Semester Exchange Program (Monash Malaysia)

What is exchange?

You can study a semester or two at any one of Monash's partner universities located in 30 countries across United Kingdom, Europe, The Americas, Asia and New Zealand. While overseas on exchange, you will:continue to be enrolled at Monash; receive credit for your overseas study towards your Monash degree; continue paying your regular tuition fees to Monash Malaysia (in Malaysian Ringgit).

Where can I go?

The Study Abroad Program Search page lists all our exchange partners, information about the universities, availability and whether they accept students from any or only a particular discipline of study.

Matching up your semesters

Semester dates may vary depending on the university of your choice. For example, while semester one at Monash begins early March, in the USA the spring semester begins in January. However, this would still fit within your Monash semester dates/period. You can check for the partner university's semester dates from the Monash Program Search.

How to apply?

Scroll down to check your eligibility and find out how to apply. You can also attend a Monash Abroad Information Session to learn more about the application process.

How much will it cost?

Contrary to popular belief, studying overseas won't cost you a fortune! You’re often eligible for the Monash Abroad Travel Scholarships, and under the exchange arrangements Monash has with universities all over the world, you will not have to pay additional tuition fees. All you pay is your normal Monash home campus tuition fees.

Still Need More Information?

You may be able to find your answer in our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to participate in a semester abroad program you must meet the following criteria presented in the table below. Please note: for Engineering students, the minimum requirements are slightly different - please see below for more information. If you are a transfer student or DHES student, please discuss your eligibility with Monash Abroad.

• *At the time of application refers to the Part A deadlines (May/ October).Please note that you are only permitted to have one active semester-length application per period (i.e. you can't have both a Semester Exchange application and a Semester in Australia Progam application for the same starting period e.g. Semester 1, 2028).

Special considerations

• To be classed as having ‘good academic standing’, you must:
• Bachelor of Engineering
• To determine host university allocation, eligible students will be ranked according to:If your first preference host university is not available, you will be nominated for your second preference and asked to submit a new study plan. If your second preference is not available, you will be contacted to discuss further options.Final host university allocation rests with Monash Abroad.
• If you intend to exchange to a UK university for more than 6 months (i.e. more than one semester), you may be required to provide a valid English language test result. You should make arrangements to book for an English language test after receiving a nomination from Monash Abroad, as they do not run on a regular basis. The acceptable tests are:

• continue to be registered as a Monash Malaysia student (Monash Malaysia remains as your home institution)
• have credit for the units studied in Monash Australia (the host institution) automatically accruing towards your Monash degree
• receive grades for all Monash units (this includes units studied at Monash University Australia) appear on your academic transcript
• pay your regular fees to Monash Malaysia in Malaysian Ringgit throughout the program

Key Dates

You will need to apply for the program one year in advance. E.g. if you are planning to go on exchange in Semester 1, 2028, you will need to apply in Semester 1, 2027.

Once Monash Abroad has assessed your application, you will be contacted with an outcome and be nominated to your first preference university or a suitable alternative. Please note that nominations are completed on a rolling basis. Nominations may take until the end of October (Semester 1 programs) or the end of April (Semester 2 programs) to be finalized.

Ready to apply?

Find out more about how to apply and the nomination and selection process.

• Monash Abroad run a series of different information sessions to help you learn more about the exchange application process and make sure you can select appropriate options for your application. It is critical that you follow Monash Abroad advice regarding your application, as Monash Abroad assess all semester abroad applications to determine which host university you are allocated to.These are available on our MUM Go Global Fest page and MUA Information Sessions page.
• (allow approx. 1 week)By using the Program Search webpage, you can find out more about all of the overseas universities that Monash is partnered with for semester exchange programs.To identify partner universities which accept Monash University Malaysia students for exchange, please use filters in the right side bar as follows:My Home Campus : Monash MalaysiaProgram Term : Semester 1 (Feb-June) or Semester 2 (July-Nov) - depending on which semester you are planning for your exchangeProgram Type : Monash Partner ProgramsMonash Abroad also offers some helpful tips for preparing to go abroad including LGBTQIA+ advice, solo female travellers, and a handy disability checklist to guide your choices.
• TIP #1 : CONSIDER YOUR COMPETITIONSome places are more competitive for some universities compared to others. When there are more students than places available for exchange, students will be assessed based on WAM and their Statement of Purpose. You may have higher chances of getting into a university of your choice if it is not so competitive.To check the competitive levels of the university you have your eye on, follow these steps :1. View the list of university partners here2. Click on the university you wish to check3. Click on the Overview tab. Scroll down and you will see information on "Anticipated Places (per semester)", "Exchange Availability" and "Recommended Minimum WAM"TIP #2 : SAVE YOUR ELECTIVESSaving your electives usually means that you have to rearrange your units in your Monash degree and move all elective units into the semester you want to study abroad.When rearranging your units, please check the units for prerequisites, corequisites, and if they are being taught in the semester you are reassigning them to.Advantages of saving electives for your exchange semester include:
• As part of your application, you MUST complete a course progression plan. Most Schools will use the Monash Course Planner, also known as MonPlan.For School of Arts, students must use the Student Course Progression Plan template applicable to their course, which can be located here.For School of Science, students may use the planner.For School of Business, students must use the Course Map Tool.You may refer to the following school study abroad guide websites for more information on your course planning for exchange:Your Education Management Office will advise you on the following;Whilst on exchange, you are required to study a full-time load at your host institution (equivalent to 18 - 24 Monash credits), though your School may need you to take the equivalent of 24 Monash credits. Please note;For further inquiries, you may contact your schools using Ask Mira with the help topic "Course Advice". Please identify yourself as a student applying for the upcoming international exchange program when submitting the Ask Mira ticket.
• Pre-set course mapsPre-set course maps are degree plans prepared by your School that include a designated semester (or two) for exchange.They show you when exchange fits into your course structure so you can study at a host institution without disrupting your progression or delaying graduation.If your degree has a pre-set course map that incorporates an exchange semester, we recommend that you follow that structure when planning your application.The following Schools have prepared pre-set course maps:If you have any questions for your school/s, you can send them through Monash Malaysia Connect on the Ask Mira platform. Please select the help topic "Course Advice" on Ask Mira, identify yourself as a student applying for the upcoming international exchange program and attach a course map.
• (allow approx. 2-4 weeks)With your advice from Monash Abroad and faculty/ies in mind, you should decide on three suitable host universities from our Program Search page to list as your preferences for a semester exchange programThe study plan is one of the most important elements of the application process.You will need to provide detailed information on your proposed units in your Study Plan. The outlines you provide should include;Information on how to find unit information on the partner institution’s website can be found in the Academic Details tab of the respective university brochure. If the information provided is not sufficient, try a Google search using the unit code or unit title plus the name of the institution. Make sure the unit outline obtained is for the latest year's unit outline.If you are applying for the International Exchange program, you must be enrolled on the stipulated minimum credit points at the host institution. You will only transfer the credits for the units that have been approved by your School and pay tuition fees to Monash University Malaysia for the Monash equivalent units.
• If you could not find them from the links provided on the Academic Details tab, we recommend searching extensively on the partner institution website or trying to Google the outlines first. If you have done a really thorough search and still cannot find any unit outlines, you may indicate in your study plan form "Monash Abroad assistance requested" in the Link to Unit Outline section, and Monash Abroad will contact the partner institution on your behalf. Kindly note that the Link to Unit Outline section will only appear when you start filling in the study plan form. Please do not contact the host university yourself.
• (allow about 1 hour)For Engineering students

• a section to provide your university preferences (up to three options)
• a section to upload your draft study plan and course progression plans for your first preference
• a section to upload the unit outlines
• a section to upload your financial plan
• a section to upload a copy of your passport information page
• a section to write a 250-word personal statement

What Happens After You Apply?

if you would like to know how your application is assessed after you have submitted, you may watch this video.

Your application will go through two rounds of assessment;

1. Monash Abroad assessment: meeting the minimum eligibility requirements.
2. School assessment: confirmation that the proposed units in your study plan and your course progression plan can be approved.

Once both of these steps are confirmed, you will progress to the allocation phase.

• When your School has approved your Study Plan (this is most likely after the application deadline although some Schools may do this earlier), you will receive an email advising on the assessment of the units you selected and approval.Please keep this document safe for your study plan reference for exchange.
• The institution you have been allocated is the one that you’ll be attending on exchange!It can be competitive to get a nomination to some universities. This means that not all students will be allocated to their first preference university. When assessing applications International Education Coordinator (IEC) take into consideration your grades, your proposed area of study and your personal statement. It is important that you regularly check your Monash student email, especially during semester break periods, for updates from Monash Abroad.If you receive your first preferenceYou don’t have to do anything to confirm your host institution allocation - just check your emails regularly to stay up to date.If you receive your second or third preferenceYou’ll just need to prepare and submit a new study plan for your allocated second/third preference. We will email you instructions on how to do this if it applies to you.If you do not receive any of your three preferencesWhen we cannot allocate you to one of your three preferences, we will get in contact with you directly to discuss your options.Post-allocation information sessionWe will hold an information session, to take you through the next steps and answer any questions you have. We will send you an invitation to register for this information session via email.
• After you are allocated, we will contact the host institution and notify them that we wish to send you there on exchange. Each institution has a different nomination date, so this may not occur for a month or two after your initial allocation.You are not fully approved to go on exchange until you receive an acceptance letter from the partner university. This can take up to three months after you submit your partner university application, so patience is important during this stage.Confirm your place with your host institutionFollowing your nomination by Monash Abroad, you will be sent instructions on how to apply to your host institution either by Monash Abroad or your host institution itself. The required tasks and the timing of this will vary by host institution. Once you have completed your host institution application, please let us know via the link in your nomination email.Applying for an Independent Study Abroad (ISA) program? If you are applying to a non-partner university via Independent Study Abroad (ISA), you will need to apply directly to the university independently after your School approves your study plans. Monash Abroad IECs cannot assist with the application process as we will not have a pre-existing relationship with a non-partner university. You may choose to study extra unit/s at the non-partner university. The grade for the extra unit/s will appear on the transcript issued by the partner institution but you will only transfer the credits for the units that have been approved by your School. You will pay tuition fees directly to the non-partner institution for the number of units you have enrolled with them even though you are only able to transfer credits for less units back to your Monash degree.
• Submit your host institution acceptance documentationAfter you have completed the required tasks set by your host institution and they have assessed it, they will send you correspondence officially accepting you as an exchange student at their institution. Submit this to Monash Abroad via the link in the email you were sent following your nomination, with the subject 'Update Request: Host Acceptance Document', and we will then notify your faculty/ies or school/s to enrol you in your exchange units to reflect your overseas studies.Apply for a student visaYou may need to apply for a student visa for your exchange. We'll cover this in more detail during the post-allocation information session, but as a first step you should read through your host country's embassy/high commission/consulate website and learn more about their visa application requirements and process.Complete the Travel Approval ProcessThe travel approval process requires you to complete some online pre-departure modules and asks for your program and personal travel plans, as well as checking that you understand what the Australian Government advises about travelling to and in countries on your itinerary, including your exchange host country.Be enrolled into exchange unitsYour faculty/ies or school/s will have their own processes for confirming your enrolment. They will send you instructions to organise your enrolment for exchange. It’s important to make sure this is reflected correctly on WES, so you receive the correct credit and can be assessed for the Monash Abroad Travel Grant. Your faculty/ies or school/s will be best placed to advise you on this.Some partner university will send your offer letters to Monash Abroad, but if it is sent directly to you, please inform your IEC via email and attach the offer letter in the email. Once your IEC has received the acceptance letter they will send you an acceptance email.Notes on this process:Closer to the exchange semester commencement, Monash Abroad will be reaching out via email to get you to fill in the International Exchange Enrolment Form, which is the trigger for School to enrol you in your exchange units (you cannot self-enrol in exchange-coded units) at MUM. You must only provide units that are already approved in your study plan assessment outcome email for enrolment. You must also enroll for your exchange units at the partner institutions when you have received the enrolment instructions. Your travel grant will only be disbursed once you have been approved for travel and enrolled into your exchange units by the School.After you are accepted to your host university you can make travel arrangements and start preparing for your exciting semester or year overseas. You will need to attend the pre-departure briefing where you will get to meet other students going on exchange and learn important information to help you prepare.
• Book your flightsYou'll also need to book your flights to get over there! We'll also cover this in the post-allocation information session. Our general advice, however, is to book after you receive your student visa, although this may vary depending on where your exchange is taking place.Enrol in classes at your host institutionEnrolling in your classes at the host institution is a key part of the exchange experience. It’s really important to be across the enrolment process for your approved units, as some institutions have limited places in classes. Your host institution will provide you with instructions on how to do this after you have been accepted as an exchange student.
• Our Pre-Departure sessions are the last information sessions we hold before you go overseas, and we cover a range of topics to help you prepare for your exchange program.

Withdrawing Your Application

You may withdraw your application anytime before the application deadline. However, once you have submitted an application and subsequently wish to withdraw your participation, it is your responsibility to notify Monash Abroad as soon as you make this decision. You can do so by emailing directly to your International Education Coordinator (IEC). When emailing them, kindly identify yourself as an international exchange student from MUM and please provide your student ID, your exchange semester, your school at MUM, and your host institution's name.

Please refer to the withdrawal policy for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently asked questions (FAQS) on the Semester Exchange, Semester in Australia Program, travel grants, studying in the final semester and many more here.

Important note for international students

This section applies to international students studying at Monash University Malaysia on a Student Pass.

In addition to the entry requirements stated above, International students must maintain an overall minimum 80% attendance at the time of application and continue to meet this attendance requirement throughout the semester prior to departing for your overseas program. Where this attendance requirement is not met, your application will be withdrawn or cancelled.

Once you have been notified of your allocation to the host institution, please check the expiry date of your Student Pass. You must ensure that you have a valid Student Pass for the entire duration of your studies at Monash University Malaysia, including the time spent abroad on an exchange program.

You must maintain an enrolment of 24 credit points while studying overseas. If you are unable to meet this requirement, you must apply for underloading and obtain consent from your respective Schools.