Study

SFS Study Abroad: Rainforest Studies in Australia

Name: SFS Study Abroad: Rainforest Studies in Australia
Brand: The School for Field Studies (SFS)
SKU: 15288
Rating: 4.6 (10 reviews)

Hosted by

The School for Field Studies (SFS)

4.6 (10 reviews)

SFS Study Abroad: Rainforest Studies in Australia

The School for Field Studies (SFS)

4.6 · 10 reviews

Location

Australia
- Cairns

Term

Fall, Short Term, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Agriculture Animal Science Australian Studies Biology Botany Conservation and Preservation Cultural Studies Earth Sciences Ecology Environmental Studies Field Studies Geography Global Studies Humanities Indigenous Cultures Life Sciences Māori Studies Marine Biology Natural Sciences Oceanography Public Policy Social Sciences Statistics Sustainable Development Tourism Wildlife Sciences +16

View Other Details

Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

Associates Bachelors

Housing

Dormitory

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

Program fees include tuition, housing, daily meals, field excursions, entrance fees, cultural activities, advising services, airport transfers, 24/7 mental health and well-being support, official transcript processing and more – check out our website. Need-based scholarships available.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes Meals Transportation Wifi

What's Included (Extra)

No application fee!

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Last Reviewed: Aug 08, 2025

Wish List

40 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Have you ever wanted to live in a cabin surrounded by lush tropical rainforests, fall asleep to the chirping of crickets, and awaken to the morning songs of birds?

Our programs in Australia take place in the country’s ancient rainforests, with excursions to the edge of the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and land use change. Research at our Australia Center focuses on the environmental threats that have caused rainforest fragmentation, species loss, and reef die-off, and we work with the Mandingalbay Yidinji Indigenous people and Tablelands communities on restoration and management projects to help Australia thrive in a time of ecological uncertainty.

Visit Site

Apply Now

Video and Photos

View All Photos

Program Highlights

Survey Atherton Tablelands forest-to-savanna transitions with GPS plots and plant ID, linking soil chemistry, fire history, and habitat change.
Assess coral cover and reef fish populations on snorkel surveys, then prepare site-specific environmental impact assessments with actionable recommendations.
Restore degraded riparian corridors alongside local partners, collect spatial data for long-term revegetation databases, and monitor wildlife recolonization patterns.
Conduct Directed Research: frame a stakeholder-driven question, collect and analyze field data with faculty guidance, and present actionable findings to local partners.
Earn academic credit: 16 credits for semester programs and 4-8 credits for summer programs. Conduct a 4-credit research project during the semester program.

Popular Programs

Semester | Rainforest to Reef

In northern Queensland, the Wet Tropics rainforest presses in with towering figs, curtain-like vines, and a chorus of unseen birds. Students spend much of their semester here, tracking elusive marsupials, measuring bird populations by call, and conducting nocturnal spotlighting to reveal hidden biodiversity. You'll also step briefly into the outback and reef, glimpsing how fragmented ecosystems still link together.

Summer 1 | Rainforests of Australia

Explore northern Australia’s rainforests, savannas, and reefs to see what makes these ecosystems unique. Learn how climate, fire, and human history shaped the Wet Tropics. Hike ancient forests, collect ecological data, and snorkel near the Great Barrier Reef. Gain field skills, spot wildlife, and dive into big questions in conservation and climate resilience.

Summer 2 | Marsupials of Australia

Australia is home to some of the world’s most fascinating and ancient wildlife. In this immersive summer program, you’ll explore the landscapes that shaped the evolution of marsupials—from lush rainforests to open savannas—and discover how these animals adapted to extremes of drought, fire, and flood. Observe kangaroos, gliders, wallabies, possums, and bandicoots in their natural habitats, learn about their evolutionary history, and investigate the urgent conservation issues they face today.

Program Reviews

4.60 Rating

based on 10 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Study

5 rating 90%
4 rating 0%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 10%

Academics 3.8
Support 4.4
Fun 4.1
Housing 4.2
Safety 4.6

Showing 9 - 10 of 10 reviews

I absolutely loved the SFS- Australia program and would recommend it to everyone; however, you have to make sure it will be a good fit for you. You like in the rainforest in a cabin with 3-7 other students, so you have to accept that you won't have much privacy. There are also snakes and spiders to deal with and intermittent internet at times since you are in the middle of the rainforest. Even if you don't think you can deal with that, it is an incredible experience. You get to learn about the rainforest in the classroom and then walk away from the centre and directly into the habitat you just learned about. You get to interact with the locals and gain a sense of life in the Wet Tropics. One of my favorite experiences was going on a weekend homestay with another student. We stayed with an Australian family and learned all about the Australian way of life. The group takes trips to the Daintree and the Outback. I have never seen so many different ecosystems and learned so much about the environment.

You get a few free weekends in Cairns where you can have fun off of program time. The 5 day long mid-semester break was also a great chance to explore parts of Australia with some friends in a caravan (a great deal and great way to travel) on our own.

For the first 2 months of the program you take 3 courses. With awesome professors! The last month you work on a directed research project of your choosing under the guidance of one of the professors. The directed research project component allowed me to study a topic that I was very interested in and has helped guide my graduate school pursuits and career aspirations.

There is a cook that makes all of your meals, and the food is great! And she takes requests and really wants to make sure everyone is happy.

For those of you who are athletic and want to continue your sport, that can be tough. I am a 3 season athlete, so I really wanted to stay in-shape while I was there. There is a run down elliptical and some weights there. The other option is to run (when you can find time- early morning is best, when it is cool). It is a rough, uphill path.

Even with some of the annoyances, I would go again because it is a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This was a once in a life time experience. I got to meet amazing people both in the program and the community. the best word to directive it w would an adventure. New zealand has rich culture and transits. a couple of the highlights of nz were staying with the mauri, they tested us like family. Another was going canyoning in auckland, a breathtaking experience. Going to australia was a whole new adventure it was gest to actually live tucked into the wet tropics, lots of animals and stars. this was a fantastic trip and words can't describe all of the memories made.

Questions & Answers

What preparations need to be taken to avoid disease and injury?

Preparing for your departure: https://fieldstudies.org/admissions/predeparture/ Health and safety: https://fieldstudies.org/safety/

By Go Overseas on March 27, 2018

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose the School for Field Studies after being introduced to the program in a class on Environment and Society. They were highly recommended by my professor as well as by an SFS alumni. The Summer Session 1 in Australia and New Zealand had the most focus on plant life and also covered topics such as ecosystem restoration which are directly relevant to my career goals.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

SFS provided very detailed information on how to register for the program and fulfill necessary requirements once accepted (such as visa applications, travel health insurance, disability services, etc.) Organizing staff at SFS were readily available by phone or email to answer questions. I also received help from my university's Study Abroad office.

The one thing that SFS coordinated was having a specific travel agency to book a flight from Australia to New Zealand, as this ensured that everyone in the Summer Program was on the same flight. Otherwise, I organized all other travel, insurance, course credits, and other necessities on my own. However, this was easy to do, thanks to the help of my school's Study Abroad office and SFS's clear guidelines and assistance.

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Bring a Mastercard or Visa debit card that allows you to make purchases abroad without a fee (Capital One 360 has no fees and does not require notification). Use this card at ATMs to withdraw Australian and New Zealand dollars. Try to avoid currency exchanges if possible since ATMs have much better rates than exchanges.

I found that I needed more cash in New Zealand than in Australia. Bring cash to the Yungaburra Market that you will visit one weekend in Australia. Also, bring cash to New Zealand for your free night in Aukland since it's easier to keep track of and limit your tab at bars. Most places in both AU and NZ accept credit card, however. Don't bring Amex or Discover, though! Neither are accepted in AU or NZ.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Since Summer I is only a month long, each week is very different, and things even change from day to day. A typical day at the center in Australia involves waking up around 6 to 7 AM (depending on the schedule) and having breakfast at the center's outdoor covered kitchen. After breakfast clean-up, there might be a lecture or a scheduled off-site activity. Usually, lunches are packed after breakfast for off-site activities. Days with off-site activities usually end around 4 PM since the sun sets by 6 PM. Dinner is usually around 5:30. After dinner is generally free time to study, work on journals, or just hang out.

In New Zealand, you'll stay in at least three different places. The schedule is pretty packed, so expect to be on a chartered bus frequently. The bus makes stops along the way for activities, breaks, and lunch. The longest stay in one place in NZ will be with the Prime family. There you'll have a more steady schedule with hikes and day trips.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was concerned about the difficulty of the environment in the rainforests and living in close quarters with many new people. Neither one of these turned out to be as intimidating as I thought.

The rainforest is definitely damp and has a lot of creepy critters (like terrestrial leeches and huntsman spiders), but they're easy to deal with. I always checked the bathroom stalls and showers before going in to make sure no spiders or leeches were sharing it with me. I also checked my clothes and skin for leeches daily. Being aware of my surroundings was really all I needed to settle in to the rainforest environment.

As for living in close quarters with others, this actually makes dealing with the rainforest much easier! Someone in your cabin may not be freaked out by spiders, so they can remove any that sneak in to your personal space. Plus you end up bonding over stories of leeches, spiders, or seeing some crazy animal/insect while walking around the center. After this experience, I feel much more comfortable around spiders, and I realized I really enjoy communal living.

What did you learn from this experience?

Before this program, I had never traveled abroad alone and had never been to a tropical environment. But going to this program showed me that it is really beneficial to face your fears and try something new. However, if you're going to get the most out of an experience, it pays to keep an open mind. Try to go into a new situation without specific expectations, and avoid making snap judgments.

Even if things are challenging sometimes, try not to look at challenges as pure discomfort, but as something to learn from.

Being without internet/cell service might seem difficult, until you realize how much more you're paying attention to your surroundings and engaging with people. Living and traveling with other people can also help you to learn how to work as a team, to listen to others, or how to deal with conflict in a healthy way. So definitely try something new, and you'll probably be surprised by how much you'll gain from it!

Will Glenny

Jaimi Inskeep

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Ellen Reid, SFS Admissions Manager

What position do you hold at SFS?

I am currently the Admissions Manager at SFS. I’ve been with SFS for a little over five years. I come from a background in Ecology from my undergraduate and graduate studies. I started off with SFS as an intern at our Australia program. As an intern I served as sort of a teaching assistant for the professors and also with logistics like driving students to different field sites and getting gear packed for field trips. I also served as the Student Affairs Manager for the Australia program for the Spring 2007 and Summer 2010 programs and was responsible for risk management, student health and safety, and program logistics. I started working in the Admissions department of SFS in March 2009, while I was finishing up my Masters in biology (I studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana).

Which study abroad destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

I’m going to try to be very diplomatic here, by not naming any countries in particular. While there are certain countries that are very popular for studying abroad, and others which are not, I believe it is not a matter of being under or overrated, but rather what is right for the student. Students should pick a country and location where their educational goals can be best met. In order to make that choice, students need to have a clear idea of their goals by speaking with their professors, advisors, family, and peers.

It is important for students to have access to study abroad advisors on their home campus to help assist them through the process so that they do not end up going to the wrong place for the wrong reasons. For example, SFS offers programs in “non-traditional”, perhaps underrated locations, but for students interested in ecology, natural resource management, environmental policy, and socioeconomics, these programs are the ideal setting. However, students need to be able to think outside of the more traditional study abroad destinations in order to make a semester with SFS a reality. For example: a biology student could go to London and study biology in a university setting, live in the city, and have a flat, or that same biology student could study biodiversity and conservation through hands-on field lectures and field research in the Peruvian Amazon. For some students, the former is the best choice, but for others it’s the latter!

What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering studying abroad with SFS?

Take full advantage this opportunity! Go abroad! If you study with SFS, make the most of every day. You may never again have an experience or opportunity like this. Wake up early to see the sunrise, stay up late to look at the stars. Dive into your Directed Research project. Make friends with the locals, get to know your professors. Approach each day with lots of energy and an open mind so that you can make the most of it.

What makes SFS programs stand apart from other program options?

SFS programs are a totally different ballgame. Instead of moving their life on campus over to a university abroad, going to classes, living in a dorm, and all the rest, SFS students get an entirely different experience. SFS students live in small communities in the environment that they’re studying. The knowledge they gain in the classroom isn’t an abstraction. For example, students may learn about changing land use and then immediately go out and see how rain forests in Peru have been transformed into pastures, farm lands, or gold mining sites. They may learn about the carrying capacity for large carnivores in forest fragments and then use camera trap data to compare the population size of jaguars in forest patches of varying sizes in the Peruvian Amazon. This sort of hands-on, real time learning and the ability to participate in real research is a great opportunity that SFS provides and which sets it apart from more traditional study abroad experiences.

About The School for Field Studies (SFS)

The School for Field Studies (SFS) offers field-based programs that revolve around environmental studies and research. The programs involve exploration of the human and ecological aspects of issues having to do with the local environments. Students assist SFS's global partners and host communities in their research, finding meaningful solutions to...

SFS Study Abroad: Rainforest Studies in Australia

SFS Study Abroad: Rainforest Studies in Australia