Ecotourism
Ring in the New Year in Tasmania – 16 hours ahead of your friends! While it is winter in Virginia, enjoy summer in Australia while visiting wombats, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, penguins, fur seals and more in both their native habitat and in animal sanctuaries. You will see wonderful new sights and experience Australian culture in the trip of a lifetime!
December 27, 2025 – January 6, 2026
Program Fee: $6,845
Registration and $500 non-refundable deposit due: September 30, 2025
Final Balance ($6,345) due: November 1, 2025
Use the Make a Standard Payment button below to pay your deposit and regular program balance payment. Use the Make a Flexible Payment option to pay an alternate amount (such as additional insurance or payment in a different amount as a result of a scholarship award).
Online payees have the choice of either credit card or eCheck (ACH) payment. ACH transactions will be charged a flat fee of $0.50 per transaction. All credit card payments will incur a 2.95% service fee. For credit card payments, a minimum convenience fee of $3.00 will be applied to transactions over $20.00 and under $102.00.
Students can avoid fees by paying in-person at the UMW Cashier’s office by cash or check (made out to “UMW”). The Cashier’s office is located on the 2nd floor of Lee Hall.
In addition to the program travel during Winter Break, students will enroll in the Fall 2025 course MKTG 370: Ecotourism for 3 credits. The course will meet weekly for the last 8 weeks of the Fall 2025 semester in preparation for the trip to Australia.
This course satisfies both the Beyond the Classroom and Diverse and Global Perspectives general education requirements. For Business majors (other than Accounting), this course also meets one of your upper-level requirements or electives. All majors welcome!
Students will stay in comfortable local hotels or college rooms. WiFi access is included (with the possible exception of a few nights). Students will have the opportunity to stock up at a local supermarket for inexpensive breakfasts. The cost of the trip includes one group meal per day (lunch or supper depending on the day) and students will be individually responsible for the other meal.
There are no prerequisites for the course. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to participate. This program is open to all UMW students regardless of major or year of study.
Included in the program fee:
- International airfare
- Accommodations
- Some meals
- In-country transportation per itinerary to include airport transfers
- Group excursions and entrance fees per itinerary
- UMW Education Abroad Fee
- International medical insurance
Excluded in the program fee:
- UMW Tuition (may be included into your fall term course load)
- Passport and/or visa fees
- Souvenirs and other personal expenses
- Personal health costs (ex. vaccination fees, COVID-19 testing, etc.)
- Supplemental meals and snacks
This program requires a moderate level of activity, including significant walking and hiking in uneven terrain.
International travel may require immunizations or preventative medicines. Please refer to the US Center for Disease Control’s Traveler’s Health Information Page for recommendations. The UMW Health Center provides free travel consultations by appointment, as well as travel information for UMW students. The Center for International Education recommends that each student have a personalized medical consultation prior to international travel.
Visit CIE’s Scholarships & Funding webpage to learn more about financial options as it relates to education abroad including Financial Aid, 529 Plans, etc.