flinders campus

Flinders University - Haskayne only

Located along the hillside overlooking Adelaide with spectacular views of both city and ocean, Flinders is one of Australia's top universities.

Tucked in the hills of Adelaide, Flinders University is in the world's top 3% of universities worldwide (THE 2019), and is globally ranked for CRDS (Community Rehabilitation & Disability Studies) and the Humanities. Explore the food culture amongst the myriad wineries in the Adelaide hills or hit the road to visit Flinders Chase National Park to see the geological wonder of Kangaroo Island's Remarkable Rocks. 

Founded in 1966, Flinders has a student population of 24,000 students, including more than 4,000 international students. The University is located in Adelaide's southern suburbs, just 20 minutes from the city's central business district, and is one of the top 25 universities in Australia (QS 2020).

Key information

Language

English

Semester

Fall, Winter

Program type

Exchange

Application information

Application status

Closed

2024-2025 applications

Program full

University-specific additional requirements

No academic reference required - see the Eligibility section below.

2025-2026 applications

Open November 1, 2024

Student experience

Click the image to read blog entries from Belen, a Haskayne student who studied at Flinders!

Belen Geleta

Program details

Ensure you review your course selection with a Haskayne exchange advisor before leaving for your exchange to confirm transfer credit.

Haskayne undergraduate students must take their core courses at the University of Calgary. Students can take two senior commerce and/or non-commerce options, and/or a maximum of 2 concentration courses (not ACCT/PLMA). They are required to maintain full time status while on exchange.

See Flinders' website (click here) for an explanation of how to select topics and the list of restricted topics. For the topic search page, click here.

Course Requirements: At Flinders, a course is called a "topic" (sometimes  a "unit"). Note that course credits are also called "units". Exchange students are expected to take 13.5-18 units (credits), or 3-4 topics (courses), per semester. 4 topics/18 units at Flinders = 5 UCalgary courses. 

The academic year is divided into 2 semesters:

  • Semester 1 runs from late February to late June
  • Semester 2 runs from late July to late November

Students can start in either semester, however full-year students must start in February.

  1. Costs

    Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. 

    Adelaide offers the cheapest living costs of Australia's major cities, however it is recommended that students budget a minimum of AUS$340-700 per week to pay for accommodation and living expenses. You can see Flinders' cost breakdown here, which includes tentative costs for initial expenses, as well as an idea of basic item costs. Also, don't forget to include things like flights, visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning.

    A typical weekly budget at Flinders might look like this:

    Expense & Cost (low - high)

    Accommodation (shared/single) 125 AUD - 390 AUD

    Public Transit 20 AUD - 35 AUD

    Food (not including restaurants) 90 AUD - 135 AUD

    Utilities 40 AUD- 55 AUD

    Mobile Phone & Internet 15 AUD - 40 AUD

    Clothes & Entertainment 50 AUD or more

    Total weekly estimate: 340 AUD - 705 AUD

     

    Additionally, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for all students studying in Australia and will be applied for at the time of application to your host university. You will be required to provide evidence of OSHC for the duration of your Student Visa at the time of your visa application.

    Adelaide cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here 

  2. Funding

    Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.

    Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.

Exchange students to Flinders cannot always be guaranteed housing, but if they apply by the deadline, the university will try to place them in one of the two on-campus residence halls:

  • University Hall - private dorm rooms with shared bathrooms and a fully-catered dining centre (15 meals/week)
  • Deirdre Jordan (DJ) Village - 2 or 3 bedroom apartments with a shared bathroom and kitchen for self-catering.

Students should expect to pay AUS$250-350 per week depending on residence type. The on-campus housing is a 5 min walk to main campus, and 20 min by bus to the city and beach. 

Student Tips: "I lived in the Deirdre Jordan Village, in a five-person unit. It is very spacious and the rooms are really big and have a lot of storage. The bathrooms are also really large. The residence is close to both main campus and the Sturt campus (for medicine, OT, PT, and Disability). My unit was fairly new and nice. In my opinion, the Village is a much better choice than the Hall, especially if you are in your later years of university. Most of the students in the Hall are younger and just starting university. If you are living in the Village I would try to avoid the Annex units, they are much older and smaller and they don’t have air conditioning."

Off-campus Housing

For students wishing to live off-campus, the university also provides several recommended sources for finding accommodation on the private market. See online for more details.

Flinders Gym

Flinders has a world-class fitness facility with great views of the surrounding campus and city. 

Haskayne students at UCalgary can ONLY apply for this partner through Haskayne, and must meet the Haskayne requirements for exchange.

What's special about Adelaide?

Tied with Calgary for one of the top 5 most livable cities in the world, Adelaide is often informally referred to as the "Food and wine capital of Australia" for its abundant markets and wineries, and the "Amsterdam of Australia" for its flat terrain and expansive cycle culture. Bike rentals can be found throughout the city (note cycling without a helmet is illegal in Australia!) and the relatively calm traffic and plentiful bike paths make it an accessible form of transit. Adelaide is also one of the most affordable cities in Australia (21% cheaper than Melbourne, 23% cheaper than Sydney, 4% cheaper than Brisbane and Perth), saving you money for travelling across the continent.

Adelaide Central Market is South Australia's most visited landmark, is one of the country's oldest (since 1869) and largest fresh produce markets, making it a mecca for foodies and connoiseurs, with unique offerings and culinary delights you can't easily find elsewhere in Australia. 

See more great things about Adelaide here. Also, check out some of Adelaide's best festivals!

For information about Halal food availability in Adelaide, check out the "Muslim students' guide to Adelaide", which is published online by the organization Study Adelaide. 

What resources are available for new students?

Flinders' International Student Services office oversees several informative sessions to help give you an introduction to Australian life. These include a mandatory arrival briefing, ISS orientation day, and campus tours. There is also O'Week, an orientation week at the start of semester, full of events for all incoming students.

International Student Services (ISS) at Flinders provides a meet and greet service, meeting students who arrive at the airport with a welcome package and transportation support.

Additionally, ISS publishes an online pre-departure and arrival guide for international students. The office also runs international student activities and trips throughout the year.

What accessibility resources are available?

Flinders' Disability Service provides comprehensive support for students with disabilities.

Student Experience Quotes

"I wish I had brought warm clothes (more sweaters, long sleeved shirts, and jackets). I was surprised that it was actually cold in Australia in May, June, and July! I also wish I packed my rain boots and more formal clothes as well. The last thing I wish I packed was a reusable mug or a tea infuser. I don't think there were any items that I could not get in Australia that I did not bring."

"Climate wise- it is really hot in January/February and even in March still. However, it will get cold! 10-15 degrees Celsius does not seem cold- however, in Australia- it feels very cold! The houses are not insulated the best there either, so bring warm clothes/gloves/scarves too!"

"There was an arrival orientation - Flinders University did a fabulous job of it, and all of the international students had a lunch together and there was a draw for prizes as well. The university connected us to a new international student club immediately, and this club supported me throughout my entire time in Australia. The most useful information I received was knowledge and connection to this club and support with navigating the campus."

"There are a lot of trips you can sign up for. There are tours of different parts of the city and initial meet-and-greets with other students. Later on there will be a trip to Kangaroo Island, Granite Island, a surf trip, and a wine tour. I would highly recommend joining the FUSE Club. It is a club for exchange students that puts on lots of awesome events like an ALF game, bar nights, and pub crawls. It’s a great way to meet both Australian and international students."

"Adelaide is great in that even though it is a small city, there is so much to do inside and outside of Adelaide! I would recommend using Facebook to keep up with events going on in the city. The Fringe takes place from February-March every year I believe and it brings people from all over! It is similar to Stampede in terms of city spirit. Go check it out and see a few shows if you can! I enjoyed going to the Barossa Valley, surfing, kayaking in the dolphin sanctuary and the ships graveyard, doing a Great Ocean Road tour to Melbourne (G’s Adventures was amazing!), going to the central market and Plant 4 Bowden Market, the zoo (there is also an open zoo where you ride in a safari cart around the open exhibits - I wanted to do this, but didn’t have time). There are also hikes that are accessible by bus close to the city. Kangaroo Island is about a 1.5 hour drive from the city to get to the ferry and I would highly recommend going on a tour there! It is beautiful! Glenelg beach is also stunning and is one of the first places I went to when I got to Adelaide and never got bored with it!"

 


The exchange advisor for this program is: Erin Mizzoni

How to Apply

Download the application guide

This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.

Application guide

Identify three programs of interest

We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.

Check requirements and deadlines

These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.

Start your application

Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!

Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.

APPLY NOW

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.