Applying for exchange

When choosing a host university for your semester-based exchange, it's crucial to prioritize finding a university that aligns with your academic requirements. Ensuring that your selected institution offers the courses and academic opportunities necessary for your degree progression is the foundation of a successful exchange experience.

Once you've identified universities that meet your academic needs, you can then take other priorities into consideration

Step 1: Identify fields of study
Using your progression check and the list of courses remaining in your UQ program, identify how flexible those courses are. Course flexibility can be through:

1. The type of course you are seeking (e.g. compulsory courses, discipline electives, or general electives)
2. The order in which you take your courses in your UQ program

Note: Electives are the best courses for exchange as they provide the most flexibility when enrolling in courses at your host university.

Once you know your course flexibility, you can identify the study fields you must take during your exchange.

Step 2: Search host universities
Use the exchange "Find and Host University" search function to search which hosts teach each field of study in English.

If you want or need to study two or more study fields during your exchange, you will need to search the study fields separately and then cross-check the lists to ensure you choose a host that offers both/all study fields you need.

Step 3: Review host eligibility and restrictions
With your list of host universities that offer the study fields you want to take, check you meet the host eligibility criteria and other requirements.

a. Eligibility Criteria
Each host may have eligibility criteria in addition to UQ's criteria. Ensure you also meet the criteria for any host you want to consider.

b. Host Requirements and Academic Restrictions
Review all the other requirements and academic restrictions the host may have, these are listed on the ‘Academic Matters’ tab of the host university’s page on our website. You must read these restrictions carefully and avoid choosing a host in which it could be 'risky' to get into the courses you need.

If the study field you need to take is listed under the study load restriction list, and if you need to take more than one course in this field, our team does not recommend selecting this host.

c. Full-time study load equivalency
Understand the full-time study load at the host university and how this breaks down to the number of courses. Sometimes you may need to take more or fewer courses to make up the full-time study load which may impact your ability to get credit for a mix of study fields. 

Step 4: Narrow options by actual course offerings
Further narrow down your list of potential host universities by looking at the course offerings in the host course catalogue, making sure the courses are open to exchange students and that you meet any relevant prerequisite requirements. Read the host course profiles to determine their suitability and similarity towards the UQ courses you want to gain credit for.

Step 5:  Factor in other preferences
Consider other factors such as location, accommodation options and availability, cultural experiences, extracurricular opportunities and budget to find the perfect fit for your personal and professional goals.