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FAQs about going on exchange

Have more questions about going on exchange? Get your questions answered here.

General

Host institution is the university that you are travelling to for the exchange program; this may be Monash University Australia or any one of our 150 partner universities around the world.
Home institution is the institution that is awarding your degree and that is Monash University Malaysia.
The Semester in Australia Program is a program that allows Monash University Malaysia students to study at Monash University Australia for up to one semester. Semester Exchange allows Monash University Malaysia students to study at Monash partner universities for up to two semesters.
It depends on which course you are enrolled in. If you are enrolled on a 3-year degree, you can apply when you have accumulated 18 credit points and a minimum WAM of 60. This can be as early as Year 1 Semester 2 of your degree (assuming that you enrolled for and passed 18 credit points for your Semester 1).
If you are enrolled on a 4-year degree, you can apply when you have accumulated 48 credit points and a minimum WAM of 60. This can be as early as Year 2 Semester 1 of your degree (assuming that you enrolled for and passed 48 credit points for the first 2 semesters).
Yes. you may. This means that you will have to apply for 2 programs during the same semester.
For Semester in Australia Program, you only need to apply in the semester before you plan to study in Monash Australia. For Semester Exchange, you apply two (2) semesters before the semester you plan to study at the partner university.
This allows us to support your applications and participation in both programs.
To apply for the Semester in Australia Program, you click on the Semester in Australia Program link.
To apply for Semester Exchange, you click on the Semester Exchange link.
These are two separate programs; you must submit two separate applications.
Overload means enrolling for more than 24 Monash credit points per semester. You are not allowed to overload during the exchange semester. You must enrol for an equivalent of minimum 18 Monash credit points or maximum 24 Monash credit points per semester when you participate in a semester-length exchange program abroad.

Travel Grant

Only specific programs are eligible for Travel Grants.

There are no travel grants available for students participating in the Semester in Australia Program at Monash University Australia.
This will be paid into your bank account.
Please read this website on Travel Grants for more information.
Please read this website on Travel Grants for more information.

Studying in the final semester

This depends on your course requirements. Please check your Monash handbook and plan your course accordingly to see if it is feasible to go on exchange.
This usually applies to students going on exchange at a partner university in the final semester. You are advised to research the partner university for the dates of release of results and issuance of transcripts. You will need the transcript to submit to your School in order for your School to check your course progression and change your status to “Course Completed” before you are eligible to apply to graduate.
For students participating in the Semester in Australia Program during the final semester of their degree, results of the final semester results will be released on the same date across all Monash campuses; therefor, there will be no delay in graduation.
Please note that when you have completed your course, you may first apply for a letter certifying that you have met all the course requirements to apply for jobs, while waiting for your testamur to be issued. However, your testamur will only be issued to you during the convocation ceremony (if you are attending in person) or you will receive it after the convocation ceremony (if you are graduating in absentia).

Can I apply for exchange while I am on intermission?

Yes, you can. Please note that you cannot be on intermission during the exchange semester as you need to be enrolled on exchange units.
Yes, you may but at different timings. Please note that this is also subject to whether your course allows you to participate in both Semester in Australia Program and Semester Exchange program.

Help with travel and accommodation arrangements

Applying for visas is your responsibility and part of the experience of studying abroad.

Scholarships

Yes.
This would be subjected to the terms and conditions of the scholarship from the external sponsor. You are advised to refer back to the conditions stated in your sponsorship offer letter or seek advice from the external sponsor and obtain their confirmation in writing.
Please check with the Scholarship Office.
You are advised to notify your sponsor and obtain their consent in writing.
Please check this website for scholarships for the Semester in Australia program.

Semester Exchange

The complete list of partner universities may be viewed here. You may filter your search according to the categories on the right-hand menu.
Yes, you can.
You may go on exchange during different semesters, as long as you plan ahead. Please note that this is also subject to whether your course allows you to participate in an exchange program for 2 consecutive semesters.
You must arrange for your transcript from the host institution to be sent to Monash Abroad at MonashAbroad.Enquiries@monash.edu.
You only transfer the credits (usually between 18-24 credit points per semester) back to your Monash degree. The grades will be reflected in your transcript as Satisfied Faculty Requirement (SFR).
Please refer to Marking and Feedback Procedure.
You will not be able to transfer credits for that unit back to your Monash degree. The corresponding Monash exchange unit will reflect a grade of “Not Satisfied Faculty Requirement (NSR). You will also be required to enrol for the relevant Monash unit for which you did not transfer the credits over and pay the tuition fees to Monash University Malaysia to enrol for the unit in question.
This depends on your course. BEW 3102 allows some students to use their exchange experience to gain credits towards their course.
This depends. If your study plan was not approved because the School assessed that the host institution units were not the right equivalent for your Monash units, you may be considered for your second preference university.
On the other hand, if your study was not approved due to not having the appropriate units that allows you to go on exchange, it would be difficult to consider you for your second preference university.
When considering your application, we will first look at your first preference university. If you do not meet the requirements, you will then be considered for your second preference university. If you still do not meet the requirements, you will then be considered for your third preference university. Again, this also depends if you continue to meet the requirements for those universities. It may happen that we will offer another university altogether if we find that you better meet the requirement for this alternative university.
When submitting your study plan, you only need to submit the study plan for the first preference university. You are advised to prepare separately workable study plans for the second and third preference university. If you are subsequently advised that you first preference university is not workable, you will be asked to consider your second preference university and submit a study plan for the second preference university so that your School can assess this.
Monash Semester 1 runs from February until June. If the partner university starts in January, you will begin studying in January, which means you are starting your studies earlier while your coursemates not going on exchange will be starting their Monash semester in February.
The indicative start dates of the partner university that correspond to the Monash semester dates are listed on the Monash program brochure.
Monash Semester 2 runs from July until November. If the partner university starts in September, you will begin studying in September, which means you are starting your studies later while your coursemates not going on exchange would have started their Monash semester in July.
The indicative start dates of the partner university that correspond to the Monash semester dates are listed on the Monash program brochure.
Generally, Monash University Malaysia students may apply for the Semester Exchange program at a partner university in their home country and receive a travel grant like everyone else. However, Chinese students who are citizens of the People's Republic of China are not allowed to apply for exchange programs at our partner universities in China.

Semester in Australia Program (SIA)

There are currently no quotas for most programs. Quotas are in place for students enrolled on the pharmacy course up to five students a semester.
Yes, you can. You may approach the Faculties directly during your exchange semester in Monash Australia.
The grades will be updated in your Monash record automatically.
If you wish to extend your semester in Monash University Australia, you may apply for a transfer and be registered as a Monash University Australia student. When you have arrived in Monash University Australia, you may directly approach the Faculties relevant to your course. If you wish to prepare ahead of the program, you may contact Monash University Australia about transfers.
You will be studying Monash units while studying in Monash Australia. All grades will be automatically reflected in your Monash student record; therefore no separate transcript will be generated for these units. These units will appear in your regular Monash transcript alongside the units you have studied at Monash University Malaysia.
In contrast, if you have participated in the Semester Exchange program or any University-approved overseas programs delivered by a partner university, you will receive a transcript.
Please look into the dates of release of results and the dates of the nearest convocation to be held in Australia after you are confirmed to have completed your course.
Some students may be required to provide additional documents for their student visa application.
You may submit requests for additional letters on the Student Online Request System (SORS), where relevant.

Travel Insurance

Student travelling overseas on University-approved programs are automatically covered by Monash University's complimentary travel insurance scheme. Further details about the policy, getting coverage and submitting a claim can be found on the Monash Finance Intranet (login required).
Medical insurance for travel is specifically designed to cover any medical expenses you may incur while traveling. Travel insurance, on the other hand, provides more comprehensive coverage, including things like trip cancellation, lost luggage, and emergency medical evacuation.
Monash University's complimentary travel insurance scheme also covers medical expenses incurred while overseas, subject to terms and conditions. Further details can be found on the Monash Finance Intranet (login required).
In some countries, international students are required to purchase medical insurance as a requirement of their visa or the host institution. In such instances, even though you may be covered by Monash University's complimentary travel insurance scheme, you will still have to purchase the medical insurance for the country you are travelling to for your overseas experience.
Monash University's complimentary travel insurance scheme covers medical and hospitalisation expenses in some instances. Further details about the policy, getting coverage and submitting a claim can be found on the Monash Finance Intranet (login required).
The exception is when you are participating in a University-approved program in Australia on a student visa (sub-class 500) as you would be covered by the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). In this instance, all claims for medical expenses shall be covered by the OSHC.
Personal travels are classified as travel abroad for personal reasons not associated with employment or education abroad activities with the university.
The travel insurance covers up to 15 days of personal travel before and up to 15 days after the formal in-country program end date (30 days total). This includes personal travel to country/ies which are not the main host country/ies for your program.
However, please note that you will not be covered under any circumstances if you travel to an area of the world where the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Smartraveller website provides advice not to travel or to reconsider your need to travel.
You will need to secure additional travel insurance at your own cost.

English Language Proficiency

For the Semester in Australia Program, you do not usually need to produce evidence of English language proficiency as part of your application. However, there are rare cases where you may be required to submit this as part of the Australian student visa application (sub-class 500). Where relevant, you may request a letter confirming that the medium of instruction for your course at Monash University Malaysia is English.
For the Semester Exchange Program, some partner universities may require you to submit evidence of English language proficiency.
For instance, if you are going on exchange to a partner university in the United Kingdom for 2 semesters or more, you may need to apply for a student visa and provide evidence of English language proficiency. In these instances, you may be required to pay for and sit for an English language test.
Apart from the above, the partner universities do not request students to provide proof of English language proficiency. However, in the event that you do, please send an email to MonashAbroad.Enquiries@monash.edu informing them of the request.
We do not provide information on which language centres conduct English language testing. You are free to select the appropriate language centres conducting such tests. Please check whether the testing provided meets the recognised English language tests you require.

Travel Approval

Please declare the proposed dates of your personal travel plans. It is fine if you end up not going ahead with the plans.
This refers to the person you can reach out to in the host country for support in the event of an incident or emergency. This could be :
- a travel agent or third party provider (if you are participating in an overseas study tour)
- a member of staff based at the international office of the partner university (for international exchange programs)
- a friend or relative located in the host country (for any overseas programs)
We will not contact this person . This information is to serve as a reminder for you regarding whom you can contact for local support.
Yes, please include the countries you are transiting through on your way to the host country and return to your country of origin.
If you are travelling to Australia, you do not need to include Australia for the question relating to "DFAT travel level of all locations you will visit during your Monash overseas program and personal travel."
You provide details for the Embassy/Consular Office relating to your home country. This refers to the embassy or consulate you can reach out to in the host country for support in circumstances that include hospitalisation, arrest, death, welfare, whereabouts or crisis situations.
We ask for an instant messaging (IM) number that we can use to contact you directly in the event of an emergency. It is your duty to ensure that you provide us with an accurate IM number. Please remember to update your contact details in the host country on the Web Enrolment System (WES).

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