Location
  • Australia
    • Byron Bay
Term
Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Anthropology Conservation and Preservation Cultural Studies Earth Sciences Environmental Studies Natural Sciences Sociology Sustainable Development
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Host Family

Pricing

Starting Price
23298
Price Details
See more info here: https://studyabroad.sit.edu/admissions-aid/financing-your-study-abroad/tuition/
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Classes Travel Insurance
What's Not Included
Some Activities Airfare SIM cards Visa
Jan 03, 2025
Jul 11, 2023
3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

From your base two blocks from the beach in the small coastal town of Byron Bay, you’ll explore Australia’s burgeoning permaculture and sustainable farming initiatives. You will take workshops and excursions, including 10 days in Tasmania and a four-day camping trip with Aboriginal elders. In Melbourne, take part in field trips and lectures on sustainable energy and housing. Throughout the semester, you’ll learn from environmental activists and academics, see examples of successful environmental campaigns, and obtain tools to apply sustainability efforts at home.

You will spend much of the program in the field. In each destination, you will learn about climate, geology, soils, and flora and fauna, as well as the area’s human history and culture, in order to instill a sense of place and to help understand its unique management issues.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Program Highlights

  • Go on a four-day camping trip with Aboriginal elders.
  • Live two blocks from the beach in the small coastal town of Byron Bay.
  • Spend 25 days learning in the field.
  • Spend ten days in Tasmania, exploring its ancient forests.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 3 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 4.35
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Default avatar
Max
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Australia Sustainability and Environmental Action: An unforgettable outdoor learning experience

This experience was excellent. The ability to travel to many different cities within Australia was the best and most rewarding aspect of this program. As well as the many excursions and camping trips that we engaged in to give is a great learning experience while in the field. We had free time during each week that allowed for you to explore the country and everything it has to offer. The professors and staff are kind, supportive and encourage learning. This created a fantastic academic environment while on study abroad.

Pros
  • travel to many places within the country
  • Fantastic nature experiences
  • Free time to explore the country on your own
Cons
  • Quick assignment to due date time frame
73 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Meagan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sustainability and Environmental Action

This program gives you everything that you could possibly want out of a study abroad program while really allowing you to pursue your own interests within the framework of sustainability and environmental action. As a biology and political science major, this program allowed my to bend my interests in a new way and explore them from within the framework of environmentalism.

We studied global and Australian environmental movements, political movements, the structure of activism and tools and methods for actionable change at the individual, societal and global levels. Our three major professors all have different backgrounds and contribute different but really valuable qualities to the program.

You travel with a small group of students, and you become remarkably close to the people who accompany you on the program. To me, this was one of the greatest elements of the semester. You have huge freedom in the final six weeks to design your own independent research project while still having enough guidance to create something legitimate and valuable. This liberation from typical academics gave me the opportunity to focus on something new that I never would have been able to research at my home institution. If you are adventurous, love the natural world in all of its forms, and want to learn how to become a change-maker, I recommend this program.

Beyond the academics, there is no better place to live in Australia than Byron Bay (where you spend around a month cumulatively) particularly for someone who loves the outdoors. You also are able to spend a few days in Sydney and Melbourne, and are able to return to the city for the final six weeks if you choose to. Through the program you explore and learn about more remote areas like the Tasmanian wilderness and the city of Lismore. This program is was an incredible experience and I feel more ready to pursue my future interests because of it!

What would you improve about this program?
You have to be ready to travel with a smaller group of students and to take your final research project pretty seriously. The program would also be challenging for someone who doesn't enjoy spending days at a time in remote locations and the wilderness, although this is a fairly small section of the program. I wouldn't change either of these things, but it is something that students should know!
115 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Vanessa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Outdoors Experience

This program involves traveling practically every two weeks so be prepared to be constantly moving. We often did not have traditional class and got to spent the majority of our time outdoors. You spent time getting close with a tight knit group and every place you visit is incredibly beautiful. We participated in a homestay for two weeks with a family which was incredibly as well as travel the island of Tasmania for 10 days. We spent 5 weeks for on an independent study project of your choice that relates to sustainability. It is a great learning and growing experience that further integrates you into the culture of Australia.

118 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers