Global year long program FAQs

For global semester program application dates, refer to the Application dates and timelines.

Once you have applied, refer to the exchange application processing timeline.

1. Complete the My World First Steps Online Module.
2. Make sure you have space to fit an exchange into your degree, and confirm when (which semester) you can go. The best way to do this is using My Course Planner and then book a Course Planning appointment.
   • If you are a graduate student, you should also speak to your Course Coordinator.
3. Read the Step-by-step guide to ensure you meet the eligibility guidelines and understand your degree requirements.
4. Browse our Partner Database to view available host institutions for your overseas study.
5. Attend a Study overseas information session to find out how to navigate the exchange application process and ask questions about exchange.

Need more help?

Book a Global Learning appointment (recommended) Submit a Global Learning enquiry

It’s essential to thoroughly research appropriate subjects during the planning stage of your application. The subject offerings at your allocated institution must fit into your degree for you to go on exchange.

1. Firstly, you need to make sure you have space to fit a global semester program into your degree and confirm when (which semester) you can go. The best way to do this is using My Course Planner and then book a Course Planning appointment.
2. Check your faculty rules and restrictions restrictions and use My Course Planner to identify the types of subjects you will need to study overseas.
3. Refer to the step-by-step guide for more information about how to plan your plan your overseas study.
4. Review our list of subjects at overseas institutions which have previously been approved for credit transfer back to the University of Melbourne. This can give you some ideas for subjects you may be able to study while overseas.
   • Please note: this list is a guide only. Refer to the Host handbook or course catalogue for each host institution via the brochure pages 'Host Eligibility & Information' tab to thoroughly research available subject options.
5. Complete the credit planning checklist as part of your application.
6. Once you have been allocated to a host institution, you will submit subjects for assessment to complete your Overseas study plan.

Need more help?

Book a Course Planning appointment
(Advice about understanding degree requirements and what you can study on exchange)

Book a Global Learning appointment
(Help with finding suitable subjects at the host institution)

1. If you’re considering how to fund your study overseas, refer to the information about Overseas study scholarships and funding options including OS HELP loans. You can also review the Scholarships Directory.
2. Find information to help you plan your budget for your global semester program.
3. If you are awaiting your first scholarship payment, please check the payment dates, ensure you are enrolled into your placeholder subjects and have updated your bank details.
4. If Centrelink has requested a document to verify your overseas study, you can provide them with your University of Melbourne Acceptance Letter.
5. Read information to understand how subject tuition fees work while on your global semester program.

Need more help?

Submit enquiry to Scholarships and Fees
(For general enquiries)

Submit a Global Learning enquiry
(For questions regarding New Colombo Plan grants/scholarships or Westpac Asian Exchange scholarships)

1. Exchange placeholder subjects with the prefix EXCH or STDY will be listed on your study plan for the relevant semester(s). These will reflect the subjects you are studying overseas, and you will be charged fees accordingly.
2. Once we have processed your host university acceptance letter, you will receive a request to complete a ‘Placeholder Enrolment Questionnaire’. This is to confirm your placeholder enrolment during the overseas study period.
3. Placeholders have census dates. If you need to make any changes to your placeholder subjects, you must submit an enquiry to Global study - outbound enrolments as soon as possible and prior to the subject’s census date.

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global study – outbound enrolments (recommended)

Your Overseas Study Planner is an internal tool and does not impact your nomination or application to the host institution.

1. Refer to our guide to the Overseas Study Planner (OSSP) and our Overseas Study Planner - Student User Guide.
2. Standard processing time for subject assessment is 10 working days. If your subject has not been assessed in this timeframe, please contact the relevant Discipline Adviser for any core/elective/breadth subject assessments.
   • If you want to request a review of a subject outcome, submit the subject again and include additional subject information to support your request, adding a comment that you would like the subject to be reviewed again. 
   • If you need to make changes to a subject that has been recommended for credit, you must withdraw from the subject and resubmit with necessary changes. Once a subject has been recommended for credit, it is no longer possible to make changes.
3. The OSSP is configured to allow you to enter double the maximum credit load per semester. If you have already reached this threshold and need to add subjects, you will need to withdraw subjects to make room. Please do not withdraw the entire plan.
4. You can add further subjects to the OSSP after the deadline, including once you have arrived at the host institution. Please request changes as soon as possible to ensure the subjects can be assessed in time.
5. Once the required number of subjects have been recommended for credit, your plan will be reviewed by the Enrolments team for suitability towards your degree. This status during this time will be ‘Under Stop 1 Review’.
6. Please note your OSSP must be in ‘Approved’ status to ‘Commit’ to subjects and ‘Finalise’ your plan. Only commit to your subjects once you have arrived and enrolled into the subjects at the host.
7. To amend the credit points of your OSSP, please submit an enquiry to Global Learning.
8. Individual subject credit amount at your host institution will not always align 1:1 with University of Melbourne subject credit load.  To understand the credit equivalency for your host institution, please refer to the ‘Credit Load & Academic Requirements’ tab on the relevant brochure page.

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global Learning (recommended)

Re-enrolling is the process of confirming which subjects and any planned periods of leave you will be taking over the whole of the coming year. If you are a currently enrolled coursework student and are continuing your course next year, you must re-enrol for the entire year during the re-enrolment period.

As a potential global semester student (inclusive of S1 and S2) you should enrol in University of Melbourne subjects as you would if you were not going on exchange as a placeholder or plan B in case your semester program circumstances change. Read more about how to Re-enrol in your course.

Note there are deadlines by which to enrol to ensure you maintain your place in your University of Melbourne course and aren't charged any late re-enrolment fees.

You must re-enrol:

to retain your place in your course, including if you are:
• taking a break from your studies
• graduating mid-year
• completing a study overseas program

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global study - outbound enrolments (recommended)

1. If you need an Academic Reference Letter / Letter of Recommendation, contact your Faculty. This document should be produced by a faculty academic who can comment on your academic capabilities and verify your suitability for exchange.
2. To have your Learning Agreement signed by your Education Abroad Adviser, submit an enquiry to Global Learning. Check the signature on your nomination email to confirm who your Education Abroad Adviser is. You must use the host institutions' Learning Agreement template.
3. If you need a document which confirms your English language proficiency, please double check with the host that this is required. In most cases this requirement is waived by our partners as the University of Melbourne teaches in English. If you do require this document, submit an enquiry.
4. To request a document which confirms your proficiency in a language other than English, contact the relevant Faculty who can conduct a language proficiency assessment and provide a letter.

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global Learning (recommended)

1. You must wait to be nominated by Global Learning team before commencing your application to the host. Nominations are made on a rolling basis based on the host institution’s timelines. See the rolling deadlines for application to be received by host institutions to confirm your expected application timeframe. You will be nominated before your application due date, with sufficient time to complete the application.
2. Your Overseas Study Planner is an internal tool and does not impact your nomination or application to the host institution.
3. While you are waiting to be nominated, please:

• Check your student emails regularly (including junk and spam folders).
• Familiarise yourself with Step 6 – Get ready.
• Do not book flights or accommodation or any other non-refundable financial commitments.
• Any visa questions should be directed to the relevant Visa Service / Consulate Office.

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global Learning (recommended)

1. Please see information about altering your time overseas.
2. Refer to information about withdrawing from my global semester program.

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global Learning (recommended)

1. Submit your transcript via your global experience application portal. You will have access to the questionnaire the day after your program end date listed in your global experience portal.
2. Refer to Step 9 of step-by-step guide for more information about final steps of your global experience program.
3. If you have a specific question relating to the credit you have been awarded for overseas study, please contact the Enrolments team via Global study – Outbound enrolment.
4. If you have questions regarding the remaining requirements of your degree on return from overseas study, please contact the Course Planning team.

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry to Global Learning (recommended)