Eligibility for semester and year-long programs

Find out if you're eligible to undertake a Semester or Year-long overseas study experience.

Most students at the University of Melbourne will be eligible for Semester and Year-long programs.

Global Semester programs are open to:

  • Students of all ages
  • Domestic and international students
  • Students who are enrolled in a formal University of Melbourne Program degree* program.

*Students who are enrolled solely in a certificate program, diploma program or graduate diploma program are not eligible for a global semester program.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility is determined after semester results are released following the application deadline.

To be eligible to participate in a Semester and Year-long program you must**:

  • Be enrolled as a student at the University of Melbourne in either a bachelors, masters or graduate research degree Graduate research degree students should review the graduate researchers requirements for Study Away
  • Have completed a minimum of two study periods (undergraduate students) or one study period (graduate students) at the University of Melbourne before departure
  • Not have an 'at risk' status any time before commencing the overseas study program, after submitting your Global Learning application to the University of Melbourne
  • Not have conditions imposed by the Course Academic Progress Committee
  • Not be subject to an undischarged misconduct penalty, suspended for misconduct, or become suspended any time before commencing the overseas study program
  • Ensure you take your entire global semester load at the host institution in person. Students are not permitted to enrol into online subjects at the host institution while on their global semester program
  • Ensure you are not concurrently enrolled in any University of Melbourne subjects (online or in-person) at any time during your official period abroad.

There is no minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) criteria.

**Melbourne Law School students are required to satisfy eligibility requirements as outlined by the School including a 65% WAM requirement.

Important Information

Study periods vary across the academic year and include terms, semesters, year-long and intensive periods of study.

If you would like to check your academic status before applying for overseas study, contact Stop 1.

If you become 'at risk' in the academic period immediately prior to departure, your participation will be subject to the approval of the Registrar in consultation with the relevant course coordinator. You will be required to meet any expense incurred due to cancellation of eligibility.

Other requirements

If you fulfil the eligibility criteria above, you will also need to:

  • Complete the compulsory myWorld First Steps online program
  • Get overseas study plan approval for the subjects you wish to take overseas
  • Demonstrate your ability to support your stay overseas through a financial plan
  • Satisfy host institution and country entry requirements
  • Be a good ambassador for the University of Melbourne
  • Study the equivalent of at least a full-time load while overseas
  • Ensure you have not already completed a maximum of two semesters of overseas study within your current University of Melbourne degree
  • Students are not permitted to concurrently enrol into University of Melbourne subjects while on their global semester program.

Application preparation

Before Applying

Before applying to the Global Semester Program, take time to consider how it fits within your degree plan. If you’re planning internships, placements, or other commitments, think carefully about when you’ll complete them, so they don’t clash with your time studying overseas. We recommend you meet with Course Planning, who can help you with your degree planning.

Host Institution Selection

As part of your application, you’ll need to choose three destination options. These choices are considered equally—there is no ranking or preference order. Be sure that all three options are universities you would be happy to attend. This is also highlighted in the student participation agreement, and it important that you are aware of this when applying for the program.

Honours students

To undertake Semester-long overseas study during your honours year, students must apply in their final year of undergraduate study at the University of Melbourne.

You must have the support of your faculty dean and honours coordinator to participate. Approval must be sought prior to the commencement of your honours course. Different faculties may also have different eligibility requirements, so it's a good idea to consult with your honours coordinator for more information.

In most cases you will not be able to officially begin your thesis until you return to Melbourne after your global program. This will extend your honours course by 6 months (to a total of 18 months).

Honours students wanting to undertake a research opportunity overseas should see Programs for researchers.

Transferring students

If you have transferred to the University of Melbourne after at least a semester of study at another tertiary institution, and have been granted credit at the University of Melbourne, you will only be required to complete a minimum of 12.5 points and one study period at the University of Melbourne before being eligible to apply for overseas study.

All other undergraduate eligibility requirements also apply.

If you are thinking about transferring to another University of Melbourne Degree Program, it is important to remember that your Global Semester Program eligibility will be assessed based on your current degree program results and progression as at the time of the University of Melbourne internal deadline for your Global Semester Program application.

This means that your ongoing Global Semester Program eligibility may be affected if you plan to transfer to a different University of Melbourne degree program, between applying to the University of Melbourne by the Global Learning internal deadline and when you commence your Global Semester Program. This scenario may see you needing to withdraw from the Program for various reasons.