Seek advice about student exchange

Ready to start your overseas adventure? Explore our resources to understand how a semester-based exchange works.

Review the following information to help you understand how a global study experience can connect to your studies, what your best exchange options may be, and how to prepare an application!

How does semester-based exchange work?

A semester-based exchange allows you to study overseas for one or two semesters at one of UQ's exchange partner universities.

While on exchange, you remain enrolled at UQ and continue to pay tuition fees or defer your HECS-HELP payments to UQ. No additional tuition fees are paid to the host university.

You are required to be enrolled in a standard full-time study load (8 units) while on exchange and must be able to receive credit for the courses you plan to take on exchange. Your UQ faculty will assess your study plan as part of the application process.

The grades you receive while on exchange do not count towards your GPA for your UQ degree. If you successfully pass all of your pre-approved courses at the host university, you should receive credit towards your UQ degree. Your GPA however, will remain the same as your previous semester.

Exchange Timeline

Before you submit an application

Work your way through the Semester-based Exchange Apply to UQ Checklist (PDF, 215.7 KB) to ensure you are preparing well.

Attend an information session.
Confirm your eligibility for exchange.
Complete a progression check.
Choose your preferred host university.
Find out about available funding.
Talk to an Internships and Global Experience Coordinator.
Read student stories from your preferred host university, or chat with returned students.
Organise your study plan.
Apply for exchange.

Where to find more information

Internships and Global Experiences

Watch a semester-based exchange information session.
Book an appointment with a Internships and Global Experience Coordinator.
Join the UQ Global Explorers Facebook group.
Sign up to receive updates.

Try to book in with the Internships and Global Experiences Coordinator who specialises in study experiences, but if you can't, then any of the team can assist you.

IGET Drop-in Sessions: The IGET team will also hold drop-in sessions at the Edge Space in Student Central (B.42). Refer to the Events page for drop-in dates.

UQ Faculty

Talk to an academic adviser in your faculty to understand how your participation in an exchange program will impact on your UQ degree program.

As faculty staff are often very busy, we recommend that you seek advice early by organising an academic advising session well inadvance.

Contact your faculty:

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
- Email
- Make an appointment
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Medicine

Host universities

Please do not contact the host universities directly until you have been officially accepted as an exchange student by the institution.

Global Experiences
Frequently Asked QuestionsSearch UQ FAQs for commonly asked questions. Use search words including 'global experiences', 'exchange', 'short-term' or 'internships'.