CISaustralia

What CISaustralia does

CISaustralia (legally Centre for International Studies Pty Ltd) is an Australian education abroad program provider founded around 2012 by Brad Dorahy, headquartered in Gold Coast, Queensland. The company coordinates short-term overseas study, internship, volunteer, and language programs for Australian university students, alongside faculty-led customised group programs for institutional clients. Core offerings include January and July study abroad programs, language study (French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish), hospital placements in European medical centres, volunteer abroad and domestic (Volunteer Australia), and Customised Group Programs delivered in partnership with Australian university academic staff. Programs span more than 20 destinations across six continents, with 98% of participating students receiving academic credit towards their Australian degree.

The business operates a service-led, direct-to-consumer model: students apply through the company website (cisaustralia.com.au) or call centre, pay a non-refundable A$99 application fee, and then pay variable program fees that bundle accommodation, excursions, and on-site support. Customised Group Programs are priced per-engagement and handle flights, accommodation, transport, and excursions for faculty-led cohorts. Revenue is augmented by a channel-driven referral system through formal partnerships with 38 of 40 Australian universities and industry partnerships with Flight Centre, CISI, IEAA, NAFSA, and government advisory bodies (Smartraveller, OSAC). The technology layer is operational rather than proprietary — website enquiry/application systems, a student portal, and global communication infrastructure connecting students with onsite coordinators across 40+ locations.

In July 2025, CISaustralia was acquired by CEA CAPA Education Abroad, a portfolio company of Infinedi Partners, combining it with CIS Abroad and Barcelona SAE into a platform serving over 15,000 students annually across 37 countries. Brad Dorahy retained his role as Founder and Executive Director through the transition. The combined platform positions CISaustralia as the Australian pillar of a larger global education abroad operator, with integration synergies expected in destination coverage, academic offerings, and health and safety resources.

Name

CISaustralia

Legal name

Centre for International Studies Pty Ltd

Website

https://cisaustralia.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CISaustralia coordinates short-term overseas study, internship, volunteer, and language programs for Australian university students across 30+ countries, partnering with 38 of 40 Australian universities. Acquired by CEA CAPA Education Abroad in July 2025, it operates within a combined platform serving 15,000+ students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad and Educational Travel Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), Pre-Departure Orientation, Re-Entry & Intercultural Training for Study Abroad (EDAIAAAH), Faculty-Led Study Tours & Embedded Short Programs (Home Institution-Led) (EDAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Volunteer abroad experiences
• Language immersion programs
• International internships
• Customised group programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Southport

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Students pay program fees for study abroad, internship, and volunteer experiences. These fees vary by program and include accommodation, excursions, and on-site support. The company also charges a one-time non-refundable application fee of $99 AUD for processing and assessment.
2. Customised Group Program Fees: University faculty-led group programs where CISaustralia handles logistics including flights, accommodation, transportation, and excursions. Pricing is customised per program based on length, destination, and included services.
3. Education Abroad Services: Short-term overseas study, intern and volunteer programs for academic credit. Programs run during January and July university breaks, with some year-round options. The combined entity with CEA CAPA serves over 15,000 students annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CISaustralia provides short-term overseas study, intern, and volunteer programs for Australian university students, delivered across 20+ destinations on six continents. Programs run during university breaks (January and July) as well as year-round, and include accommodation, excursions, on-site support, and academic credit coordination with Australian universities. The company also offers faculty-led Customised Group Programs designed and delivered in partnership with university academic staff.

Product overview

CISaustralia is a study abroad program provider offering a portfolio of short-term overseas educational experiences for Australian university students. The core offering consists of seven interconnected program types: January Study Abroad (summer courses), July Study Abroad (winter courses), Language Study Abroad, Hospital Placements, Volunteer Abroad, Volunteer Australia (domestic), and Customised Group Programs for universities. Programs span 20+ destinations across 6 continents and cover diverse fields of study including Arts and Design, Business and Law, Communications, Education, Health Sciences, Humanities and Languages, Social Sciences, and STEM. The company operates a student portal for enquiries and applications, with support services including 24/7 emergency assistance, pre-departure orientation, onsite coordinators, and academic credit coordination with Australian universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• January Study Abroad Programs Short-term overseas study courses offered during the January university break, allowing Australian university students to study at international universities and earn academic credit toward their degree.
• July Study Abroad Programs Short-term overseas study courses offered during the July university winter break, allowing Australian university students to study at international universities and earn academic credit toward their degree.
• Language Study Abroad Programs Immersive language study programs in French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, delivered during winter or summer breaks at destinations including Florence, Barcelona, Tokyo, and Noumea.
• Hospital Placements Clinical observation programs in European hospitals located in Athens, Barcelona, Turin, and Thessaloniki, providing healthcare students with international medical experience and academic credit toward their Australian degree.
• Volunteer Abroad Programs Year-round volunteer programs in community development, wildlife conservation, marine conservation, healthcare, and education across 20+ destinations including Africa, Asia, and South America, available for academic credit.
• Volunteer Australia Programs Domestic volunteer programs in Australia focused on environmental, marine and wildlife conservation, including wildlife sanctuary work in Queensland and turtle rehabilitation on the Great Barrier Reef.
• Customised Group Programs Faculty-led study tours and experiential learning programs co-designed with Australian university academic staff, including study tours, service learning, placements, and group internships delivered globally or domestically. Targets universities as B2B customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of students receive academic credit towards their degree for their CISaustralia program abroad
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, moderate and minor.

• CEA CAPA Education AbroadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2025CEA CAPA Education Abroad, a portfolio company of Infinedi Partners, acquired CISaustralia along with CIS Abroad and Barcelona SAE in July 2025. The combined entity serves over 15,000 students annually across 37 countries. The integration brings expanded global destinations, academic offerings, and enhanced health and safety resources. Brad Dorahy remains as Founder and Executive Director.
• Australian Universities (38 of 40)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISaustralia has formal partnerships with 38 of 40 Australian universities for customised group programs. University partners include ACU, ANU, Bond, Charles Darwin, Charles Sturt, Curtin, Deakin, ECU, Flinders, Griffith, JCU, La Trobe, Macquarie, Monash, Murdoch, Notre Dame, QUT, RMIT, Southern Cross, Swinburne, Torrens, Adelaide, Auckland, Canberra, Melbourne, UNE, UNSW, Newcastle, Queensland, UNISA, UniSQ, Sydney, Tasmania, UTS, UWA, Wollongong, and Victoria University.
• Flight CentremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlight Centre provides airfare and travel services for CISaustralia students. The partnership offers students discounted travel arrangements for their overseas programs. Students are referred to Flight Centre for flight bookings and travel advice.
• International Education Association of Australia (IEAA)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerIEAA is the industry body for international education in Australia. CISaustralia maintains membership and partnership with IEAA for industry networking, best practices, and professional development in the education abroad sector.
• NAFSA: Association of International EducatorsmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerNAFSA is a leading association for international educators. CISaustralia maintains partnership with NAFSA for industry recognition, professional resources, and global networking in the education abroad sector.
• Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerANZCCJ promotes business relations between Australia/New Zealand and Japan. CISaustralia partners with ANZCCJ to support programs in Japan and provide students with networking opportunities with Australian business professionals in Japan.
• Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI)majorOthersCISI provides international student insurance services. CISaustralia requires students to have mandatory International Medical/Accident/Travel Insurance, with students referred to or facilitated through CISI for coverage that includes COVID-related illness.
• Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - SmartravellercoreOthersSmartraveller provides official Australian Government travel advisories and consular assistance. CISaustralia requires all students to subscribe to Smartraveller as part of the enrollment process, and uses their advisories for risk monitoring and program decision-making.
• Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)moderateOthersOSAC, part of the US Department of State, provides security information and travel alerts. CISaustralia monitors OSAC alerts as part of their comprehensive risk management approach for overseas programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIS Abroad: Sister company under CEA CAPA Education Abroad providing study abroad, intern and volunteer programs to US university students; structurally identical offering to CISaustralia but serving the US outbound market.
• IES Abroad: Nonprofit study abroad provider offering semester and short-term programs at 30+ locations worldwide; directly comparable in multi-country portfolio, academic credit framing, and university partnership model.
• SAI Programs: US-based study abroad provider focused on European and select international destinations; comparable in offering semester, short-term and custom faculty-led programs with university partnerships.
• CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Parent company and direct study abroad program provider serving US and international university students with credit-bearing programs; acquired CISaustralia in July 2025 and is the closest operational and strategic comparable.
• ISA (International Studies Abroad) by WorldStrides: Study abroad provider under WorldStrides offering programs in 30+ countries; directly comparable service offering including custom group programs, intern placements and academic credit support.
• Barcelona SAE: Sister company under CEA CAPA Education Abroad specialising in Spain-based study abroad; comparable provider offering short-term academic programs with embedded support services similar to CISaustralia's model.
• API (Academic Programs International): Study abroad provider offering short-term and semester programs across multiple countries with academic credit and university partnerships; closest head-to-head competitor in the multi-country, multi-discipline category.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: Global education company offering study abroad, language travel and academic programs across dozens of countries; broad incumbent competitor with overlapping short-term experiential program offerings, though at much larger scale.
• WorldStrides: Large education travel and study abroad platform owning multiple brands (including ISA); comparable in custom group programs and study abroad offering but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple education verticals.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Large nonprofit international education organisation offering study abroad, intern and volunteer programs; broader portfolio across many countries and program types but overlapping target market and product structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cisaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cisaustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CISaustralia