
Applying for a semester exchange
Ready to start a new adventure? Explore a foreign country, experience a whole new culture and make new friends while advancing your studies by studying a semester abroad.
Applications for Semester 1 2024 are now open.
Combine the adventure and excitement of travelling to another country with continuing your studies at one of our many partner universities. To apply for a semester exchange, complete these steps before the application deadlines.
How to apply for a semester exchange
Attend or watch a recording of our semester exchange information session. Please register your interest and the Swinburne Abroad team will send you details for the latest session.
Read the course planner for your course to make sure you are familiar with your course and the units you need to complete. Course planners contain information about:
- the core units and other units that make up your course
- the number of units you need to complete your course
- the recommended study sequence to meet course requirements.
Enter your course title and select your course start year to download your course planner.
From our list of partner universities, research where you’d like to go and choose a suitable subject selection.
Ask yourself these three things:
- Which universities are located in your preferred country?
- Does the location teach courses in English?
- Does the location have courses in your discipline?
Note: You will be asked to select second and third preference universities as part of your application. Whilst we will try to get you a place at your first preference university, sometimes this isn’t possible for a number of reasons. You will need to make sure that you research the offerings at your second and third preference universities to make sure they also suit your course.
Different countries and universities can have very different credit systems. The credit transfer table has been designed as a guide to assist prospective international exchange students when completing a proposed study plan.
It should be used as a guide only. The main aim of this table is to ensure students are studying the equivalent of a Swinburne full-time credit load (50 or 37.5 credit points) when studying at one of our partner universities.
Submit a completed proposed exchange study plan, along with your course planner and details of the units you wish to study overseas to the Swinburne Abroad team.
Applications for Semester 1 2024 are now open.
Now that you have your study plan drafted, you can start your online application.
You will be notified once your application is received. If your application is successful, we will issue you with an offer into the Swinburne Abroad overseas exchange program. Applications will be assessed after the deadline.
Note: This does not yet secure a place for you at your host university.
COVID-19 and changes to the semester exchange program
Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and international travel, the process of applying for exchange will involve additional requirements, including but not limited to:
- flexibility regarding the choice of partner university due to limited numbers of places per institution
- completion of a 'Safe Travel Plan' – further information will be provided at later stages of the appllication process
- attendance at a mandatory pre-departure briefing
- program acceptance fee of A$100 (payable once allocated to a partner university)
- other possible requirements as specified by Swinburne Abroad.
Swinburne Abroad will attempt to inform students of all requirements in advance; however, additional requirements and instructions may be given at any time during the exchange process due to changes related to COVID-19.
Swinburne Abroad will help guide you through the process of getting your academic study plan approved to make sure your time overseas will give you the credit needed towards your Swinburne degree.
Swinburne Abroad will nominate you to the host institution and send you instructions on how to complete the host institution application. The host institution will notify you on the outcome. In the odd instance that offer is rejected, we will try to place you at your second or third preference.
Your pre-departure requirements will be outlined to you by the Swinburne Abroad team before you leave for your exchange. You will be required to provide information and complete forms relating to insurance, flights, enrolment and more.
You will also need to attend a pre-departure session — this will cover lots of important information and is also a great opportunity to meet other students who might be heading to the same country as you, or even the same university!
Note: There will be additional pre-departure requirements as we return to travel with COVID-19. Students will be required to submit additional forms, work through a planning and risk assessment guide, and adhere to any and all risk management protocols. Details will be provided as you progress through your application.
After these steps are complete, Swinburne Abroad will amend your Swinburne enrolment prior to departure.
The adventure is about to begin! Pack your bags and get ready for an experience of a lifetime.
Bon voyage!

Tiger, Semester Exchange to Concordia University in Canada.
Been accepted? Apply for funding or a scholarship.
Been accepted for a semester abroad? Awesome! Before you start packing your bags and checking out Lonely Planet, you should apply for government funding or a scholarship to put towards your exchange program. Remember that you have to be accepted by the host institution before you apply for funding or a scholarship and these are not guaranteed.
Application deadlines
A draft study plan and a completed online application (see step 6) must be submitted by the deadlines to apply for a semester exchange.
31 July 2023
For a semester exchange in Semester 1 2024
31 January 2024
For a semester exchange in Semester 2 2024
Important information
These deadlines are Swinburne Abroad deadlines, which can be weeks to months prior to the partner university's deadline. This allows enough time for Swinburne Abroad to receive and assess applications, nominate students and work directly with the partner university.
Interested in studying abroad?
Our friendly and well-travelled Swinburne Abroad team can help answer any questions about our overseas study programs.