• Students > Careers & Opportunities > Studying overseas > Semester exchange

    Semester exchange

    Emily Pendlebury with group in from of London Eye

    The Semester 2, 2025 application deadline has been extended until Monday October 7 - submit your application now.

    Our exchange program allows you to travel abroad and study at the same time for a semester or two at one of our overseas partnered universities. While you go to study at a partner university, one of their students will come and study with us. As a result, you will be exempted from paying additional tuition fees to your host university, and you will continue to pay your La Trobe fees as you do now. Then use your pre-approved subjects to gain credits back into your La Trobe degree when you return.

    Regardless if you are a domestic or international student, all students can apply and have access to many grants or scholarships to support you while you are overseas. Exchange gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture by living like a local for several months. You could even spend one semester in one country and a second semester in another. There are few opportunities in life to live abroad, so this truly is the opportunity of a lifetime!

    Key Features

    • Go abroad for a semester or full year
    • Choose from over 120 host universities in 33 different countries
    • Most exchange universities teach in English
    • Scholarships, grants, continued Centrelink payments and interest-free student loans are all available
    • Complimentary La Trobe travel insurance.  Insurance questions? Refer to Travel, Insurance office, La Trobe University
    • Both domestic and international students can apply
    • Undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply
    • Open to students from all campuses

    About the Experience

    Studying overseas is fast becoming a rite of passage – one in four Australian undergraduate students participate in a mobility program during their degree. An international study program offers a myriad of personal, educational and professional benefits, which might turn out to be the single most memorable experience you’ll have at university! Explore options, read student stories, watch student videos and admire student photos in our LMS module: La Trobe Abroad – The Global Student Experience.

    Who is Eligible?

    • You have completed at least 120 credit points for your current La Trobe degree or will have completed by the time you start your exchange, so you can even apply during your first year!
    • You have at least a 60% WAM (see how to calculate your WAM here). Please note some partner universities have a higher requirement.
    • You are enrolled in a La Trobe University degree at the time of application and during the exchange program.
    • You will be enrolled in an equivalent full-time study load of 45 - 60 La Trobe credits while on exchange.
    • Open University Australia students are not permitted to participate in La Trobe mobility programs.

    Applying for Semester Exchange

    Application dates are advertised a year before starting a semester exchange program at your host university. If you already have some overseas university options in mind, you don’t need to wait for the application closing date to apply. The overall process may take up to 3-6 months leading up to the application deadline, so start as early as possible.

    The Semester 2, 2025 application deadline has been extended until Monday October 7 - submit your application now.

    Generally speaking, second year is the best time to undertake an exchange program, so we recommend applying in your first year.

    We hold information sessions during each semester and you are welcome to attend any of these without reservations. You are strongly encouraged to attend at least one.

    Some of the topics that we cover are:

    • the benefits of studying overseas
    • what overseas programs are available
    • how to choose the right program for yourself
    • what funding you will receive
    • the costs
    • how to apply

    The next round of upcoming sessions will be held via zoom. For a full list of sessions including access to past presentation recordings, please visit our Global Lounge page.

    If you are not able to attend any of these sessions, we highly recommend that you contact us.

    Step 1: Understand your Study Plan

    It is important to make sure that you have enough space in your degree for a semester exchange program.

    If you have any questions regarding how to align your study plan, please contact Ask La Trobe for assistance.

    The easiest way is to align any Elective subjects you have in your study plan into the 1 semester that you wish to go on Exchange.

    Some La Trobe courses with limited exchange options:

    • Health Science students: Please make an appointment to speak with your Course/ Discipline Coordinator about which La Trobe subjects you can replace overseas. Find your Course/Discipline Coordinator by searching your course in the current Handbook.
    • Podiatry students: Can study at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, during semester one in third year.
    • Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy students: Overseas Short Programs (one subject) are available for Clinical placements later in your degree.
    • Social Work students: Can study at Malmo University, Sweden, during semester two of second year or an overseas Clinical placement later in your degree.
    • Nursing & Midwifery students: Nursing can study at University of Edinburgh, Scotland, during semester two of second year. Midwifery students can study at Malmo University, Sweden, during semester two of third year. Please refer your LMS for information as Partner options may change. Overseas Short Programs (one subject) are also available.
    • Psychology students: Single degree students can only study during semester two of second year. Please refer to the Study Abroad tab of your Psychological Science Student Portal on LMS for host universities and subject options or view the Psychological Science flyer. Overseas Short Programs (one subject) are also available.
    • Law, Accounting and Criminology students: Can study electives as part of their Exchange program, core subjects may be limited by Australian accreditation requirements.
    • Education: You must contact edu-undergraduate@latrobe.edu.au to discuss your study plan in the first instance. Best to use ‘Specialisation’ subjects for Semester Exchange and Overseas Short Programs (1-2 subject credit).
    • Applied IT and Business students enrolled with Didasko are not eligible to participate in LTU semester exchange programs

    This is not a complete list and is subject to change. Please check with your course coordinator or contact us at studyabroad@latrobe.edu.au to discuss current options.

    For more help, watch this video on how to understand your study plan:

    How To Understand Your Study Plan

    For even more information on your Study Plan, please use this Study Plan guides tool.

    Step 2: Choose your Host Universities

    Your next step is to start researching host university options that will suit your degree. La Trobe has over 120 partners across 33 countries so this research can take some time to narrow down your preferences.

    La Trobe University Exchange Partners

    Research La Trobe’s exchange partner universities by exploring their websites for location, subjects and facilities. Based on the advice you have gained through the Step 2, you need to choose a maximum of three partner universities for each semester of your application.

    Look for suitable replacement subjects offered at a host that fit within your La Trobe study plan. Keep a record of the subject weblinks and descriptions/syllabi of the exchange partner universities as you will need these to apply for pre-credit approval by completing the Global Experience Credit Approval (GECA) form (Step 5).

    Also look at the chance of being placed at the partner (placement chance). Placement chances are affected by the number of inbound and outbound applicants each semester. Placement chance is classified as:

    1. High chance of being placed at this institution
    2. Fair chance of being placed at this institution
    3. Limited chance of being placed at this institution
    4. Very limited chance of being placed at this institution.

    You can only choose one partner with a limited or very limited placement chance for each semester of application.

    You may also want to take into consideration partners that are eligible for additional funding such as the Strategic Mobility Scholarship or countries that are eligible for the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants. For more information on available scholarships and eligibility criteria visit our Program Funding and Costs page.

    Click here to browse partner universities

    International Student Exchange Program (ISEP)

    La Trobe University partners with ISEP to provide our students access to more than 330 universities across 54 countries. This means our students can choose from more subjects and more locations around the world.

    If you are applying through the ISEP program there are additional requirements, please ensure that you book a consultation with our ISEP Coordinator before you proceed.

    Click here to find out about the ISEP program

    Study abroad at a non-partner university:

    If the university you wish to study at is not a current La Trobe partner university, then you will need to consider independently studying abroad.  Choosing your own independent study abroad option could allow you to complete courses overseas and count them towards your La Trobe degree. However, you will need to pay international fees directly to your host university. Students enrol as an international fee-paying student at their host university and take a Leave of Absence from La Trobe during that semester. All administrative and academic arrangements need to be made on an individual basis with your home La Trobe academic college/s prior to participating. Note: as this will not be a La Trobe approved program, there may be other funding eligibility restrictions to consider.

    Step 3: Submit your Application

    Now you have three partner university preferences, submit an online application by the deadline for this round.

    Before you submit your application you will need to gather the following documents:

    • Copy of Passport ID page. If you do not have a passport, then a copy of your Student ID card or Drivers licence.
    • Personal statement (no more than 1 page) explaining why you want to go on exchange and what you want to gain from the experience academically, personally and professionally.
    • Unofficial LTU transcript. These can be accessed through StudentOnLine. Please note that you may be required to also supply an original official transcript for your nominated host university application if required at a later stage.
    • One Academic Reference Form completed by a La Trobe Academic (including casual academics, lecturers or tutors). As this is a confidential document, please ask your referee to email this form directly to studyabroad@latrobe.edu.au.
    • If required, a language proficiency letter. If any of your selected host university preferences require you to speak a certain level of a non-English language (refer to the individual web pages of the universities on our exchange partner website), you must provide a formal letter from your language academic that indicates your current level of proficiency in that language.

    Please note:

    • A Learning Abroad Advisor will be in touch to confirm which university you will be nominated to. Whilst we will strive to give your 1st preference, it may not always be possible. Please ensure that you have researched all 3 preferences and confirm that you will have sufficient subject options at each university.
    • If you are applying through the ISEP program, there are additional requirements, please ensure that you book a consultation before you proceed.
    • Your application must be complete to be considered for the Learning Abroad Exchange Program.
    • The Semester 2, 2025 application deadline has been extended until Monday October 7 - submit your application now.

    Click here to Apply

    Changing the order of your university preferences

    If you wish to change the order of your preferences after lodging your application and before the application deadline, please contact the Study Abroad Team.

    Application outcome

    After the application deadline, your Exchange Coordinator will notify you via email whether your application into the La Trobe Abroad exchange program has been successful and which university you will be nominated to. Then you can move onto Step 5.

    Acceptance into Learning Abroad's Exchange Program

    If you have been accepted into La Trobe Abroad's Exchange Program, congratulations!

    Along with your confirmation, you will receive instructions from your Exchange Coordinator on how to apply for subject pre-approvals. Then, you will be advised of the Host University Application process and be invited to attend 2 compulsory sessions - Next Steps and Pre-Departure.

    Please do not financially commit to travel arrangements until you receive your formal offer from the host university, refer to Step 7.

    Step 4: Global Experience Credit Approval (GECA)

    To ensure subjects your studies at a host university are credited back into your La Trobe degree, you must request pre-credit approval. This is a mandatory step to complete before you can be fully approved to go on your overseas experience.

    Students need to develop a study plan proposal and submit their Global Experience Credit Approval (GECA) form online within two weeks of receiving their conditional offer, which will include the host university you will be nominated to.

    To complete this step, please submit a GECA form via your StudentOnLine. You can also locate this form here.

    Complete the GECA form

    To complete access the GECA form you may need to use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome via a computer (not mobile).  

    You will need:

    • Your Study plan of which LTU degree subjects you intend to cover in your program. Whether you want credit approval for a core or elective subject from your LTU degree.
    • A list of Host institution subjects which you plan to enrol into, subject weblinks, and descriptions/syllabi of the host University you saved in Step 3.

    Once you submit the GECA form, keep an eye on your student email account for progress updates as you may need to provide further information or add additional subjects. Assessment of GECA applications and the final outcome may take several weeks.

    Please see this downloadable quick user guide [890KB] on how to fill the GECA form.

    View GECA quick reference guide

    Once you receive a confirmation of approval, upload a copy of the credit approval letter to your semester exchange application system.

    Please allow up to 8 weeks for your GECA to be approved.

    Step 5: Host University Nomination

    Please note: Step 7, 8 & 9 may happen concurrently for some students.

    Your Exchange Coordinator will formally nominate you to your Host University. Once your nomination is accepted by your host university, you will receive instructions on how to complete their application process

    As universities around the world have different semester dates, this process may take several months after acceptance into the La Trobe Exchange Program.

    Step 6: Next Steps Session

    Your Exchange Coordinator will invite you to the Next Steps session as part of your acceptance into the La Trobe Abroad Exchange Program. During this session, we will give you information on your host university application and the conditions and responsibilities of taking part in the exchange program. This is a mandatory session.

    • Once you have received your GECA approval letter from ASK LaTrobe, you will be sent with an email with Unconditional Offer Pack attached. This with include your Official LTU Exchange offer letter, insurance information, and any Mobility grant or Scholarships you may be eligible for.
    • The Unconditional offer email will ask you to log onto the MoveOn application platform once more, and complete the Acceptance form and Proxy form

    Step 7: Host University Application

    Once your nomination is accepted by your host university, you will receive instructions on how to complete their application process. As universities around the world have different semester dates, this process can take several months after acceptance into the La Trobe Abroad Exchange Program.

    Once the application has been accepted by your host university, they will send you a formal offer to study on exchange at their university. You will need to accept this offer, then you can start booking your travel arrangements and researching the steps to apply for a student visa.

    Please do not financially commit to travel arrangements until you receive your formal offer from the host university.

    Step 8: Apply for OS-Help Loan

    Domestic students can apply for the Australian Government interest-free OS-HELP Loan and the amount will depend on the location of your program. The loan amount is added onto your HELP debt. Of course, it is not compulsory to take out an OS-Help lean but it is a great initiative by the Australian Government to help fund your experience.

    You can apply for an OS Help loan once you have been accepted into the La Trobe Abroad exchange program and your subjects have been pre-approved for credit via GECA.

    Program type

    Funding amount

    Overseas study not in Asia

    up to $7,921

    Overseas study in Asia

    up to $9.504

    If you are doing Asian Language Study during your exchange

    A supplementary amount of up to $1,263

    Funding information as per StudyAssist.

    Eligibility criteria apply and application dates apply. Check you eligibility here.

    For more information on the OS-Help Loan and other funding options, please visit our Program Funding and Costs page.

    Step 9: Pre Departure

    Before you complete the forms below, you should have already received your offer from your host university. If you have not, please contact the La Trobe Study Abroad team.

    If you are a student who is part of the New Colombo Plan programs and or receiving a New Colombo Plan mobility grant, you will be required to do a mandatory NCP pre-departure module – note this is a requirement for receiving your grants. An invitation to complete this module will be sent separately to you via email.

    Documents

    You must submit the following mandatory forms at least 28 days before your departure from Australia.

    FIRSTLY: Log in to the MoveOn platform (Step 3 -where you initially applied for Exchange) and complete the AAO, OEPD and Travel Insurance forms

    Further Action required (Outside of MoveOn system forms):

    Using your previous GECA reference  number/email  - contact the GECA team with your Final list of subjects that you  are enrolling into at the Host  University.  (If you don't do this you will be AWOL on the La Trobe systems!)

    If your subjects change when you arrive at the Host - email the GECA team again.

    • Note that you will need to confirm you have done this on the OEPD form.

    Travel Risk Assessment Checklist (TRA) [PDF 35KB]

    • Only relevent for some desitnations. Upload where necessary (see instructions on the form).

    Travel Insurance Guidelines (TIG) [PDF 70KB]

    You can download a summary and certificate of currency of LTU's insurance policy from this link. If the duration of the student's personal travel exceeds the period of mobility activity, all students are required to take additional travel and health insurance to cover the duration of their stay.

    • Follow the guidelines IF purchasing your insurance

    Optional forms (due before departure)

    Letter to Centrelink

    (if applicable i.e. you have an arrangement with Centrelink and need to advise them about your exchange)

    Supporting documents are also required

    • Ensure your online Outbound Enrolment Confirmation Form is finalised and submitted through MoveOn prior to completing this form

    Amendment to Personal  Details form [PDF 112KB]

    (if applicable i.e. you wish to change your mailing address while on exchange)

    Pre-Departure Tips and Information

    All flight, visa and accommodation arrangements are the responsibility of the student. Please ensure to read through all information provided by the host institution and relevant country consulate carefully before proceeding with your arrangements. We highly recommend that you read our Pre-Departure Guide [PDF 4.7MB] as you plan for departure.

    Academic studies

    While studying overseas, you must remain enrolled at La Trobe to ensure that you only pay tuition fees to La Trobe University. This is accomplished by completing an Outbound Enrolment Confirmation Form as part of Step 10.

    Flights

    We do not recommend that you book flights until you have received your host university acceptance, and it is advisable to purchase a changeable or refundable fare. La Trobe University takes no responsibility for any financial loss associated with flight and/or travel insurance bookings.

    Visas

    Due to the large number of countries we deal with and the constantly changing visa requirements, we are not authorised to provide visa advice. Please contact your host country’s consulate/embassy for information regarding the visa you will need. You will most likely be required to apply for a student visa. Please note in some cases, the Consulate/Embassy requires you to fly to Sydney to apply for your student visa. Make sure to get in touch with them early so you don’t get surprised by additional airfares or waiting lists to make an appointment for your application. Some student visas can take weeks to obtain.

    Accommodation

    In most cases, accommodation can be organised through your host university (please refer to the acceptance documents they send), but it is your responsibility to research and confirm your accommodation. Most students choose to live in residential colleges, dormitories, or apartments close to their host university campuses. This offers you greater integration into student life and tends to be the most affordable option. Some universities do not have on-campus housing but do have services to help you find accommodation.

    Insurance

    All students (both domestic and international) are covered by La Trobe University’s insurance.

    Insurance cover for non-LTU-approved activity is limited to no more than the total of Study days of an approved LTU activity. (Eg if the Overseas program is 14 days in duration, you are only covered for 14 days of personal travel. (Maximum insurance is one year). You are strongly advised to purchase your own travel insurance for any additional days of non-LTU-approved activity.

    For any questions, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions [PDF 192KB] for Student Travel. If your Host university requires a certificate or proof of Insurance, please download the Certificate of Currency from the LTU Insurance page.

    Health

    It is very important that you undergo a health check-up before departure and ensure you are up to date with your vaccinations.

    Be careful with what you pack in terms of medication, as certain drugs may be prohibited by some countries. If you are carrying any medications for an existing health condition, please ensure that you carry a doctor’s certificate/prescription with you.

    If you do have a pre-existing medical condition or a disability, it is highly recommended that you inform both La Trobe Abroad and your host institution. This is very important to ensure you are provided with the right facilities and assistance as needed.

    Join the Buddy Program

    Take advantage of the Buddy Program where you’ll be matched with a La Trobe graduate (alumnus) based in your destination country. Get local tips on everything from navigating the public transport system to the best places to buy your coffee.

    Discover more about how the buddy program helps exchange students adjust to their new surroundings.

    ‘Having a buddy in my host country made me feel more confident moving to Malaysia for my semester exchange. Fara made me feel very welcome, helping me settle in and get the basic goods I needed for my residence. When I needed country-specific insights, her knowledge was invaluable.’

    - Alyssa Brittnell, exchange to Malaysia

    FAQs

    For answers to frequently asked questions about semester exchange, please read our Semester Exchange FAQs.

    Arriving to and Returning from your Host University

    Now it is time to enjoy all the hard work that went into preparing for your exchange! The next page will provide information on settling into your new life at your host university and what you need to do when you return home.

    Arrival & return from Host