If a student would like to go to a non-partner university they must do this independently from Macquaire. Students should apply to the university of choice as an international student and then defer their studies at Macquarie for the semester they are away. Students can then apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) on their return to Macquarie to gain credit for their studies abroad. 

It is important to note you will not be eligible for a Travel Grant or a OS-Help loan if you decide to take this option. Our team is also unable to provide any advice in regards non-exchange programs.

Yes, we can assess you for the program once you have completed 12 credit points at Macquarie University. However, not all partners will accept student with only 1 semester of study, so you option may be limited. One year full time study should be accepted by most partners.

You can go on exchange in your last semester so long as you have enough units remaining to study full time whilst on exchange (minimum 9cp for undergraduates; minimum 8cp for Postgraduates). However, you are only eligible to take out the government OS Help Loan if you have at least 1 unit to return to upon your return. 

We strongly encourage students who go on exchange in their final semester to discuss this with an academic advisor from your department first.

No. Unfortunately, this is a strict cut off. Study hard and apply next semester!

Yes, you may apply for multiple exchange programs if you have available credit in your degree. Please also note you must adhere to the minimum requirements must undertake at Macquarie.

Yes, depending on spaces at the host university. If you want to extend to do a full year you will need to discuss with an academic advisor if there is space in your degree for an extra semester. If yes, the you will need to apply again to Macquarie Exchange Program. However, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to stay at the same university. Depending on how many other students apply to go on exchange to that university, you may be nominated to another university for your second semester.

Applications are assessed on a rolling bases. The length it will take to hear an outcome depends on the time of year you apply and the session you are applying for. If you are applying for Session 1 exchange you should expect to hear around July - September the previous year, if you are applying for Session 2 exchange you should expect to hear around January - March the same year.

These are approximate timelines and may vary. Your patience is appreciated when waiting to hear the outcome of your application.

The fee may take a few weeks to appear in your account. Please just be patient and constantly check your student account. This is the same with the iLearn unit, students will be added once the content is finalised.

Students will be added to the iLearn unit when the page has been finalised. Do not worry if you have accepted your offer, we have you on the list to add to iLearn.

This depends on how competitive that university is and how many places are available. This will change each semester. The UK, USA and Canada are extremely popular destinations and therefore very competitive. If your preference is in one of these regions and you cannot be placed, we will offer you an alternative option. It is important to be flexible with your preferences.

Students are offered places based on what is available. If you are unhappy with your offer you may reject this and ask to be reassessed for the same session (if time permits) or for the following session. If you ask to be reassessed, list new preferences in your email correspondence. However, if being reassessed for the same session, it is important to list other preferences as you were unable to be placed at the original ones.

After you have accepted your offer from Macquarie, you will be nominated to the host university in line with their nominations deadlines. You will then be contacted either by Macquarie Abroad or the host university directly in regards to their application process. This can take up to 5 months depending on whether you received an offer. Please constantly check your student email for any updates.

We recommend you contact either the institution (usually university or consulate) requesting the Proof of Funds to clarify what you can/can't use as proof of funding. The only confirmation of travel grant or OS-Help loan funding Macquarie University will provide is in your program offer letter. You may consider using that if accepted by relevant institution.

Remember, if you do not have enough funds in your bank account to support your exchange, you can also use the bank account of a sponsor as proof. This sponsor can be a parent, relative or anyone else who confirms to support you while abroad. They will just have to provide a letter or fill in the relevant form requested by the host institution to confirm this, and show a copy of their bank statement as proof of funds.

Each university has a different application process and timeline. Students should expect to wait up to 4 months after the host universities' application deadline to hear back with an outcome. Macquarie Abroad will not be able to chase up host university or speed up this process. Make sure you constantly check your student email for any updates.

Accommodation is not guaranteed. Exchange universities have staff available to assist students in securing housing.

Students generally choose to live in residential colleges on their host university campuses (very common in North America).

It is recommend that you choose on campus accommodation if it is available; it is the best way to meet local students and to become involved in university life.

Quite often the housing application will be a part of your application to your host university, but this depends on each institution - some universities require a separate application for housing.

Yes, you are certainly permitted to find your own accommodation off campus if you prefer.

• Please upload your travel insurance (PDF format) in the "Attachments" field.
• Please fill up the below information:
  • Departure Date = date of your departure
  • Prog Start Date = Program start date
  • Mid Sem Start = Mid semester start date
  • Mid Sem End = Mid semester end date
  • Prog End Date = Program end date
  • Return Date = The date you return to Australia
  • Centerlink? = Do you receive Centerlink payment?

Yes, you are required to make your own travel arrangements.

After you have been notified of your official acceptance to the Host University. Should you choose to buy the airfare before this time due to limited flights or prior arrangements, you assume all risk for loss of funds.

Yes. All students must be covered under a comprehensive insurance policy from the day they leave Australia until the day they return to Australia (inclusive). It is your choice which policy you purchase, however it is recommended that the coverage meet the following minimum requirements :

• Unlimited medical expenses 
• At least AU$1,000,000 (one million dollars) medical evacuation costs and AU$100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) repatriation costs 
• At least AU$2.5,000,000 (two point five million dollars) in public liability insurance

All students must submit a copy of their insurance certificate of coverage along with other documentation to their exchange adviser in order to receive the travel grant.

Most students will need to get a student visa in order to enter their host country. Obtaining a visa is your responsibility, as is abiding by its conditions.

Please apply to the relevant country embassy / consulate.

You will apply for your visa after your official acceptance into the Macquarie University Student Exchange Program and after you have been accepted by your host university.

Your official acceptance by your host university may simply be in the form of a letter of acceptance, or it may be a more sophisticated form of visa documentation (particularly in the case of the USA). You will be required to take this official documentation to the appropriate Consulate to apply for your student visa.

If you hold multiple passports, such as an Australian passport and a British passport, we encourage you to obtain a student visa and travel using your Australian passport.

Again, please note that arranging your visa will be your responsibility. The staff at Macquarie International are not authorized to give any specific advice relating to visas.

You can request a waiver which allows you to enrol through ask.mq.edu.au. You will need to upload the transcript from your host university as proof you have passed any prerequisite units while abroad.

You will need to submit an 'I intend to graduate' form via eStudent. When you return, let us know if you are graduating soon, and we will do our best to ensure your grades are transferred as soon as possible once we have the host university transcript.

Estudent does not recognise exchange shell units. What the unit represents is written in the course comments section of your transcript. These units are not forgotten, they will be counted along with all other units for you degree completion.