All undergraduate and postgraduate students, including international students, are eligible to apply for a student exchange program, providing they have:
completed at least one year of study (48 points) towards a degree at UWA
a sound academic record - normally an overall weighted average of 65 per cent with no fail grades. A fail grade may be overlooked if there are extenuating circumstances
General criteria and conditions
You will be selected on a competitive basis. This will reflect academic standing, motivation, seriousness of purpose, ability to take the initiative, communication skills, social maturity and adaptability. Extra curricular activities, such as community involvement, sporting and other interests, will all be taken into account.
You will also be assessed on your suitability as an ambassador for UWA and Australia, and your ability to adapt and function independently in new environments. You will need to have a good understanding of Australian culture and be able to adequately represent UWA and Australia while overseas.
- International Students
- Postgraduate Applicants
- Undergraduate Applicants
- Part Time Students
International Students
- International students are still responsible for meeting all the requirements of their Acceptance of Offer with UWA and continue to satisfy the conditions of their Australian Student visa.
- Semester fees and any other associated costs must be paid to UWA before enrolment at the host university.
- The aim of the student exchange program is to give students the opportunity to study and live in a new country. It is therefore unlikely that international students will be given approval to return to their country of residence.
Postgraduate applicants
- Students are normally required to have completed at least one full academic year at UWA at the time of application. Consideration will be given to students who have completed their first degree at another university.
- In general, students must have completed a Bachelor's degree and have a minimum weighted average of 65 per cent in the final two years of their degree. If a Masters or other postgraduate course has been started, then a weighted average of 65 per cent is also required in these studies. Some USA universities may only accept students with a four-year degree.
Postgraduate research students should seek approval from their supervisor and Head of Department, and must write a formal request to the Higher Degrees Committee in the Faculty. A copy of the written approval must be attached to the student exchange application form.
PhD students require written approval from the Board of Postgraduate Research Studies Committee. A copy of this approval should be attached to the application. For further information, contact the Administrative Officer, Board of Postgraduate Research Studies on 6488 3034.
Undergraduate applicants
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Students are eligible to apply for exchange to be undertaken in their second academic year onwards. The optimum period is during the second semester of the second academic year or the first semester of the third academic year.
- Final year Bachelor students will normally be able to apply for one semester only. Please apply for special consideration to the Academic Student Adviser if you plan to apply for exchange for the final semester of your degree.
- Special conditions apply for overseas study at honours level. Please consult with your Academic Student Adviser prior to application.
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Business School
- Students from second year onwards, including final year, are eligible to apply
- Honours students are eligible provided approval is received from Head of School and Sub-Dean before application. It is important to realise that only the coursework component of honours may be completed on exchange.
- Accounting and Finance students are advised to check that the units taken on exchange are recognised for the professional requirements of their degree. UWA approval does not guarantee courses will be automatically recognised by the relevant professional bodies.
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Law
- While it is possible for students to go on exchange at other points in their degree, the Law Faculty recommends that students go on exchange in their penultimate year. Students wishing to go on exchange at other points in their degree will need to consult the Associate Dean regarding the suitability of this.
- Students undertaking a combined course will normally have a weighted average of 65 per cent in their law units to receive approval from the Law Faculty for their exchange.
- Approval will be given for units which are offered as part of a Bachelor of Laws degree (or equivalent) and are considered to be of similar academic integrity to units at UWA. Units taken in Legal Studies outside a Law School will not be approved for credit towards the UWA Legal degree.
- Units studied on exchange cannot be used to satisfy core unit requirements. Core units must be completed at UWA Law School.
- Students are advised to check that the units taken on exchange satisfy the Group B course requirement. It is recommended that students confirm with the Associate Dean whether the units intended to be studied will meet with this requirement.
- Students should make an appointment with the Associate Dean to discuss approval to go on exchange and the units that will be studied. Students with general enquiries are also welcome to contact the Associate Dean.
- Students, in consultation with the Faculty Administrative Officer, should have a program of study planned for the remainder of their course before the Associate Dean signs off on their application.
- Special care should be taken not to plan to do the exchange during the year when the student is planning to study Commercial Practice, Conveyancing and Drafting and Procedure as these are full year units which must be studied in the same year.
- Students hoping to enrol in the Honours program in the Law School should note that grades studied during study abroad are not counted towards Honours calculations. This should not discourage students from applying to study abroad, however it may advisable to spend one semester rather than two abroad in order to maximise the marks considered when calculating eligibility to undertake Honours. It is recommended that students consult the Honours brochure for advice on the implications of going on exchange and refer any queries to the Chair of the Honours Committee.
VISIT THE FACULTY OF LAW WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT EXCHANGE
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Sciences
- Students are eligible to apply from the end of their first year. The optimum period is during the second semester of second year. You should make sure that the units you take will satisfy any prerequisites you need for your major(s).
- Students normally complete their major (Level 3) at UWA. You may be permitted to take part or all of your 24 point major on exchange if the units you take are directly equivalent to units in the major at UWA. You must get special approval for this.
- With approval, up to 24 points of a double major (48 points in one discipline) can be completed on exchange. In such cases the units need not be directly equivalent to UWA units, but must be comparable in standard, content and relevance.
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Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
- For engineering students, some overseas study may be permitted in the final year.
- Grades received during exchange are not counted towards honours calculations but may count for marginal cases.
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Other faculties
Please consult your Academic Course Adviser and/or Sub-Dean.
Honours
- Students are strongly advised to discuss their plans for Honours with their Academic Student Adviser when they are considering a student exchange program.
- In most faculties, grades received during exchange are not counted towards honours calculation.
Combined degrees
Combined degree students must satisfy regulations pertaining to both faculties.
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Applicants must have:
1. a current enrolment
2. completed at least one year of studies at UWA (48 points at full-time or part-time level)
3. a sound academic record (normally an overall WAM of 65% where studies are full-time; 70% where studies are at half-time; and 75% where studies are less than half-time. If there are several periods of part-time enrolment at different rates, the weighted average of each period will be compared against the required minimum and the outcome determined by the Committee after discussion.
All Part Time Students will be interviewed to determine their:
1. suitability as an ambassador for UWA and Australia
2. ability to function independently in a new environment
3. motivation, seriousness of purpose, communication skills, social maturity and adaptability
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