Funding options for going on exchange
Need financial support for your overseas exchange program? Funding is available for Commonwealth and Non-Commonwealth students who are interested in going on exchange.
Commonwealth-supported students
Support is available from the Australian Government to allow more Australian students to study overseas.
New Colombo Plan
Opportunities for study and internships in participating Indo-Pacific locations are available through New Colombo Plan Scholarships.
There are two streams of funding available:
- New Colombo Plan Mobility Program: open to Australian university undergraduates aged 18-28 (University to request funding to support mobility projects)
- New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program: for individual students nominated for funding throughout the duration of their program.
Endeavour Leadership Program (ELP)
As of 2018, the Endeavour Cheung Kong Student Exchange Program, the Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program and the Asia Postgraduate Program have been integrated into the Endeavour Leadership Program.
The ELP allows students to have an overseas study experience that contributes to their Australian qualification.
The ELP supports Australian students in
- undergraduate
- postgraduate, and
- vocational education and training (VET) programs.
Centrelink benefits
If you are currently receiving Youth Allowance, check whether you are eligible for this benefit while on exchange with Centrelink.
- If you are accepted into the exchange program, you will need to inform us that you are receiving Centrelink benefits.
- Macquarie Abroad will provide a letter confirming you are enrolled as a full-time student while on exchange.
- This letter can then be taken to a Centrelink office to assist you with requesting continued payment of your benefits.
OS-HELP
The OS-HELP loan is available for students who are currently under a HECS-HELP scheme.
Commonwealth & Non-Commonwealth supported students
Macquarie University Asia Society Scholarship Program
Students are eligible to receive up to AU$7,000 for a semester exchange in a leading partner university in Asia if successful.
Macquarie International Travel Grant (MI Travel Grant)
Travel Grants are available to successful applicants who do not receive any other funding*.
The amounts awarded by Macquarie International vary according to each program destination and program length and are subject to change. See table below for the grant amounts.
*Note: Students who receive NCP Mobility Scholarships, NCP Scholarships for NCP Scholars, Endeavor Scholarships, Macquarie University Asia Society Scholarships, and any other third-party scholarships and funds are not eligible for the MI Travel Grant.
Region | Semester exchange | Short-term exchange |
Asia-Pacific (excl. Oceania), Eurasia | $1500 | $800 |
Latin America, Africa, Middle East | $1000 | $700 |
North America, Oceania, Europa (excl. Eurasia) | $800 | $500 |
Bachelor of International Studies | $1800 for semester exchange and $1000 for short term exchange regardless of destinations |
Note: Funding can take up to eight weeks to be processed upon confirmation of students' acceptances by the host university.
Terms and conditions for travel grants
General
- Students who receive Macquarie University Asia Society Scholarships, NCP Mobility scholarships, NCP Scholarships/NCP Scholars, Endeavor Scholarships, and/or any other third-party scholarships/funding are not eligible for the MI Travel Grant.
- Students in the exchange program are required to register with Smartraveller and International SOS before travelling overseas.
- Students need to arrange their own accommodations, visa, travel insurance and immunisations.
- Students in the exchange program are ambassadors for Macquarie University. They are required to participate in promotional activities at the host campus for the duration of the experience and agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the host campus, community, and country.
- Travel grants are only available to students who are enrolled in coursework programs during the travel they will undertake and for activities that count as credit towards their academic program at Macquarie University.
Academics
- Students are required to pass at least two-thirds of the enrolled units they take at their overseas university. If this is not achieved students will be required to repay their travel grant. This repayment will be regarded as a debt to the University and sanctions may be placed on the students account until repayment has been made.
- Students must be aware of the minimum requirements to obtain a Macquarie University qualification.
- Students are not allowed to be enrolled in internal Macquarie units whilst on exchange. You will need to withdraw from any internal units prior to departing for exchange.
- Students participating in an exchange program are required to ensure their grades are transferred by the specified dates outlined below. This may require students to request an official transcript from the host university after completion of the exchange period. Grades not resolved by these dates will have a Fail (F) loaded against each outstanding exchange unit unresolved.
- Northern Hemisphere Semester 1: resolved by 15 December the same year
- Northern Hemisphere Semester 2: resolved by 15 June the following year
- Summer Exchange: resolved by 15 June the same year
- Winter Exchange: resolved by 15 December the same year
- If a student is participating in exchange during the final semester of study of their Macquarie degree, they are responsible for:
- obtaining the official host university transcript in good time for the grade transfer to be completed; and
- adhering to any other university completion requirements.
Cancellation or withdrawal
- If the exchange program is cancelled or if the student does not complete it, they will be required to repay the travel grant. This repayment will be regarded as a debt to the University and sanctions may be placed on the student's account until repayment has been made.
- If a student withdraws from any program after the final withdrawal date as indicated in official documents relating to that program, they will not be eligible for a refund of payments made and will also incur any other costs related to the program withdrawal whether imposed by Macquarie or the host institution.
Upon return
Students will need to:
- Submit a testimonial their exchange experience to Macquarie Abroad.
- Commit to promoting their exchange experience at particular events (for example, O-Week).
- Upload at least one photo of their experience to social media with #MyMQ.