University of the South Pacific
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Education Abroad office has been helping students from across the United States study at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji since 2006. Since then, students from more than 25 universities nationwide have chosen to study abroad in Suva, Fiji through UW-Platteville Education Abroad.
Details
You may participate for one semester or for a full academic year, enrolling in 13 credits (4 courses) per semester. All courses are taken alongside Fijian and international students.
USP is a public research university owned by the governments of 12 member nations: The Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. With a student population of 22,000, USP attracts students from the South Pacific, Asia, and Europe, bringing a unique international perspective to USP.
USP’s largest campus is the Laucala Campus that hosts 11,000 students in Fiji’s capital city, Suva, on the island of Viti Levu. The Laucala Campus consists of two parts, the upper and lower campuses, and is approximately 10 minutes by bus from central Suva.
Suva city offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants, nightlife, cafes, pubs, theatres, and open markets, and there is a range of outdoor activities like surfing, hiking, and swimming just outside of the city. With a population of 172,000, Suva has all of the advantages of a big city while still maintaining Fijian charm and culture.
Eligibility
Each applicant intending to study at the University of the South Pacific (USP) through UW-Platteville Education Abroad must:
- Be a degree-seeking undergraduate student who is currently enrolled at a U.S.-based college or university.
- Have completed at least one full-time semester of college at the time of application and have at least sophomore standing at the time of participation
- Have a minimum cumulative 2.25 GPA
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the time of application and participation
Students are not required to have a minimum language proficiency for any program, but courses taught in languages other than English will have specific language proficiency requirements.
Application Requirements
In addition to any application procedures required by students' home institutions, the following must be submitted via the UW-Platteville Education Abroad online application system:
- $75 application fee
- Copy of Birth Certificate
- Copy of U.S. passport: If you do not currently hold a U.S. passport, you must apply for one and submit proof of application before the program application deadline.
- Education Abroad Statement of Purpose
- Fijian Application for a permit to study
- International Study Course Approval Form (UW-Platteville students)
- Official academic transcript
- Passport photos
- Signed statements of responsibility and understanding
- Two letters of recommendation
- USP Accommodation Application
- USP Application for Admission
- USP Course Advisement Form
- USP Medical Examination Form
- UW-Platteville Education Abroad Application
You will also have access to information to assist you throughout the application process. Upon acceptance, additional pre-departure information and requirements will be provided.
Co-curricular Activities
Students studying abroad at the University of the South Pacific (USP) have a wide range of opportunities available to them to enhance their experience outside the classroom. Opportunities include:
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Excursions
Excursions are an integral part of the program and have been designed to complement studies in South Pacific history and culture. The UW-Platteville Education Abroad on-site coordinator organizes excursions each semester, many of which are included in the UW-Platteville Education Abroad program cost. Past excursions have included day and weekend trips to locales of historical and cultural significance in and around Suva, and students will learn more about the excursions available during their on-site orientation.
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Clubs and Organizations
USP has a number of student clubs and organizations that welcome study abroad students. Opportunities range from arts and culture to academics, and some of the most popular include Indian Dance, International Students Association, Polynesian Dance, and intercultural arts and choral groups.
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Sports
Fijians love sports, and at USP, there are a number of sports clubs that study abroad students can join including tennis, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, paddling, netball, and more.
Housing
Students studying abroad at the University of the South Pacific (USP) through UW-Platteville Education Abroad live in Tenth Hall on the USP campus. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to live in accommodation that is not under the direct supervision of USP.
Tenth Hall is located on the USP campus and houses local and international students from around the globe. Just a ten-minute walk to the center of campus brings you to classes and university activities.
Constructed in 2012, these modern residence halls accommodate 144 students. Each building, one male building and one female building, has three floors of accommodation and each floor consists of several eight-bedroom shared apartments with a living space with a TV, bathrooms, and a partially-equipped kitchen. All bedrooms are single and fully furnished and contain a desk and chair, bed, linens, and a fan.
Meals are not included in students' program cost, so all meals are arranged and paid for out of pocket by the student.
Wi-fi is available in Tenth Hall, but adjustments related to speed and availability must be anticipated. All units have a washing machine, but as dryers are not common in Fiji, dryers are not included.
Academics
The UW-Platteville Education Abroad program at the University of the South Pacific (USP) is designed to provide you with a personalized and integrated living and learning experience in a Fijian university. You may participate for one semester or for a full academic year, enrolling in 13 credits (4 courses) per semester. All courses are taken alongside Fijian and international students, and the courses available each term can be found on USP’s website or in their handbook and course catalog.
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Selecting Courses
While selecting courses, please keep in mind:
- At USP, 100-level courses are typically equivalent to 200-level courses in the U.S., 200-level courses are equivalent to 300-level courses, and 300-level courses are equivalent to 400-level courses. Please also note that students lacking essential prerequisite courses may be challenged by the lecturer at USP and denied a seat in the course. Any courses at the 400 level or above are prohibited.
- Semester Abroad students are not permitted to take Preliminary and Foundation courses. Any courses where the third alphabet letter is ‘P’ or ‘F’ means they are Preliminary or Foundation courses, for example, LLF11, SOP10
- Course Location: USP has multiple campuses, so students need to ensure that they are selecting courses offered at the Laucala Campus, abbreviated as “L” or “L-Laucala Campus” on the USP online course finder.
- Course Delivery Mode and Semester Codes: USP uses a coding system in their online course finder to identify the mode in which the course is delivered.
Code Mode Permission B Blended One course delivered as B or O is permitted DFL Distance Flexible Mode Prohibited F Face-to-face Recommended F/P Face-to-face/print Recommended (face-to-face at the Laucala campus/print at the other campuses) O Online One course delivered as B or O is permitted P Print Prohibited - USP also uses a coding system in their online course finder to identify the semester in which the course is delivered. Please note the following acronyms and consult USP's website for additional information.
I Offered in the U.S. spring semester II Offered in the U.S. fall semester I and II Offered in both the U.S. spring and fall semester, as a single semester course I/II Offered face-to-face in semester I but as DFL in semester II II/I Offered face-to-face in semester II but DFL in semester I -
Required Courses
All students studying abroad at USP through UW-Platteville Education Abroad are required to enroll in two courses:
- FJ-SOC 1010 Cross-Cultural Understanding (1 U.S. credit): Taught by the UW-Platteville Education Abroad On-Site Coordinator, this course is designed to help students examine their own experiences in Fiji and discover the aspects of Fijian life and culture that underlie them. These experiences are supplemented with group and individual excursions to explore various aspects of Fijian culture including politics, philosophy, society, art, education, history, and the media. It is intended to stimulate personal reflection and a cross-cultural perspective through lectures, discussions, journal writing, and excursions.
- One course on Fijian History or Culture (4 U.S. Credits): For this requirement, students may choose any course that has significant course content about Fijian life and culture. These may include courses in the areas of history, media studies, social science, art, and literature. Strongly recommended courses are UU204 Pacific Worlds or FJ101 Fijian for Beginners. You can choose additional Recommended Courses to Fulfill the USP Fijian History or Culture Course Requirement. If you find another course of interest, you can email studyabroad@uwplatt.edu to confirm that your course(s) of interest can fulfill the requirement.
You are allowed to enroll in two additional courses at USP for a total of 13 credits. Due to the high number of excursions and other activities offered through the program and at USP, students studying abroad through UW-Platteville Education Abroad will not be allowed to take more than 13 credits.
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Resident Credits
Credits will be validated on an official USP transcript at the end of the semester.
Each course taken at USP (with the exception of the Cross-Cultural Understanding course) is equivalent to 4 U.S. credits. The grades you receive abroad will be converted to the U.S. grading system of A, B, C, etc. based on the official transcript that is received from the institution abroad. UW-Platteville Education Abroad uses the following conversion guide as a guideline, provided by World Education Services, in converting students’ grades.
Please note that this only serves as a general conversion guideline.
While all credits should be transferable, you should work with your academic advisor at your home institution to choose appropriate and beneficial courses from the USP curriculum prior to your semester abroad. Courses that may fulfill specific requirements for major, minor, general education, or elective requirements towards an American degree must be approved by the appropriate person(s) at the home institution.
Visa Information
A student visa is not required for study in Fiji for a semester or academic year, but a student permit is required.
As of April 2018, there is no fee to apply for a Fijian study permit.
You need to apply for their Fijian study permit through UW-Platteville Education Abroad, and all of the necessary documents and information will be provided by UW-Platteville Education Abroad upon application. Once accepted, the UW-Platteville Education Abroad on-site coordinator will apply for the permit on your behalf.
For the most up-to-date information on the Fijian student permit process and procedures, please visit the Fijian Embassy website.