You can be part of an international research program in the wilds of Borneo as part of your undergraduate degree through enrolment in UniSC's ENS333 Special Field Studies Topic course.
Course details
This course (commencing in Session 1, 2026) will take you to the pristine rainforests of Sarawak and Brunei in Borneo. You will visit a variety of locations including Mulu World Heritage Area (Sarawak) and Ulu Temburong National Park (Brunei) giving you a taste of this region including peat swamps, mangroves and dipterocarp forests.
Program leaders
UniSC students are lucky to have UniSC academics Associate Professor Alison Shapcott, Professor Cathy Yule, and Associate Professor Volker Herzig, who combined have extensive research experience in Borneo, to take you on this journey and enable you to experience a diversity of different types of field work.
Associate Professor Shapcott has collaborated with The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) to study understory palms in unlogged rainforests in Brunei.
Professor Yule is a tropical ecologist who lived and worked in South East Asia for 30 years in Borneo, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. She has many years of experience working in Mulu and is an expert on freshwater invertebrates and peat swamps.
Associate Professor Herzig is a world leading venom expert who will introduce you to arthropod diversity where you will sample in a variety of ecosystems.
You will meet fellow students from the UBD, take part in a long-term monitoring project at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre and contribute voucher specimens to the UBD Herbarium.
Important dates
- EOI submitted: by 22 August 2025
- Travel dates: 19 January–15 February 2026
Program summary
Where: Borneo
When: 19 January–15 February 2026
Costs: A$4,326*
UniSC course: ENS333
Teaching period: Session 1, 2026
Program leaders: Associate Professor Alison Shapcott, Professor Cathy Yule and Associate Professor Volker Herzig
* This amount is indicative and includes the program delivery and accommodation.
^ A return flight to your destination will be organised by Program leaders and booked through UniSC's corporate travel provider FCM. This cost is indicative and will be finalised at the point of booking.
- UniSC undergraduate students that have competed at least 12 courses in your respective Undergraduate program and;
- Can enrol in ENS333
As this tour is supported by NCP funding, you should also be aware of the NCP Mobility Grant criteria, where you:
a) must be an Australian citizen
b) are not a citizen or permanent resident of a host location in which they will undertake a mobility project
c) are enrolled in a UniSC onshore campus and undertaking a bachelor degree or bachelor honours degree
d) will receive credit/count towards the course requirements for the student's bachelor degree, bachelor honours degree or concurrent diploma
e) meet the age requirements 18 and 28 years* inclusive at the commencement of the Mobility Project.
*Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students do not need to be aged between 18 and 28
| Day | Date | Activity |
|---|---|---|
|
Day 1 |
19 January | International air travel |
|
Day 2 |
20 January |
Half day trip - orangutans and biodiversity centre |
|
Day 3 |
21 January | Half day trip - cultural village |
|
Day 4 |
22 January | Full day trip - Bako (depending on weather) |
|
Day 5 |
23 January | Half day trip - museum or Bako (depending on weather) |
|
Day 6 |
24 January | Travel to Mulu evening - bat exodus |
|
Day 7 |
25 January | Canopy walk / intro to veg types and pitfall trap methods / bioblitz |
|
Day 8 |
26 January | Dear cave tour / pitfall trapping / bioblitz |
|
Day 9 |
27 January | Clearwater cave tour / pitfall trapping / bioblitz |
|
Day 10 |
28 January | Waterfall / bioblitz talks |
|
Day 11 |
29 January | Travel to Brunei |
|
Day 12 |
30 January | UBD culture and language |
|
Day 13 |
31 January | Free time / mangrove tour |
|
Day 14 |
1 February | Travel to KBFSC / intro cameratrap set up |
|
Day 15 |
2 February | KBFSC Pinaga surveys |
|
Day 16 |
3 February | KBFSC canopy walk |
|
Day 17 |
4 February | Return to BSB |
|
Day 18 |
5 February | Pitfall traps / UBD kerangas |
|
Day 19 |
6 February | Insect ID / pitfall traps |
|
Day 20 |
7 February | Freshwater sampling / UBD activities |
|
Day 21 |
8 February | Free time |
|
Day 22 |
9 February | Travel to Biodiversity Centre / Ethnobotanical tour / set up pitfall traps / stay Sg Liang |
|
Day 23 |
10 February | Plant collections at study sites / ID and pressing / Biodiversity Centre |
|
Day 24 |
11 February | Pitfall trap collections and ID at Tropical Biodiversity centre |
|
Day 25 |
12 February | Site visit Peat Swamp / return BSB |
|
Day 26 |
13 February | UBD poster presentation |
|
Day 27 |
14 February | Free time |
|
Day 28 |
15 February | Return to Australia |
This is an example program itinerary that is subject to change. A detailed program itinerary will be provided by the academics closer to the program dates.
|
Flights |
A$2,200^ |
|
|
Accommodation |
A$855* |
Shared room |
|
Meals |
A$325* |
Per person for two weeks |
|
Local transport
|
A$31* |
|
|
Visa |
A$20* |
|
|
Excursions |
A$95 |
|
|
Miscellaneous (KBFSC) |
A$800 |
|
|
Final cost |
A$4,326* |
|
* These amounts are indicative, and you will be provided with more detailed costings after you have submitted your Expression of Interest.
^ A return flight to your destination will be organised by Program leaders and booked through UniSC's corporate travel provider FCM. This cost is indicative and will be finalised at the point of booking.
What is not included in the costings above:
- Passport (Students arrange their own)
- Any required vaccinations
- Non program related transportation costs
- Activities not related to the program
- Tuition fee for enrolment in ENS333
What next?
Step 1: After submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) the academic will review submissions and make final selections.
After the EOI deadline passes and if you are selected to proceed, they will send your details to the Global Mobility team. The Global Mobility team will provide you with a range of forms to complete in International SONIA.
- SONIA – is the system we use to manage student placement activities at UniSC.
If there are vaccination requirements, or other requirements, you need to meet to participate in the course (such as a blue card, or evidence of COVID vaccinations for entry to a country) we will ask you to provide evidence that you meet these requirements.
Step 2: Various teams at UniSC assess your responses and determine your eligibility to enrol in the associated course. You will be advised if you have been successful in receiving a place on the Short-Term Mobility Program by being allocated to the placement in SONIA International. You will be enrolled in the associated course on USC Central.
Step 3: You will be advised if you have been successful in receiving an NCP Mobility Grant (where available).
Step 4: You will register with any Third-Party Provider involved in the delivery of the program (if applicable).
Step 5: UniSC will send you details regarding flight costs associated with your program and your flights will be booked via UniSC Travel.
Step 6: Attend pre-departure sessions and apply for OS-HELP
Alongside this, you will be provided additional information specific to the program by the academic involved in the delivery of the Short-Term Mobility Program.
Funding
New Colombo Plan funding.
This program has received New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility program funding, awarded by the Australian government. Eligible students will receive an offer for up to A$4,000 grant to support their participation in the program.
If you submit a successful Expression of Interest you will be invited to complete an NCP Eligibility form. You can review the general eligibility criteria here, however please note the criteria may vary depending on the project and eligibility will be assessed on the point of receiving a completed NCP Eligibility form.
OS HELP
Overseas Student HELP loans (OS-HELP) are provided by the Commonwealth government to eligible HECS-HELP students undertaking various international experiences for credit. Eligible students can borrow up to A$9,504 for study in Asia. Please visit the OS-Help website to read the eligibility criteria and further information.
