Melbourne School of Engineering

Study Abroad & Exchange

Am I a Study Abroad or an Exchange applicant?

Although both Study Abroad and Exchange programs involve studying away from the University of Melbourne for one or two semesters, there are important differences between the programs.

  • Exchange students from the University of Melbourne take up a course place at an approved overseas institution and in return a student from that institution may study at the University of Melbourne. As an Exchange student you remain enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Melbourne and continue to pay your fees here in whatever form you have previously paid them. You are also enrolled as a full-time student at the host institution, but you are not required to pay any tuition fees at that institution. Exchange students must travel to a partner institution.
  • Study Abroad students enrol at institutions that do not have an exchange agreement with the University of Melbourne. As a Study Abroad student you must take a leave of absence from your degree at the University of Melbourne and enrol directly with, and pay any applicable tuition fees to, your chosen institution. Study Abroad students will be required to arrange their own overseas study program, but are welcome to use this website and the Melbourne Abroad resource room for advice, and attend the Exchange pre-departure session, where possible.
Scholarhips?

The School can assist you to undertake the exchange by providing scholarship assistance.

 

The Melbourne Abroad Program

The Melbourne Abroad Unit provides support to students interested in studying overseas for part of their university degree either as an Exchange student or as a Study Abroad student. On either program you can receive credit or fulfil academic requirements for your studies overseas, if your study schedule is approved.

Frequently asked questions

Which University can I apply to?

The School would prefer that you apply to a University with whom we have an agreement. Research the Engineering Faculty Partner institutions

What funding assistance is available?

Find out more about Exchange funding assistance from the Melbourne Schoolof Engineering

Can I go during any year of my course?

Talk to your department about this as each department has their own needs for example the Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering would prefer students to go on exchange in the second year of their course.

Should I go in first or second semester?

You need to discuss this with your department to ensure that your course structure is not affected. It is also important to travel overseas at least 2 weeks before your program starts just in case that you have difficulties in getting approval for subjects by the host institution. In this case, you need to contact the Department here immediately to review your course plan. Please note that in some cases if there are such difficulties, you may have to extend your course by a semester. This may be an issue for international students.

Melbourne Abroad Exchange Blog

The site is an interactive, online resource for those students contemplating taking part in the exchange program, and to encourage other students to consider the benefits of undertaking overseas study during their time at the University of Melbourne. 

www.services.unimelb.edu.au/exchanges/blog

 

What some returned Engineering students had to say about exchange

"I choose to undertake an exchange to Carnegie Mellon University because it gives me a chance to do something different, to travel without being a tourist and meet new people, make friends. From a personal perspective, I have increased independence, I am more appreciative of our own culture, form stronger friendship with people and family at home. I had the opportunity to see how education works in a different country and study at a prestigious research institution.

If I had the opportunity to do it over again, I would have organised my course so I could have stayed for a year!"

Joel Beach
Fifth Year Bachelor of Science/Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA

"It was a fantastic way to travel, work overseas and study in a different country; without losing my friends at Melbourne. I made heaps of amazing friends from around the world, gained independence, learnt how to play hockey, found a girlfriend and caught a little thing called the "travel bug".

Different universities have different strengths. I learnt about hydrographic surveying from world-class professors and discovered issues affecting geomatics and science in Canada."

Daniel Carter
Fourth Year Bachelor of Geomatic Engineering/Science
University of New Brunswick