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Exchange for UWS Students

student montage Why Study Overseas On Student Exchange?  

An exchange year is an exciting and challenging way of broadening your academic horizons and enriching your university experience in a different university environment and culture.

Globalisation and Internationalisation of the activities of individuals, societies, economies and nations is now the norm and you are an integral part of this process,

You will add a new perspective to your studies through study abroad will enhance your education and allow you to see things from another point of view, that will assist the development of your analytical and critical thinking skills,

Immersing yourself in another culture which is likely to be unfamiliar, will add to your understanding of the complexity of unique cultures in our world, and encourage you to see your own culture through foreign eyes,

Your international experience will stand out on your resume and be recognised by employers who are seeking employees with the capacity to add value to their business through increased cultural sensitivity,

Your own self awareness and self reliance will be developed by leaving the familiar behind, embracing different experiences and encountering different people and places,

Courses studied abroad will be credited to your own degree program at the University of Western Sydney.

What Types of Programs are Offered.

At UWS there are two different ways you can study abroad as part of your degree. Each program has its own characteristics and most students will be able to find a program suits their interests and needs.

Overseas study programs vary from short intensive four week subjects to exchanges that last one year.   The duration of study can often be determined by students themselves depending on financial availability and ability to transfer credit.   Some institutions also require students to have a working knowledge of a foreign language although a small number of programs provide instruction in English.

Official Exchange Programs

In the last decade there has been an explosion of student exchange, especially within Europe where tens of thousands of students participate in exchange each year. Student exchange is a rapidly growing part of Australian student activity.

A student exchange program is based on an official exchange agreement between two partner universities. Students are required to pay HECS (or full fees for international students) and by vacating their position they allow for a student from the host university to study at UWS and vice versa.   Therefore no tuition fees are ever payable to the host university.   As the Australian Government requires universities operating student exchange schemes to balance their numbers exchange places are limited and competitive.

Students must maintain a full time workload both locally and overseas.   The academic work completed by students at an overseas exchange institution must be counted for credit towards your UWS degree.   Credit transfer arrangements ensure that an exchange period will not extend the normal progression of students' degree programs.

Prior to departure the University will assist students and their families by providing a formal pre-departure session to ensure that students have the most up to date information about academic requirements, practical information.   A separate briefing about cultural, personal and academic adjustment issues will also be given to ensure that students experience a smooth transition to their host country. Where possible we invite students who have previously studied on exchange to share their experiences directly with you.

Independent Study Abroad/Organised Study Abroad

This is very similar to the exchange option although there are a number of important differences. 1) students must pay tuition fees 2) students do not compete with other local students for places.

Fee paying Study Abroad Programs are popular to students, particularly if an exchange agreement has not been signed with an institution that students wish to study at.   In some countries tuition fees can be substantial, but in others fees are cheaper than HECS in Australia. Given that tuition fees will be paid to an overseas university, students are advised to take a leave of absence from UWS for the duration of the study period.   Students must make direct inquiries with the institution of their choice with regard to application procedures and course information. Credit transfer arrangements should also be discussed with your course coordinator prior to embarking on any overseas study.

In most cases when you study abroad you will need to pay your own fees.

How to apply

Choosing an exchange institution will largely depend on the availability of creditable courses. You should first try to determine your UWS enrolment for the period in which you plan on studying overseas. Then investigate the various exchange institution sĘ course offerings to find potential equivalent courses. Course handbooks for some university wide agreements can be found at the UWS International, at Campbelltown, Penrith, and Richmond campuses.     Alternatively similar information can be found on the Web sites for institutions. After determining which exchange program best meets your academic requirements, complete the following application forms:

Exchange Application Form

Accreditation

One of the most important aspects of the exchange period is the transfer of credit to you enrolment at University of Western Sydney. You will need to liaise with the relevant members of your department to discuss your UWS enrolment during the exchange term and the corresponding   courses that you need to take overseas. This will ensure that full credit can be obtained for the subjects overseas. Credit will then be transferred back to your UWS enrolment upon return. Credit transfer must be clarified prior to departure to ensure that the time taken to complete your degree will not be extended.

A course Credit Transfer Form must be completed by your course advisor before your exchange application will be considered.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for University wide exchanges you must:

Please note that International students are encouraged to apply although study is not allowed within ones home country.

Can I Afford an Exchange?

During the exchange period you will be responsible for paying your tuition fees (HECS or full fees), and student organisation fees at the University of Western Sydney.

Additional expense will include your airfare to from your destination, accommodation, campus health cover (where relevant) food, public transport, books and any other living or travel expenses.

An estimate of the cost of additional expenses is between A$8000-$10000 for six months or A$16000-$20000 for twelve months. This is a general figure and may vary greatly due to the exchange rate or cost of living in the country where you are studying (eg countries such as Japan, US, and Scandanavia have a very high cost of living). You should investigate the costs involved for your exchange carefully before applying.   Also budget for any additional travel you plan to do while overseas.   It is extremely important that you do not assume that you will be able to earn any significant income whilst you are overseas.   Any anticipated income should not be included in your   budget.

Please note that your budget can include:

Scholarships/Financial Support

At various times UWS may be in a position to provide or administer merit based scholarships for official university exchange programs.   These are generally merit based scholarships and cannot be awarded to students concurrently with other scholarships funding.   Currently available: Travel Scholarship.

Academic references

All exchange applicants must submit two academic referees reports. The reports need to be submitted on prescribed forms available from the International Office.   The report asks each academic to comment on the quality of your quality of work, academic potential and degree of support for the exchange period. Academic referees reports must be distributed to academics within the University of Western Sydney that have supervised you for at least one session.   It is advisable to discuss your plans to study on exchange with the academics so that an accurate and frank assessment can be provided of your performance.

Statement of Purpose

A short essay should be submitted (no more than two pages) setting out your motivation behind your exchange application: what you hope to gain both personally and academically and why you have chosen a particular institution.

You should highlight why the particular institution is suited to your course of study and how the experience will serve your study and career plans. You should be able to demonstrate awareness of the challenges you may encounter in the period away and how you will attempt to overcome any expected obstacles. Special mention should also be made to any extra curricular activities and travel experience.

Nomination to an Exchange University

Your nomination to an exchange partner university will be based on your previous academic performance and your personal suitability to represent UWS on exchange.   Should you be nominated, the host university reserves the right to accept or reject UWS   nominees.   In almost all cases though, students are selected. Response times from partner institutions vary.

Notification of Your Acceptance

When you receive your acceptance package it will usually contain documentation required for your student visa, information regarding commencement and orientation dates and accommodation application forms.

It is your responsibility to then ensure that accommodation application forms are sent to your host university and a student visa application has been submitted to the relevant consulate in Sydney.   Please note that turn around time for visa processing can vary between 2 working days and 6 weeks (depending upon the consulate). It is recommended that you check the cost of an application for a student visa and procedures for applying well in advance.   Upon receipt of your acceptance letter you should then make arrangements for travel in addition to travel/health insurance.

Australian Government Travel Advice

Students are advised to check the travel advice notices provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at http://www.dfat.gov.au/travel

Where a recommendation to " defer non-essential travel" has been made, exchanges to the relevant country will be suspended.

Where Can I get Further Information?

The Exchange and Study Abroad Office
Campbelltown Campus, Building 12
E-mail: exchange@uws.edu.au
Ph: (02) 4620 3696