Studying Abroad - How to get the most out of Uni !
Published by: CCA Publications
A special thanks to Amy Liu, Mei Teng Lee, Sharon Taing
and Amanda Wong for making this article possible.
Studying abroad offers students a unique opportunity to continue their studies in a different country whilst allowing students to fully immerse themselves in a new culture and invest their time in creating ever-lasting memories. As a Monash student, you will get to study at one of Monash’s international partner institutions and receive credit points that count towards your Monash degree!
There are numerous ways that a study abroad experience could benefit various aspects of your life. This includes learning how to adapt in a new setting, meeting new people, developing changes in your daily routine, and possibly living on your own for the first time. Although it may feel daunting at first, students tend to build up confidence and increase their independence overtime throughout their studying abroad journey.
While studying abroad often presents challenges like language barriers, students have proven to overcome these obstacles and elevate their experiences by engaging deeply in their new environment. By picking up common phrases and investing time to learn the language, students can enhance their language and communication skills. Gradually, this familiarity enables them to communicate effectively within the broader community.
Furthermore, learning a subject overseas would also expose you to different methods of teaching and learning. This ultimately gives you the opportunity to explore different learning styles and figure out what suits you best. You could also spend a portion of your duration of study abroad travelling, using your study abroad country as a ‘home base’ to return to. Through this, you would be able to meet a lot of new people and potentially network with them, widening your horizons.
Finally, having a study abroad experience on your resume could distinguish you from other candidates as it highlights your ability to work in diverse environments, showcasing adaptability. You can also use this program experience to stand out while answering interview questions relating to things that further enrich your experiences and skills that may not be specified on your resume.
Although different degrees have different requirements and eligibility to partake in a study abroad program, applicants generally should have a minimum requirement of 60 WAM and have completed at least 36 credit points by the end of the semester they apply for study abroad in. Applicants will also need to seek course advice and submit a study plan to their faculty to be approved by, and satisfy any additional requirements from Monash and their host school. It is recommended to partake in the study abroad program in the earlier years of your degree, that way it would be easier for you to match the host school’s units with monash’s specific units. Additionally, you would continue to pay your current Monash home campus fees, which may be cheaper than a semester’s worth of fees at the partner university.
Applications for study abroad open at the beginning of each semester, and they close in May and October for semesters 1 and 2 respectively. There are 3 types of study abroad programs you can apply to with the first one being short exchange, which is conducted during the winter and summer semester breaks. You would study units worth 6 to 12 credit points depending on the duration of the short exchange. The second and third types would be the semester long or year long study abroad, where you would study an equivalent of 18 to 24 credit points every semester.
From our CCA Members:
I highly recommend anyone interested in doing a semester exchange to plan in advance. This includes keeping track of application dates, information sessions and making sure you have units to do at your host university. Personally, I think anyone interested in going on exchange will 99% get in if you plan things well. Monash partners with many universities across the world and they have a partnership to nominate a certain number of students each year (not necessarily the one stated on the website as it depends on discussions between both universities). Heads up - It’s been a year since I started my application process and it’s been such a long journey of emails and applications back and forth. However, it’ll definitely be just as rewarding and a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Mei Teng Lee
My interest in applying for a semester exchange program stemmed from a desire to travel and experience new cultures. I’ve always enjoyed travelling around Europe, and I chose to study at King’s College London not only because it is a reputable university but also because it is near many other places I wanted to visit. Additionally, the chance to experience life in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, rich in history and diversity, was incredibly appealing. Having just completed my exchange at the start of this year, I’d like to share my experience with those considering this opportunity.
My Biggest Tips:
• Do Your Research Before Going: Understanding the culture and environment of the host institution as well as the city will help you set realistic expectations before going. Examples: Ask previous exchange students for advice, research online.
• Prepare to Be Open-Minded: To get the most out of your exchange, you need to be prepared to engage yourself in your surroundings as much as possible. Examples: Attend orientation activities (this is the best way to meet friends!), talk to other students in class or through extracurricular activities.
Everyone gains something valuable from their exchange. Personally, I learned to adapt to new academic systems and enhanced my skillset by engaging with diverse perspectives and teaching methods. Living in London taught me to navigate a foreign metropolis, improving my independence and making me more social, as I didn’t know anyone there before. Furthermore, the exposure to different cultures and global viewpoints enriched my understanding of global issues and improved my cultural competency. Overall, I highly recommend the exchange program for its unparalleled opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and personally.
Amy Liu
I’ll be going on a semester-long exchange to Singapore at NUS for my final semester of uni studies! It wasn’t something I knew too much about before I started researching more, and I wish I looked into it earlier in my degree as it was a bit stressful trying to coordinate an exchange for my final semester! During one of the study abroad information sessions, I met someone who was about to embark on their third exchange (yes third!) and it was really cool to hear that they really enjoyed their past experiences and wanted to do it again.
Exchange sounded like a great opportunity to explore the rest of the world and try something completely new. As someone who’s lived in Melbourne my whole life, I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and see how I would grow!
One of my main concerns applying for exchange was whether I would be “missing out” (seems like I had a case of academic FOMO haha) on knowledge if I completed units at a different university as opposed to completing all the units for my major at Monash. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that university ultimately aims to build your foundation in your chosen area of study, and it doesn’t need to be a Monash-only education to be able to succeed as a Monash Business Analytics graduate. Your Monash faculty also will only approve you to take units from your host university if the units meet the Monash requirements- no more academic FOMO needed!
Finding matching units between Monash and my host institution was one of the more stressful parts. For those who like convenience, I’d recommend looking into the Monash Global Intercampus Programs (GIP), as doing an exchange at Monash Malaysia is much easier to coordinate where the units are the exact same.
Exchange also is encouraged because beyond your studies, you get a ‘global education’ from immersing yourself in a new culture and environment. There is so much value in this aspect of exchange and is something that I’m really looking forward to. I’ve heard so many positive things from my friends’ exchange experiences and I’d encourage everyone to explore this opportunity!
Sharon Taing