Overview
Study with the Consortium for Advanced Studies Abroad (CASA) at the University of Melbourne. With strong research performance, excellence in teaching and learning and intellectual and social capital, the University of Melbourne is positioned among the world’s foremost institutions and is currently ranked number 1 in Australia. As a CASA-Melbourne participant, you can choose from a wide range of disciplines at the University of Melbourne that align with your academic interests.
Academics
For over 170 years, researchers at the University of Melbourne have been seeking the answers to life’s biggest questions, tackling the grand challenges and making an impact in communities in Melbourne, Australia and all over the world. You can choose from over a hundred areas of study, such as Biomedicine, Computer Science, Design, Environments, Fine Arts, Music, Health, and Science.
You will take classes alongside full-degree local students. You will most likely take a traditional course load of four to six classes per term. You will take 12-18 contact hours per week in total, which is equivalent to 15-18 Columbia points.
Each subject is taught using a combination of large lectures and small group tutorials or laboratory classes. While you may have fewer contact hours than in your home institution, the expectations placed on you to learn independently outside the classroom make the workload equivalent to that which most students experience at home.
Program Features
One of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne, Australia is also one of its most multicultural. A cluster of exciting communities connected by public transport and bike paths, the University of Melbourne sits at the heart.
CASA-Melbourne participants will live on-campus at Little Hall. As a new kind of residential community, Little Hall offers a modern take on a college experience within a premium apartment-style building. Residents benefit from a specially designed program of activities, lectures, tutorials and career networking opportunities to support your personal, academic and professional development.
In addition to clubs and societies offered at the University of Melbourne, students will participate in carefully programmed academic field trips throughout the semester as part of the CASA-Melbourne program.
Eligibility
Review eligibility to ensure that you meet all Columbia requirements to study abroad.
Review the external program webpage to understand any additional program prerequisites.
Application Instructions
To apply, you must complete the two steps below. Deadlines vary, and some applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Therefore, you should complete the steps below simultaneously:
- To apply for Columbia clearance (approval) to study abroad, click on "Start Your Application" on this webpage. Clearance applications are approved on a rolling basis until the application deadline listed on this webpage.
- To apply for program admission, complete an external application directly on the program webpage. Note that this deadline may be in advance of the Columbia clearance deadline.
- This program has a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0. We encourage you to apply prior to the stated deadline.
Financial Considerations
Tuition
Columbia students pay regular Columbia tuition during the regularly scheduled Columbia billing calendar on SSOL. Financial aid may be applied. Please find more information on our Financial Considerations page.
If you are a GS student, you will be billed for 16 points unless you reach out to your study abroad program manager within the first week of the term abroad to verify that you are taking more or less than 16 points while abroad.
Program Fees
Students will pay an estimated $8,200 program fee (Fall 2026) or $8,800 program fee (Spring 2027) to the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement, which includes housing costs while in Melbourne. A non refundable program deposit of around $500 will be due after the application deadline, which will go towards the program fee.