7 steps to apply for Exchange
Going on exchange is an amazing experience that will change your world view, but it does take some work and research in order to get there. Follow the below steps, even if you are in your first semester or are yet to start at Bond.
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1. Check your eligibility
Students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Bond have the opportunity to diversify their academic and cultural experience by participating in an exchange program.
Eligibility requirements
- Applicants must be officially enrolled in an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate degree program at Bond (find a link to restricted programs below).
- Applicants must have three or four electives and/or optional subjects available in their program to take on Exchange (see 'Step 2. Know your study plan' below for advice on determining if you have room in your degree for an Exchange semester).
- Undergraduate students must have successfully completed at least one semester at Bond before applying. Postgraduate students in accelerated programs may apply from their first semester.
- Applicants must have achieved a Cumulative Percentage Average (CPA) of at least 65%*. Students are expected to maintain this average until they depart.
- All students must have completed at least two semesters of study before departure.
- Students are required to maintain full time enrolment at Bond and at the host institution while on Exchange.
* Students applying to study at a Law partner must have achieved a minimum CPA of at least 70% overall for Law subjects. Student applying to study at the Ivey Business School must have achieved an overall CPA of 70%.
Students on Bond Scholarships
Students on a Bond scholarship must maintain full time enrolment (40 credit points) for the duration of their exchange program. Students seeking to enrol in 30 credit points, must be approved by Student Assist prior to departure. Please refer to the Student Handbook, "Division 10 - Scholarships".
International Students
International students planning to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) at the completion of their Bond degree, should check the visa eligibility requirements before applying for Exchange. International students may not be considered for exchange programs in their country of residence.
Exchange restrictions
Some degree programs are too structured and/or have industry accreditation requirements that prevent students from undertaking an Exchange semester. Please find a list of restricted programs and other advice for each Faculty here:
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2. Join an information session and/or request a personal consultation
Information sessions
Students are encouraged to join an Outbound Exchange Information Session, where we will discuss the exchange program in detail and talk you through the application process. When possible, Faculty representatives and past exchange students will attend to share their advice and answer questions.
Find the dates and times for the next information sessions here.
Personal consultation
To book a personal consultation please email at [email protected].
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3. Know your study plan
Download: Study Plan Template
Most students will need to deviate from the recommended sequence of study in order to fit an exchange semester into their degree program, so it is important to map out an alternative study plan to ensure you can stay on track for graduation.
Preparing your study plan
Use the above template to list all your remaining subjects and determine which subjects you have available to take on Exchange.
We recommend saving any electives for Exchange to give you flexibility when enrolling at the host university. Because your Core, Foundation and Major subjects can be hard to match, and subject availability at the host university is not guaranteed.
Find the program structure and sequence for each Faculty here: FSD, HSM, BBS, Law.
The study plan template is a Word document so you may easily fill it in using a computer, and then email it to [email protected] to be checked and approved. Please allow 1-2 weeks for a response.
You will need to submit a copy of your approved study plan with your application for Exchange. Failure to do so will result in your exchange application being denied.
What are elective subjects?
General elective – A subject that may be chosen from any faculty provided requisites, enrolment restrictions and any other faculty requirements have been met.
Faculty elective – A subject that can only be chosen from your faculty. i.e., Bachelor of Laws students can only choose faculty electives from subjects that are within the Faculty of Law.
What if my degree has limited or no elective subjects?
An Exchange semester might not be possible for students with little or no electives in their program because flexibility with enrolment is essential. Where there are not enough elective subjects remaining, students may also use Major Option subjects, which do not require a direct match.
To gain approval to take a required subject (e.g., Core or Foundation subject) on exchange, you will need to find a corresponding subject at the host university that has similar learning outcomes (a two thirds match). You can check this by looking at the subject learning outcomes of the host university subject and comparing it to the Bond subject learning outcomes. The Exchange Office will manage your subject approvals and will consult with your faculty if required.
When is the best time to go on exchange?
Students can go on exchange from their fourth semester, with the exception of postgraduate students in an accelerated degree, who may go on exchange from their third semester. Students may go on exchange in their final semester, however, this could delay graduation.
The Bond September semester lines up well with the "Fall semester" at most of our partner universities, whereas partners offering a "Spring semester" from January-April are more limited. A full-time semester during the Bond May semester is uncommon (most universities are on summer holidays), and so students are limited with available institutions.
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4. Research our partner universities
With 80+ institutions to choose from, it is important to do your research to find a university that is the best fit for your degree and your exchange aspirations.
Look at our list of Participating institutions
- You will find links to host university academic calendars, course catalogues and Fact Sheets.
- Be sure to check the agreement type (University wide, UG/PG, Law only, etc), semester dates and subjects available. Always refer to the host university Fact Sheet for lots of helpful information.
- If the overseas semester dates do not align with Bond’s, you may need to apply for a Leave of Absence (which would postpone your expected graduation date) or defer your exams.
- Most students will participate in an exchange in the January or September semesters because university partners that offer a May semester are limited.
Search the course catalogue of the host university
- You will need to identify at least 6-10 subjects that you could take
- Look for learning outcomes and assessment methods on the host university website (if not available, email the Exchange Office at [email protected] to help you source them from the institution)
- Make sure the subjects you select are:
- Not restricted for Exchange students and that you meet any pre-requisite requirements
- Available in the semester you will be overseas
- In English, or in a language in which you have suitable proficiency
Consider your budget and look at our Exchange financial information and funding
- Students are eligible for travel grants through (1) Bond University, (2) government or (3) private.
Connect
Reach out to other Bondies who are overseas or who have been on Exchange here.
Visa requirements
Research the visa requirements for the host country on their Australian consulate/embassy website. Foreign embassies and consulates in Australia.
Student testimonials
Read what past exchange students have to say about the exchange program and their host university via the Exchange blog.
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5. Seek pre-approval for the subjects you would like to take overseas
Download: Subject Approval Form
Selecting subjects to study overseas is an important part of the application process. You must match your exchange subjects as best you can to your Bond study plan, and then submit your proposed subjects to the Exchange Office who will manage the assessment and approval via the approval form. Once approved, this form will need to be attached to your online exchange application.
IMPORTANT: Subject approval at Bond does not guarantee that you will be able to enrol in the approved subjects at your host institution (classes may fill up, clash with your timetable, get withdrawn, etc), so please ensure your study plan is flexible enough to accommodate last minute changes.
Faculty requirements for subject assessment
General electives: Code and name of the subject, subject description and the credit weighting
Faculty electives: Code and name of the subject, subject description and the credit weighting (Law electives must be taught by a Law Faculty)
Study plan subjects (Core, Foundation or Major option): Subject description, Learning Outcomes and assessment methods.
* Exceptions: Business Major Options do not need to match 80%, however a detailed outline is still required for assessment.
To apply for exchange subject pre-approval:
- Search the course catalogue of the overseas partner institution and find at least 6-10 subject options.
- Download the host university subject learning outcomes and assessment methods as individual PDF documents and label each document with the name of the subject. Also save your study plan as a PDF document to upload.
- Complete the Exchange Subject Approval form and submit to the Exchange Office for assessment.
You will receive your application outcome via email. Please allow 2-4 weeks for assessment.
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6. Apply to Bond's International Exchange Program
Complete the online exchange application here.
- Semester 1 deadline: July (the year prior to exchange)
- Semester 2 deadline: November (the year prior to exchange)
- Semester 3 deadline: March (the year of exchange)
Late applications will be accepted but there is no guarantee you'll get your first host institutions preference.
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7. Apply directly to the nominated partner institution
If your nomination is accepted by the host (partner) university, you will be sent instructions on how to apply directly to the host university.
Application requirements will differ from country to country, however most universities will require the following:
- Official Academic Transcript: you will need to send the original or scanned copy to your host university. This is not the same as the unofficial academic record you can download from eStudent. The Exchange Office will order a copy on your behalf from Student Assist.
- Personal Statement: take the time to write a considered response, including your motivation to study at the institution.
- Copy of the photo page of your passport: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months past your intended return date.
- Health/vaccination certificate: you may be required to provide a certificate of health and/or proof of immunisations.
- Proof of finances: some institutions may require you to demonstrate your financial ability to pay for your living expenses by providing an original bank statement or official letter from your (or your sponsor’s) bank showing sufficient funds available. They may also require the funds to be shown in the host country’s currency.
- International health insurance: please be aware that Bond’s travel insurance policy is not a health insurance policy. It covers medical emergencies, but not routine health checks/doctor’s visits. We recommend students proceed with the host institution’s health insurance requirement.
Application deadlines
If you want to go in Semester 1: Apply prior to July (year before exchange)
If you want to go in Semester 2: Apply prior to November (year before exchange)
If you want to go in Semester 3: Apply prior to March (year of exchange)