UNSW Exchange Students

 

 

 

Students are responsible for applying for their visas and must ensure that they obtain the necessary visas or entry permits for all countries they intend to visit BEFORE they leave Australia. Take your acceptance papers to the relevant consulate with your passport to obtain your visa. Visas can take several weeks to process so always confirm the time it may take with the consulate or embassy well in advance of your travel dates. Fees for visas vary and can be up to $400. It is a good idea to check the consulate's website first to see what documents are needed to apply for your visa. Some visas require a police check, which can take several weeks to arrange.

 

Waiting for your acceptance pack can be a long process.  It normally takes several months before we hear back from the partner university so students should not plan to travel too many weeks prior to their course start dates.  We will contact students by email as soon as we hear anything from the partner university.

 

Students may be allowed to defer for up to 6 months. If you are looking to defer please speak to an Exchange advisor. Please note that for students who have been nominated and then decide to defer, there is no guarantee that they will be nominated to the same university. This is especially the case for competitive universities. Your application will be reassessed along with the applications of other students who are applying to go on exchange at the same time as you.

 

You are probably very busy settling in to your new home, figuring out a new country, a new university and maybe even a new language. Good luck! 

 

However, please ensure that you take the time to complete all of the required forms for UNSW. As soon as you have enrolled in classes and found accommodation you must complete and send us your Notice of Enrolment Form and Change of Address Form.  Your notice of enrolment form must be signed by the International or Exchange Office at the partner university so we can ensure your are correctly enrolled.  Part of the form also requires you to email the UNSW Exchange Office a copy of the course outlines for each of the courses you are enrolled in at the partner university.

 

If you have enrolled in any classes that you did not have approved by your UNSW faculty before you left, you must get approval asap. The best way to do this is to complete a Transfer of Credit Form and send it to your UNSW school/ faculty office and ask that they fax the approved form to the exchange office.  Please read The Transfer of Credit Process  if you are unsure about how to fill out this form.

 

Lost or misplaced your pre departure booklet? 

 

EMERGENCY COUNSELLING FOR AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS OVERSEAS
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs provides emergency services for Australians who are overseas and these services include access to Lifeline telephone counselling options for those negotiating a crisis overseas or who require counselling services in emergency situations while they are overseas.  This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To access this telephone counselling service students can ring the consulate emergency number +61 1300 555 135 and wait on the line or follow the offered selection options for different services.  Telephone calls to local Australian High Commissions, Embassies or Consulates in various countries can also be put through to Lifeline in Australia for the cost of a local call.  If the call is made after hours in the country from which the person is calling, their call is automatically transferred to Australia.  Further information can be found at: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/index.html

 

One session students who wish to extend their exchange for a further session must contact the UNSW Exchange Office at least 6 weeks before the end of their first session. Any extension will only be granted based on the approval from the UNSW Exchange Office, your UNSW Faculty and the Exchange Office at the partner university. If you are approved to extend your exchange for a semester you must contact the Risk Management Office to check your insurance coverage.

 

Every university has a different system for issuing academic transcripts. Some universities automatically send your transcripts to our office. Others require you to order your transcript or nominate where you would like your transcripts to be sent. Some universities, particularly German and French, require students to fill out several forms in order to receive a transcript. It is very important that you ask the International Office at your exchange university how their transcript system works. Without a transcript your credits will not be transferred.

 

In the case where you are personally issued a transcript from your exchange you are required to bring it to the Exchange Office so that we are able to transfer your credits. After your credit has been transferred to your UNSW transcript we can give you any copies that we have of your original transcript.

Students on Exchange need to ensure that they have adequate insurance for the duration of their exchange

session(s).

 

The UNSW Exchange Office and Risk Management Unit highly recommends that all students on exchange have travel insurance. In addition, most partner universities will require students to have insurance before you can study there. UNSW's travel policy will automatically cover all students while on exchange. This insurance is free of charge and no registration is required. A separate cover letter can be requested from the UNSW Risk Management Unit. Further information on the coverage details can be found at the UNSW Risk Management Site and in the Student Travel Insurance pdf.

 

If the UNSW Insurance Policy covers you while on exchange, you are obliged to read and understand all details of the policy. All insurance details must be confirmed before your departure. UNSW cannot change coverage while you are overseas.

 

Note that while UNSW Exchange aims to assist you with cost effective insurance, the coverage above may not meet the requirements or personal needs of all students going on an exchange. In such cases, we strongly recommend that you arrange your own travel coverage through another private insurance provider.