Most UTS students can go on exchange through the UTS Global Exchange program, but there are some restrictions, including minimum academic requirements, and when you can go in your degree.
Can I go on exchange?
In general, to participate in the UTS Global Exchange program, students must:
- Meet the academic criteria for exchange (see below).
- Be deemed suitable to represent the university overseas by UTS International.
Unfortunately, there is also a number of courses that don’t allow you to go on exchange. Students studying one of the following courses, or are in one of the following situations can’t go on exchange:
- Nursing
- Midwifery
- Single Bachelor of Criminology
- Master of Health Services
- Master of Strategic Supply Chain Management
- Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship
- Master of Professional Accounting students who must complete their whole degree in Australia
- Master of Teaching in Secondary Education
- Students enrolled in a UTS course taught outside Australia
- All Graduate School of Health Degrees
General criteria
You must have no active sanctions against your UTS enrolment.
Academic criteria
Weighted Average Mark (WAM):
- Minimum WAM of 65
- Where your subject is graded but unmarked, an average mark will be calculated.
'Pass-Not Graded' subjects are not used. - Marks from all subjects credited toward your current course are used in the calculation of your WAM. This includes the marks from the session in which you apply for Global Exchange.
Additional academic criteria:
- No more than 10 per cent of your subjects can be recorded as 'Fail' in your current degree
- Undergraduate students must be on track to complete 48 credit points in their current UTS course prior to the start of the exchange. Students, who have completed a part of their degree at UTS College or another institution, must be able to provide a copy of their previous academic transcripts in order to go on exchange.
- Students may apply during their first session at UTS provided they are enrolled in 24 credit points in that session.
- Postgraduate students must be on track to complete 24 credit points in their course at the time of application.
- If you have not yet completed one session of full-time study in your course, but you did receive automatic credit towards your current course (ie. you have recently transferred courses), the results from your previous course will be considered.
- Students in some courses are required to complete specific subjects prior to going on exchange, or are limited to completing exchange in certain sessions. See “When can I go” below for more information, and complete a Global Exchange information session and Study Plan Workshop for more details.
- Students cannot enrol and participate in online UTS subjects whilst on exchange.
International students
You can apply to go on exchange as an international student, provided you:
- continue to meet the conditions of your Australian student visa. For up-to-date advice, visit the Department of Home Affairs (opens an external site).
- comply with the visa conditions relating to your studies as an international student at UTS. If you are unsure about this, please email internationalstudent@uts.edu.au.
- go on exchange to another country than your home country. The UTS Global Exchange program is designed to help UTS students experience new cultures and therefore we don’t allow international students to go on exchange to their home country.
Please be advised it is not recommended for international students to go on Exchange in their final session.
UTS College students and other transfer students
Students who have transferred to UTS from UTS College, or another institution, are eligible to submit an application for exchange during their first session of study at UTS, provided they
- are enrolled in 24 credit points and have completed a total of 48 credit points at UTS by the time they commence exchange.
When can I go?
In general, when you meet the academic criteria mentioned above, you can go on exchange in the timeframe recommended by the Faculty and your course. Some courses though have additional criteria around when you can go on exchange.
Check out whether your course has restrictions under your faculty below. Please note restrictions can change – updated study plan information is contained in CareerHub.
UTS supports students to do one global mobility program per calendar year. Students are not encouraged to do a short program and semester program back to back. For any questions about this, please email studyabroad.exchange@uts.edu.au.
Arts and Social Sciences
- International Studies (combined degrees) - Students in BIS Language, Culture & Global Exchange pathway go on their BIS Global Exchange in 4th year. Students requesting to add an additional exchange for their professional degree are recommended to go after completing their Global Exchange for their BIS.
- Bachelor of Global Studies - Second year, Spring Session
- Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment - Not permitted for Global Exchange. Students can check if they can use their main degree for Global Exchange
- Bachelor of Criminology - Not permitted for Global Exchange. For combined criminology degrees, students can check if they can use their other degree for Global Exchange
- Bachelor of Communication - Second year, Spring Session. NOTE: Final session of study is not permitted as Capstone cannot be used for exchange
- Education - Spring session, second year OR Autumn session, third year.
- Bachelor of Sound and Music Design - Second Year, any session
- Bachelor of Animation Production and Bachelor of Design in Animation - Second year, Spring session or Third Year, Autumn session.
- Diploma of Languages - the diploma’s subjects are not available for exchange and therefore you won’t receive credits towards the diploma. If you want to go on exchange during the diploma, you’ll need to apply for a Leave of Absence for the session you’ll be on exchange.
Business
- Bachelor of Business - you must complete 48 credit points of core subjects before commencing your exchange.
- Bachelor of Accounting - Final Session of Study
- Bachelor of Business/ Economics Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment - following completion of 48 credit points of core subjects. Timing must not clash with Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment core.
- Other Undergraduate Business courses - you must complete 48CP before commencing your Exchange.
- Master of Business Administration - Students admitted before 2021 need to complete 42 credit points of core subjects, except 21715 Strategic Management. Students admitted from 2021 need to complete 30 credit points of core subjects except 21715 Strategic Management, before they can go on exchange
Design, Architecture and Building
As a rule, the recommended timeframes for eligible DAB degrees is after completion of the Faculty academic criteria:
- Single undergraduate degrees - after completion of 48 UTS credit points
- Postgraduate degrees - after completion of 24 credit points
The following degrees have restricted timeframes:
- Built Environment:
- Bachelor of Property Economics - Year 2 Autumn session or Spring session or Year 3 Autumn are recommended
- PG Built Environment degrees - Year 2 Autumn session
- Design:
- Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication - Year 3 Autumn session - other sessions not permitted
- Bachelor of Design in Product Design - Year 2 Spring session or Year 3 Autumn session
- Bachelor of Design in Animation (for students admitted prior to 2022) - Year 2 Spring session or Year 3 Autumn session
- Architecture:
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture - Year 2 Autumn/Spring session or Year 3 Autumn session. Final session not permitted
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) - Year 3 Autumn session or Spring session only
- Master of Architecture - Year 1 Spring session / Year 2 Autumn session. Final session not permitted
Engineering and IT
Engineering and IT - Third Year, Autumn or Spring Session
Health
- You must complete 84 credit points before commencing your exchange
- Bachelor of Public Health - Third Year, Autumn Session
- Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management - Third Year, Autumn Session
- Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science - Third Year, Autumn Session - exchange is only available to students with no specified major.
Law
- Undergraduate degrees and Juris Doctor - you can go on Exchange after completing 68 credit points of core subjects, including 70517 Equity and Trusts.
- Juris Doctor - you can go on exchange after completing all core subjects.
- Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration - you can go in the final session as 70517 Equity and Trust is completed in Fourth Year, Autumn Session.
- Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice, Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice - recommended to go in Third Year, Spring Session onwards as 70517 Equity and Trust is completed by Third Year, Autumn Session.
Science
As a rule, the recommended timeframes for eligible Science degrees is after completion of the Faculty academic criteria:
Single undergraduate degrees - after completion of 48 UTS credit points
- Single Undergraduate Degrees (Autumn commencing) - From Year 2 Autumn session
- Single Undergraduate Degrees (Spring commencing) - From Year 2 Spring session
Postgraduate degrees - after completion of 24 credit points
- Master of Science & Master of Science Extension (Autumn commencing) - From Year 1 Spring session
- Master of Science & Master of Science Extension (Spring commencing) - From Year 2 Autumn session
Transdisciplinary Innovation
- Master of Data Science and Innovation - Autumn commencing students should go on exchange in Spring year 1. Spring commencing students should go on exchange in Spring year 2.
- Combined Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation – You are advised to go on exchange in the Spring session of your core degree
When planning for exchange, keep in mind that semesters overseas can have different timings then what you’re used to at UTS. This is important to know, as it could impact your flights, accommodation, travel plans, and further studies at UTS.
In general, the following dates apply:
- Australia (UTS)
Session 1: March to June
Session 2: July to October - North America
Semester 1: August to December
Semester 2: January to May - Asia
Semester 1: April to July
Semester 2: October to February - Europe (varies)
Semester 1: September to January
Semester 2: January to June
Did you find out if, and when you can go? Then it’s time to check out where you can go!