Semester exchange

Would you like to travel to another country to immerse yourself in the local culture, pick up some intercultural skills and build your international network, all while continuing your studies?

As a Monash student you can do all of this, and more, with a semester exchange.

You can follow the steps below for an overview of the exchange program, and a step-by-step support with preparing your application.

Semester exchange application dates

• Applications for a semester exchange commencing in semester one, 2027 open on Friday, 6 March and close at 4pm AEST/2pm MYT on Tuesday, 19 May 2026

• Applications for a semester exchange commencing in semester two, 2027 open on Friday, 31 July and close at 4pm AEDT/1pm MYT on Tuesday, 20 October 2026

How does it work?

While on exchange, you will:

• study at one of our overseas partner institutions for one or two semesters;
• stay enrolled at Monash;
• receive credit for your overseas study towards your Monash degree; and
• continue paying your Monash fees.

Where can I go?

We have student exchange agreements with over 100 partner institutions in more than 30 countries across the world!

Discover our exchange partners by visiting the Program Search page and searching for "Exchange".

For any additional partner information not included in the program brochures, please contact Monash Abroad and we can follow up on your behalf.

If you would like to study at an institution for one or two semesters that Monash does not have an exchange partnership with, you'll need to apply for the Independent Study Abroad program - more information here.

What can I study?

The partner institutions on our Program search page offer a variety of options and units to Monash students.

While some will accept students from any faculty/school, others may specialise in specific faculties or discipline areas, so it's worth checking if they offer units or disciplines that would be compatible with your degree.

Your next steps

Interested in applying?

Check out our information on your next steps to apply.

Applying for exchange

Step 1: Check if an exchange is right for you

Complete a course advice request A course advice request is your faculty’s/school’s way of confirming that you have space in your degree for an exchange. Follow the link to learn more. Advice

Check your eligibility Check out our eligibility requirements to ensure that you meet all the criteria to apply for a semester exchange. Advice

Funding your exchange: costs and affordability There is a range of funding available if you’re participating in an exchange program. To learn more, please follow this link. Advice

Attend or watch an information session Learn more about the semester exchange program by attending one of our upcoming live information or drop-in sessions, or by watching our on-demand recordings. Advice

Step 2: Research your options

Now that you have checked you meet the requirements and your course advice says an exchange works with your degree, the next step is to look for partner institutions that will work best for you.

Tip

: Information sessions and drop-in advising are available in-person and online throughout the semester at your home campus. You can check out our upcoming sessions at Monash Australia

here

and Monash Malaysia

here

.

Program Search walkthough The program search is where we list all of our available programs and exchange partners. Check out our video for an introduction on how to navigate this page, and what information to look for when considering your options. Video

Look through our Program Search For a list of all of our exchange partners, visit our Program Search page. We recommend using a laptop, as you can use filters more easily to refine your results. Discovery tool

Selecting your institution preferences Our partners have different levels of availability, so we use a traffic light system to indicate the ‘exchange availability’ of each partner institution. Follow the link to learn more about how to best select your three exchange preferences. Advice

Step 3: Complete your Application for Overseas Study form

Figured out what your three preferences are? Then you can get started with your application!

Your application comprises two parts: the Application for Overseas Study (AOS) form, and your Study Plan. You will have to submit both parts prior to the deadline date for your application to be complete.

Scroll through the options for further support with your AOS form.

Application for Overseas Study (AOS) Form Walkthrough As part of your exchange application, you'll need to submit an Application for Overseas Study (AOS) form. In this video, we will step you through each of the sections. Video

Writing your personal statement In the Exchange preference section of the AOS form, you’ll need to provide a 300-400 word personal statement as to why your first-preference institution choice is a good fit for you. Follow the link for advice on completing your personal statement. Advice

Creating your financial plan As part of the AOS form you’ll need to put together a financial plan. This is a tool to help you think about funding your overseas experience. Follow the link for more information and how to complete your financial plan. Advice

Studying in another language? In the AOS, it asks if you intend to study in a language other than English. If so, you'll need to provide a letter from your Monash language school confirming you have the sufficient language skills. Check out our factsheet for more information. Advice

Step 4: Prepare your study plan

Using the course advice you requested in step 1 to help you, it’s time to create a study plan which lists the units you would like to study while overseas.

Tip

: Allow a good amount of time to create your study plan - it can take a while to research and find units, as well as source all of the required unit information for your first-preference institution.

Example of a study plan Access an example of what a completed study plan looks like, to see what kind of information you need to include before you submit. Example

Study Plan Drafting Tool Use this handy tool to create a study plan draft to help plan your exchange application. Please note this tool is for drafting purposes only and you will still need to submit a study plan separately as part of your application. Tool

Step 5: Submit your AOS form and your study plan

• Submit your Application for Overseas Study form Complete and submit the Application for Overseas Study (AOS) form using the link in the 'How to Apply' tab of the Program Brochure (see 'Program Search' above).
• Submit your study plan Complete and submit your study plan using the link in the 'How to Apply' tab of the Program Brochure (see 'Program Search' above). N.B. More fields will become available to you on the form as you complete the sections.

Want to learn more?

We're here to help you with your application.

Come along to one of our information sessions and/or drop-in sessions to learn more and get support from our exchange advisors.

• Register for an information session - Monash Australia students For an overview of the exchange program, register for one of our Exchange and Study Abroad Information Sessions - follow the link and click the Exchange and Study Abroad Information Sessions section.
• Register for a drop-in session - Monash Australia students For an in-depth conversation with a Monash Abroad staff member about your application, sign up for a drop-in session - follow the link and click the Exchange and Study Abroad Sessions section.
• Register for a region or institution session - Monash Australia and Malaysia students For specific information about a particular region or institution, register for a Region or Institution Specific Information Session - follow the link and click the Exchange and Study Abroad Sessions section.
• Register for an information session - Monash Malaysia students For upcoming events, information sessions and drop-in sessions available to Monash Malaysia students, follow the link.

After you have applied for exchange

Submitted both your Application for Overseas Study and your Study Plan? Great news!

Follow the link below to find out what your next steps are.

After you apply

After your application has been submitted, it will be assessed by Monash Abroad and your faculty/ies or school/s. You will then be sent a study plan outcome advising which units have been approved or rejected, and if you need to submit additional units.

Below are the next steps to expect following submission of your application.

Step One: Receive an outcome on your application from Monash Abroad

Keep an eye on your emails after submitting, as this is how we will communicate with you about the status of your application.

After results are released for the semester that you applied in, we will let you know if you’ve been accepted to go on exchange.

The institution you have been allocated is the one that you’ll be attending on exchange!

When you'll receive your outcome

• If you receive your first preference You 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 preference You’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 preferences When we cannot allocate you to one of your three preferences, we will get in contact with you directly to discuss your options.

Step Two: Attend our Post-Allocation Information Session

• Post-allocation information session We 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.
• Meeting other exchange students from Monash We will send you an email about the pre-departure sessions at the end of the semester and ask for your consent to share your contact details with students who will also be going to the same country as you on exchange, if you would like to meet and make friends with these students before you go on your program.

For students going on exchange in semester one, 2027 the post-allocation information session will take place on Thursday, 3 September at 4pm.

Step Three: Confirming your place at the host institution

• Nomination by Monash Abroad to host institution 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.
• Confirm your place with your host institution Following 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.
• Organise your accommodation Finding somewhere to live can be tricky, so it's worth getting this organised as soon as you can. For on-campus and student housing, it is helpful to know when applications open so that you can apply early (sometimes it can be first-come, first-served!). Your host institution should also have some advice on housing for exchange students, so be sure to check the links included in the Program Search brochure for your host institution to start your research!
• Apply for an OS-HELP loan and check out available scholarships If you would like to apply for the OS-HELP loan or other available scholarships, follow the link to confirm that you meet all the criteria and requirements, and ensure that you apply before the deadline for the period in which you will be doing your program.

Changing your study plan

At any point during the process from applying to when you arrive at your host institution, if you discover new units you would like to study at your host institution, or units in your initial study plan are no longer being offered so you need to add additional units, you must get approval for them by submitting an additional study plan.

Step Four: Finalising your pre-departure exchange administration with Monash

• Submit your host institution acceptance documentation After 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 visa You 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 Process The 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 units Your 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.

Re-enrolling at Monash before or during your exchange

You may need to enrol in units for next year before your exchange is finalised, in order to meet re-enrolment deadlines. To avoid late penalties, enrol in units as if you were still going to be studying at Monash, your faculty/ies or school/s will update your enrolment to reflect your exchange once you have been accepted by your host institution. If you are already on exchange in October, don’t forget to complete your re-enrolment at Monash for next year unless your semester on exchange is the final semester of your degree.

Step Five: Preparing to travel to and live in your host country

• Book your flights You'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 institution Enrolling 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.
• Check out the Monash Abroad travel insurance policy You are covered by complimentary Monash Abroad travel insurance during your program dates and a short period before and/or after your program. Have a look through our policy and make sure it covers any additional travel you are planning and see whether you need additional coverage.

Step Six: Attend your Pre-Departure Session

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.

Monash Australia students

Monash Malaysia students

Further details will be emailed to you in advance of the pre-departure sessions.

Almost there! Check that you have completed all the tasks below:

Withdrawal

If you want to withdraw your application or are having concerns that may lead to you withdrawing from your exchange, email Monash Abroad.

Late withdrawal can affect your ability to apply for future exchange rounds, so it’s really important to get in contact with us to discuss your options.

Our full withdrawal policy can be found here.

Next steps

You've completed all the pre-departure tasks before your exchange - congratulations!

Click below to learn more about support during and following your exchange.

In-country and post-exchange support

While you are on your exchange

Changing the units you are studying at your host institution

You may arrive at your host institution and may want or need to change your units. Perhaps some of the units in your study plan are no longer being offered, or the classes are full. If you're in this situation, the main thing is to ensure that you let your faculty/ies or school/s know so your enrolment can be updated and you get credit for the new units.

Make sure you also meet your required study load stipulated by Monash Abroad. If you are not sure what that is, check the brochure for your host institution on the Monash Abroad website.

• Changing into an approved unit on your study plan If you have a unit on your study plan that has already been approved by your faculty/ies or school/s, all you have to do is enrol into the unit at your host institution and then inform your faculty/ies or school/s (while ensuring that you are still meeting your required study load).
• Changing into a unit that isn't listed on your study plan If you want to enrol into a unit that has not yet been approved, then you will need to submit a new study plan with the new unit included and have it approved by your faculty/ies or school/s prior to enrolling.

Getting support while you are overseas

If you encounter any issues while on your exchange program, there is always help available.

As a first point of contact, we recommend contacting the local mobility staff at your host institution. They are able to provide in-person support and will know of the local services available to assist you.

You can also get in contact with Monash Abroad and we will support you remotely. If required, we can also help organise counselling for you through Monash Counselling services.

We also have a resource on Monash University’s emergency contacts, and would strongly recommend taking note of the support services at your host institution as well as saving the emergency services contacts for your host country on your phone.

Using travel insurance during your program

• Monash Abroad travel insurance During your program dates, you are covered by Monash Abroad travel insurance. Learn more about what the policy covers, as well as what to do if you need assistance or to make a claim.

After finishing your program

Submitting transcripts to Monash Abroad

After completing your exchange, your host institution will send your official academic transcript directly to you and/or to Monash Abroad.

If your host institution sends it directly to you, forward it to Monash Abroad.

Once Monash Abroad receives the transcript, we will verify that it is genuine and send a copy to your faculty/ies and school/s. They will then transfer the approved credit to your Monash degree.

Keep your host institution transcript safe as that forms part of your academic record for the future. When applying for jobs, further study or scholarships, in addition to providing your Monash transcript, you may also need to provide a copy of your exchange transcript.

Share your feedback with us

Following your exchange, we will be inviting you to complete a survey asking you about your experience. This will be optional, however we really value your feedback and it will be useful in helping us improve our service and plan for future exchange rounds.

Re-adjusting to life back home

After you return home, you might be having mixed emotions – excited to see friends and family, but perhaps missing your life as an exchange student. This is a completely normal part of the readjustment process.

Reverse culture shock can last longer than the culture shock you experienced while you are away. After all, you were overseas for a relatively short while and your experiences abroad will help shape the person you become for years to come. So allow yourself time to get used to being back home and to process the experience you have just had.

This resource defines reverse culture shock, which involves the initial excitement of being home followed by difficulties adjusting back into your home culture, and strategies for managing it after you return home.

You may not experience reverse culture shock in the same way as other returned students, but it is important to know that you aren't the only one having mixed feelings about being home.

You might consider joining one of the many cultural clubs at Monash to keep your overseas experience alive.

Applying your exchange to your employability skills

Having an overseas experience on your resume can be a great help in securing a job or internship. Monash Career Connect have created an employability skills (PDF, 0.22 MB) worksheet that will help you include your experience in CVs and cover letters.

Here is an example of how you might include your exchange experience on your resume/CV.

University of Warwick, United Kingdom Exchange program October 2025 – March 2026

• Subjects in International Business and British Literature