/apartment. Full board in private houses in the community can cost from $160 a week; room and share facilities can range from $70 to $100 a week.

Homestay is offered through the central coast and Callaghan campuses. Homestay hosts offer students a private, fully furnished room in their home plus 21 meals per week. Homestay is a popular option for students who wish to interact closely with an Australian family and to practise and improve English skills. Costs can range from $155 to $170 depending on inclusions.

Campus descriptions

The Callaghan campus is 12 kilometres west of the city centre of Newcastle. It is set on 125 hectares in a natural setting and has around 20,000 students. The Callaghan campus houses the University Health Service (for students and staff only), a professional dental service, and banking and credit union facilities. Sports facilities include five ovals, a fully equipped gymnasium, basketball and squash courts, and a 50-metre indoor heated pool.

The Ourimbah campus has been developed with modern buildings and facilities, which are enhanced by naturally beautiful surroundings. It is approximately half-way between Sydney and Newcastle. It is a small campus, set on 80 hectares and has around 2,000 students. The Ourimbah campus is home to the Central Coast School of Business, the School of Humanities and the School of Applied Sciences.

There are also three important areas of the university located in the City of Newcastle, where they are close to their client base: the University of Newcastle’s Legal Centre, the Graduate School of Business, and Conservatorium of Music.

International student population

The international student population of the University of Newcastle in 2003 was 2,174. Of these 822 students were from North East Asia, 38 from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, 387 from South East Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and 246 from sub-Saharan Africa. Just over 126 of these were ADS sponsored students. The university also attracts a large number of international students from other parts of the world: North and South America, Scandanavia and other European countries, the Middle East, New Zealand and a number of North and South East Asian countries.

Family and community services

A number of special programs link international students more closely to the university and wider community. For example, the Family Care Program assists the spouses of international students to practise and improve their English skills, learn more about the local community and to make friends. The program operates two mornings pew week and is facilitated by qualified and experienced teachers.

The International Student Care Program links international students to volunteers from the local community. The volunteers offer friendship, information and practical support.

A new initiative is to offer international students the opportunity to volunteer in local schools and hospitals or with sporting, recreational or environmental groups. These volunteering opportunities provide students with practical experiences to complement their studies.

The large local shopping centre, Stockland Mall, along with the Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre, offers new students a special welcome and orientation to their local community. Welcome packages are provided to new students from local businesses.

Community services for international students include three major hospitals and several after-hours medical centres. For assistance with legal matters, students can obtain free initial advice through the Newcastle University Student Association on campus, or the Faculty of Business and Law's Legal Centre.

Childcare facilities

The campus at Callaghan has two childcare centres available to the children of international students. Fees at these childcare centres range from $43 to $52 per day. AusAID students may qualify for a Centrelink subsidy. There are also a number of childcare centres in the local community. In addition, Family Day Care offers care for young children in the homes of trained and monitored carers.

There are a number of local schools in the vicinity of the university. If children require additional English support on arrival, this can be arranged through individual schools.

Facilities for special needs

The Student Support Services at the Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses offer practical assistance and advice that can help to eliminate barriers to learning by providing appropriate information, assistance and support. To ensure that the university can support students’ needs, information about individual support needs should be forwarded to the university prior to arrival.

Foods for different cultures

Newcastle and its suburbs provide a range of grocery stores that sell specialty foods. These are found both in the city centre and large suburban shopping complexes. Callaghan campus has cafés for Thai, Lebanese, Italian, Indian and Australian food, and there is a variety of restaurants in both the Newcastle and Central Coast areas.

Religious facilities

In the Newcastle and Central Coast regions, there are places of worship for a wide range of denominations including: Buddhism, Muslim, Sikh, Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Christian Life Centre, Church of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Evangelical Church, Greek Orthodox, Jehovah Witness, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventists and Uniting Church.

There is a range of student faith fellowships on Callaghan campus that can be contacted through the University Faith Centre. Students have access to Chaplains from Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist and Uniting denominations, and the Centre has a Muslim prayer room and facilities nearby.

Public transport

From the airport: The nearest international airport is in Sydney. Sydney to Newcastle by bus is $50-75 (three hours), by train is $20 (two and a half hours) and by plane is $95 (30 minutes).

The Ourimbah campus is approximately one hour from Sydney by train and one and a half hours from Newcastle by train.

The university offers an arrival service where students can arrange to be met from either of the Newcastle airports or train station by a representative from the university.

Getting around: Public transport around Newcastle is good, with the options of buses or trains. There are several regular bus and train routes between the university and the city centre. Buses run approximately every half hour during the week and less frequently on weekends. Bus and train fares to the Callaghan campus from Newcastle can range from $1.50 to $2.80 for a one-way journey. There are also approximately 20 trains between Sydney and Newcastle each day. For cyclists, Newcastle has a dedicated cycleway that includes a route from the city to the university.

The Ourimbah campus is a short, flat walk from Ourimbah railway station on the main northern railway line. It is also serviced by local bus routes. The campus is a pedestrian campus, equipped with ramps and lifts for the disabled.