What's exchange?

Basically, an exchange program is when two universities sign an agreement stating that they would like to form a cooperative relationship which allows them to exchange (or swap) students each year. Students then have the opportunity to study at an overseas university for either a semester or a year.

While on exchange, you will continue to be enrolled as a full-time student at UQ, but classified as studying elsewhere. This means you will continue to pay UQ tuition fees/accrue HECS HELP and will also be liable for all UQ compulsory fees for the duration of the exchange. Your absence creates places for visiting exchange students to study at UQ.

How do I apply?



The exchange process



Fees

Requirements for course approvals



Scholarships



Travel insurance

Important Notes

The minimum full time load at some partner institutions require you to study 5 or 6 courses while on exchange. Yet, given the way in which courses are weighted at that institution, you may only receive 8 units of credit towards your program at The University of Queensland. For example, students applying to the University College of Dublin must enrol in 6 courses per semester while on exchange. However, only 8 units of credit may be awarded. In some cases, credit can only be awarded towards general electives. This is particularly so for students applying to study various Business Management, Commerce and/or Economics related courses in UK institutions due to the difference in credit weighting. Please consult the Academic Administration Officer who looks after your program with regards to this matter in the case it applies to the institution of your choice.

• If a host institution requires you to study more than the equivalent of 8 units at The University of Queensland, you may be placed on a permission list to enrol in a maximum of 10 units of exchange courses. As you will be charged for the additional course, you must ensure that your enrolment is in accordance with the approval you receive at the faculty. Credit will only be awarded when you have enrolled in, paid for and passed the relevant courses.
• If a host institution does not require you to study more than the equivalent of 8 units at The University of Queensland, yet you wish to do so, you must obtain a semester GPA of at least 4.50 in the preceding semester here. Also, you must gain approval from the Academic Administration Officer who looks after your program. Again, you will be placed on a permission list if the additional course is approved as you must enrol in the 5th exchange course code to be charged for the course accordingly. Credit will only be awarded when you have enrolled in, paid for and passed the relevant courses.
• The census date in each semester still applies to your enrolment whilst on exchange. This means that if you are approved to enrol in 10 units of exchange courses as you would like to overload your studies while overseas, yet you later decide to withdraw from the additional 5th course, you may do so without incurring any academic or financial penalties if you drop the course by the relevant UQ census date for that semester and notify the faculty of this. In cases where the host institution requires you to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 courses (equivalent to 10 units here), you may not have the option to withdraw from the 5th course.
• You must obtain a passing grade for an approved course at the host institution in order to be awarded credit for the course. Conceded or conditional passes are not accepted. This applies particularly to institutions in Canada. You must obtain a grade of ‘C’ while on exchange in order to be awarded credit for the course. A grade of ‘D’ will not be accepted for credit.
• Australian permanent residents without a Humanitarian visa and New Zealand citizens on exchange will be required to pay up-front tuition fees, at the Band 1 (domestic students tuition fee) rate of AUD$6,320 for 8 units (2009). The Federal Government has advised that permanent residents without a Humanitarian visa and New Zealand citizens undertaking exchange studies overseas cannot be Commonwealth Supported, as studying outside Australia does not meet the Government's residency requirements.