Semester in Australia (Monash Malaysia)

What is Semester in Australia?

The Semester in Australia (SIA) program (also formerly known as the Global Intercampus Program) allows Monash Malaysia students to study one semester at a Monash Australia campus. As long as your course allows you to participate in the Semester in Australia program, you will:

• 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

Monash Malaysia students shall only have a single semester of study in Australia on the Semester in Australia program.

Where to Apply

School of Pharmacy students: Please click here to see the Monash University Australia (MUA) brochure and apply for the program.

All Other Students: Please click here to see the Monash University Australia (MUA) brochure and apply for the program.

Melbourne, home to five of Monash campuses, has been consistently named one of the world’s most livable cities and has also been commended in the first-ever QS Best Student Cities survey as Australia’s best city for students.

Matching up your semesters

Semester dates at Monash Australia campus are exactly the same as the semester dates at Monash Malaysia.

What can I study?

There are 6,000 units across our Monash campuses in Australia for you to select from. Find out more about study options here.

How much will it cost?

While participating in the SIA program, you do not need to pay additional tuition fees. You will continue to pay your regular fees at Monash Malaysia.

Find out more about the financial side of the Semester in Australia program.

There is no Monash Abroad Travel Scholarship available for this outbound program.

Eligibility criteria

You must meet the eligibility criteria for applying for this program, depending on the course you are enrolled in.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, your School reserves the right to decline assessing your study plan and Monash Abroad may withdraw your participation from the program, whichever that is applicable.

All students must be in good academic standing. To be classed as having ‘good academic standing’, you must:

• Be currently and actively enrolled in a Monash degree;
• Not be subject to academic misconduct or any undischarged academic misconduct;
• Not be subject to ‘Unsatisfactory Academic Progress’; or if you have completed less than 2 semesters at Monash, have not failed 50% or more of your enrolments at Monash (at time of application for the program)

Diploma of High Education Studies (DHES) students are not eligible to apply for the Semester in Australia program.

However, exceptions may be made for DHES Science students if they met these requirements at the time of application:

• achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60%
• accumulated a minimum of 48 credit points from the DHES course prior to enrolment in a Monash undergraduate coursework degree; OR would have completed the DHES program by the date of release of results
• if they plan to participate in the program during Semester 1 (February-June), provided that they are already enrolled in a Monash undergraduate coursework degree or accepted the degree program on the date of release of Semester 2 results in December.

Please note that due to the course structure, DHES Science students may only participate in the Semester in Australia program during Semester 1 (February-June).

To be eligible to participate, you must meet the following entry requirements at the time of application:

• achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60%
• accumulated a minimum of 18 credit points (please see below for Schools that may have additional requirements)
• meet the School-specific credit points and WAM requirements below (where applicable)
• an active enrolment in a Monash undergraduate coursework degree
• do not have an active application for another overseas program for the same teaching period
• have not participated in the Semester in Australia program before
• do not have a withdrawal penalty applicable to you

Exceptions may be made for students who previously completed the Diploma of Higher Education Studies (DHES) prior to enrolment in a Monash undergraduate coursework degree. The following entry requirements must be met at the time of application:

• achieved a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60%
• accumulated a minimum of 48 credit points from the DHES course

• an active enrolment in a Monash postgraduate coursework degree at any Monash campus
• do not have an active application for another overseas program for the same teaching period
• have not participated in the Semester in Australia program before
• do not have a withdrawal penalty applicable to you

You do not need to have a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60% and 18 credit points in order to apply.

This means that you may submit an application in the first semester of your course, on the condition that by the end of your first semester, you have accumulated a minimum WAM of 60% and 18 credit points. If you do not meet these entry requirements by the end of the semester, your application will be withdrawn.

The Semester in Australia program is open only to coursework students.

The following students are not eligible to apply:

• postgraduate research students
• students enrolled on the honours degree program
• Students enrolled on Monash English course
• students who have already studied one semester in Monash Australia on the Semester in Australia program

Medical students may pursue medical rotation in Monash University Australia under a separate program from the Semester in Australia program for coursework students.

School-specific requirements

Further requirements may be applicable, depending on which School you are enrolled with. Please scroll down for any School-specific requirements that may apply to you.

• Business students may enrol and take units at Caulfield campus or Clayton campus (select only one campus). You may refer to the School of Business website on how to plan your unit and course progression.
• School of Pharmacy students may refer here for your exchange course planning guide.Due to the limited places available, the eligibility criteria are as follows:Students who submit an application for the Semester in Australia program, who have an approved study plan and are shortlisted as the top five students in an application round but choose to withdraw their application shall be barred from applying in the subsequent application round, even if they withdraw before an offer has been issued by Monash University Australia.
• School of IT students may refer here for your exchange course planning guide.
• School of Arts and Social Sciences students may refer here for your exchange course planning guide.
• School of Science students may refer here for your exchange course planning guide.
• Psychology students may refer here for your exchange course planning guide.

Other factors to consider

• You may or may not be able to undertake overseas study in the final semester of your course due to course requirements. Please check the Monash handbook for your course requirements.
• You must have only one active semester-length overseas study application (i.e. Semester Exchange or Semester in Australia program) with Monash for the same study period.
• If you are in receipt of a scholarship from an external organisation, you may need to inform your sponsor and obtain permission to participate in this program.
• If, after receiving an offer from Monash University Australia, you change your mind about participating in this program and withdraw from the program, the withdrawal policy will be applied.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for submitting the online applications are 4.00PM (Australian time) / 1.00PM (Malaysian time) of the given date. We usually experience a high volume of applications towards the close of applications; thus you are advised to submit your applications early. No time extensions will be considered.

Students apply for the Semester in Australia program in the semester before they travel to Australia for the exchange program. We aim to open for applications in Week 1 of every semester. The dates mentioned above are tentative application dates. Once the application opens, Monash Abroad will send a broadcast email to all eligible students informing them of the application opening.

Ready to apply?

If you are enrolled on a course which allows you to to participate in the Semester in Ausstralia Program and you meet the eligibility criteria for applying, you may proceed to apply.

To submit a complete application, you must submit by the given deadline:

1. an application on the Monash University Australia program brochure (see "How to Apply"); and
2. SIA Study Plan Application SORS Form

Please refer to the guides on How to Apply.

Note for School of Pharmacy students: Please click here to see the Monash University Australia (MUA) brochure and apply for the program.

• Course maps give you a visual guide to your degree. It shows you which core units and electives you need to complete, and in what sequence, to graduate on time.You must submit your course map on the SORS SIA Study Plan. This helps Schools ascertain if you have properly planned your course to incorporate the semester you will spend in Australia and identified the right units to study while in Australia.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.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:
• After submitting this application, you will receive an email acknowledgment of your submission for Application for Overseas Study followed by a 36-digit reference number.Your application reference number will look like this: 6a1e2cd4-2df4-4e2b-914d-cd4038bf8a8bThis step alone is insufficient. You must proceed next to submit the SORS SIA Study Plan Application.You must submit both the online application and the SORS SIA Study Plan Application by the deadline.
• When submitting filling up the SORS SIA Study Plan, you must include information about the units you wish to study at Monash Australia as follows:Unit Code - input in the Monash University Australia unit code for the unit you are planning to study in AustraliaUnit Title - input in the Monash University Australia unit title for the unit you are planning to study in AustraliaCredit points - select the credit points of each unit from the drop-down optionsLink to unit outline - input in the link to the Monash Australia unit which can be found on the Monash handbook.Credit this unit as - input how you want the Monash Australia unit to be credited back to your degree back in Monash Malaysia. This is especially important if you are enrolled on a degree made of different types of units.Credit this unit to (only applicable to double degree students) - this should be the school you want to credit this unit back in Monash University Malaysia. Your School will be assessing the units you have selected in the SIA SORS Study Plan.Please note the following:Please save the email notification you received after submitting the SIA SORS Study Plan Application. It is your responsibility to attach the evidence of the study plan submission if requested or required.When your School has approved your Study Plan after the application deadline, you will receive another email notification on the assessment completion and will be able to log into SORS to check on the assessment of the units you selected and approval.Study plans must be approved by the School in order for your application to proceed for processing. If you wish to make changes to your study plan, you must use the communication log in the SORS SIA Study Plan to track all communication with the School.Any enquiries should be directed to AskMira.SIA study plans submitted after the deadline shall be considered invalid, and therefore your application will be considered to be incomplete and shall be withdrawn.

What happens after I apply?

You've submitted your application. What happens next?

• When you submit your study plan form on SORS SIA Study Plan, you will receive a ticket number. After the application deadline, your School will assess your study plan.Your School will inform you if your study plan is approved, requires amendment or is not accepted.If your study plan is approved, you may wait for Monash Australia to get in touch with you regarding an offer to participate in the Semester in Australia program.If your study plan is not approved, you may contact your School for further advice.It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your application on time, especially where you have made changes to your application.We adhere strictly to the deadlines as deadlines are non-negotiable.
• Applications which are considered to be successful consist of the following:If your application is successful, you will receive your offer letter, approximately 4-6 weeks after the deadline. The offer will sent to you via Smartsheet Automation.Please follow the given instructions on how to accept your offer. In order to complete your acceptance, you also need to purchase the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Instructions on how to purchase the OSHC are contained in the offer letter. You need to do this both by the deadline stated in the offer letter.
• You must accept the offer within 5 business days of receiving the offer.
• Students studying in Australia are required to purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance that provides cover to contribute towards the costs of:Your offer letter will contain instructions on how to purchase OSHC. Please have a credit card handy to make payment. You have the option of :Failure to provide the OSHC receipt or any evidence of purchase constitutes incomplete acceptance and will result in your application being withdrawn.You must purchase the OSHC for a duration that matches your planned student visa, as follows:1. For students applying for Semester 1 (February - June), the OSHC must be purchased for the period of 1 February until 31 July.2. For students applying for Semester 2 (July - November), the OSHC must be purchased for the period of 1 July until 31 January of the following year.Please note that the duration of your student visa shall match the duration of the OSHC to ensure that you are adequately covered by health insurance for the entire time you are studying in Australia.Purchase of OSHC is a mandatory part of accepting your offer.It is advisable to have your passport ready at this juncture. If you have not already made your passport, you should make plans to make one. A valid passport is essential for getting a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and applying for an Australian student visa because the CoE links your identity and enrollment to your visa application.
• Once you have accepted your offer, please proceed to complete the Post-Selection Form found here: www.monash.edu/eforms-resources/frevvo-forms/monash-abroad/post-selection-form. Enter your 36-digit application reference number when filling up the form.
• Approximately 2-3 weeks after you accept the offer and provide the proof of purchase of your OSHC, you will receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) via your student email.You will need this to apply for your student visa.A valid passport is essential for getting a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and applying for an Australian student visa because the CoE links your identity and enrollment to your visa application.Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the expiry date of yuor OHSC and Australian student visa. (Please note that the Australian student visa will be issued for the exact same dates as your OSHC)
• You are responsible for applying for a student visa (subclass 500 non-award sector) to study in Australia for a duration of 6 months.Monash Abroad is not in a position to provide any advice or guidance on lodging visa applications.Create an account with the Australian immigration authoritiesYou are responsible for applying for an Australian student visa (subclass 500 non-award sector). In order to do this, you must have the Certificate of Enrolment (CoE) code ready when you create an ImmiAccount. You can always save your application and continue later if you miss some documents.The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) website provides full details about this visa, the eligibility requirements with a step by step guide. Applicants from some countries may also be required to provide biometric data. You can find more information about this here.Make sure that you have all the needed documents in digital formatTo apply for a student visa, you will need the following documents:If you apply online, all documents should be uploaded in a digital format.Complete the visa application onlineYou should apply for a student visa (subclass 500 non-award sector) for a duration of 6 months. It is important that you apply under the 'non-award' sector, do NOT use the 'higher education' sector.Read more and follow the instructions at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500. Unexpected delays may occur, so submit your visa application as soon as possible after receiving your CoE.Pay the visa fee and get a TRN-numberPay the application fee using the payment methods listed here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online/how-to-payWhen the application and payment is done, you will get a receipt with a TRN-number (Transaction Reference Number). Please save it so you can check the status of your application.Financial capacity requirementYou may be required to provide evidence as part of your student visa application that you meet the financial capacity requirement, which means you must have enough money to cover your travel, course fees and living costs during your stay.Genuine Student requirementTo be granted a student visa, applicants must confirm that they are a Genuine Student by responding to a number of questions in the online application. You will need to provide a response, in English, explaining:You must also attach supporting documents, which may be letters issued by Monash University Malaysia.Health examinations and interviewYou may be required to undergo a health examination.If you plan to be outside of Malaysia throughout the visa application and health check-up process, kindly refer to the Australian immigration authorities. Please note that in some circumstances, you may be required to return to your country of origin to complete the health examination requirement.If you are required to undergo a visa interview, you will be notified about this by the visa processing agency.BiometricsYou may need to provide your biometrics at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC).Student Visa Application OutcomeNormally the Australian authorities will notify you by e-mail once your visa has been approved. Your visa is an electronic visa; therefore, you will not get a label in your passport. You will have your passport with you throughout the entire Australian student visa application process.The processing times listed are indicative only.
• Accommodation application There are several different types of accommodation on offer, and different application processes. Note that you can apply for accommodation prior to receiving your offer of study.You may refer here for information about accommodation options to consider when you study at Monash University Australia.
• Check that you have completed the following prior to departure:
• There will be a Monash Abroad Orientation for all Monash Malaysia students who are studying one semester on the Semester in Australia program in Monash Australia.The Monash Abroad Orientation takes place in the week before the University-wide Orientation.
• There will be a pre-departure briefing organised for students who have accepted the offer to participate in the Semester in Australia program.Monash Australia will also organise a virtual pre-arrival briefing for all students preparing to travel to Australia.Please check your emails regularly for more information.
• When studying in Monash University Australia on the Semester in Australia program, you must only enrol in the units that have been approved by your respective school as stated in the approved study plan which you previously submitted via the SORS GIP Study Plan.You are responsible to ensure your enrolment is correct and that you meet the minimum credit requirements for international students participating in an exchange program. If you enrol on units at Monash University Australia that have not been approved by your School, you may not receive any credits for those units and may need to return to Monash University Malaysia to enrol for the appropriate units to progress with your course. This may mean that you have to delay completion of your course and incur additional expenses.

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 before departing for Monash University Australia. Where this attendance requirement is not met, your application will be withdrawn or cancelled without further reference to you.

If you are an international student (non-Malaysian student who needs a Student Pass to study at a Malaysian higher education institution) who is planning to apply or have applied for a overseas program either at a Monash University Australia or a Monash partner university, please ensure that when logging your enquiry at the ISP Helpdesk, you include the following information:

1. start date of the exchange program
2. end date of the exchange program
3. date of departing from Malaysia for the exchange program (includes returning to your home country before arriving in the host country)
4. date of returning to Monash Malaysia campus to continue your degree
5. expiry date of your current Student Pass
6. expiry date of your passport that contains the Student Pass
7. course map for your degree listing all the units you have studied and are planning to complete at Monash University Malaysia (this is your home institution)

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.

Any enquiries relating to your Student Pass should be lodged at the ISP Helpdesk.

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.

For further information on our withdrawal policy, kindly refer here.

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.