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Programs : Brochure

This page is the brochure for your selected program. You can view the provided information for this program on this page and click on the available buttons and/or link for additional details. Remember: all students participating in exchange or affiliate programs must apply for acceptance through Longwood before partner applications can be processed.
  • Locations: Atherton Tablelands, Australia
  • Program Terms: Summer
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: The School for Field Studies (SFS) 
  • Dates / Deadlines
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Program Model: Affiliate Language of Instruction: English
Class Status: 1 - Freshman, 2 - Sophomore, 3 - Junior, 4 - Senior, 5 - Graduate Student, 6 - Non-Longwood Program Type: Field study, Study abroad
Minimum GPA: 2.5 Housing: Dormitory
Academic Partner: School for Field Studies
Program Description:

SFS AUSTRALIA: RAINFORESTS OF AUSTRALIA
(SUMMER I)

forest


PROGRAM DETAILS

Term | Summer Session I
 
Credits | 4 semester-hour credits (8 credits if taken with Session I)
 
Prerequisites | No course prerequisites, 2.5 GPA, 18 years of age
 
Application Deadline | April 1st. Early applications encouraged
 
Financial Aid | All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans.
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OVERVIEW

Venture into the lush rainforests, wild savannas, and vibrant reef systems of tropical northern Australia and discover what makes these ecosystems some of the most unique on Earth. Explore the Wet Tropics up close while learning how climate, fire, and human history have shaped this biodiversity hotspot.

Hike through ancient forests, collect ecological data in the field, and snorkel on an island on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you’ll gain field research skills, view some of Australia’s extraordinary wildlife, and dive into big questions of conservation and climate resilience. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

→ Hike through the World Heritage Wet Tropics, home to ancient rainforest species, endangered marsupials, and evolutionary lineages stretching back to Gondwana.

→ Snorkel near the Great Barrier Reef and explore the relationships between land, sea, and the species that depend on both.

→ Use scientific tools to identify species, track biodiversity using citizen science platforms, and analyze habitat fragmentation.

→ Explore diverse habitats to compare ecosystem structure, disturbance, and recovery across landscapes.

LOCATION

Students live and study at the SFS Center for Rainforest Studies. Our Center lies at the end of a narrow, winding road, in the middle of a lush rainforest. The 153-acre property is surrounded by protected World Heritage forests, and you can see incredible wildlife from the front steps of your cabin. Nearby Yungaburra and Cairns provide the occasional return to civilization.

SUMMER COMBINED

Take back-to-back summer sessions and get the hands-on learning and skill-building experiences of an internship while also going off the beaten path and exploring the world. Each summer session focuses on a different topic, and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions. 
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LEARN MORE

REQUEST INFORMATION

APPLY NOW

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CONNECT WITH SFS

• Visit our website: fieldstudies.org

• Email: admissions@fieldstudies.org

• Read updates from the field on our blog

• Follow us on Instagram

• Watch our center videos

 


Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Summer 2026 02/15/2026 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.