What is the exchange program?
Through the Griffith Exchange Program, you can spend one or two trimesters overseas at one of our partner universities. The program allows you to gain a unique international experience without delaying your degree as the courses you take are credited towards your Griffith studies.
The key characteristic of the program is that we send you to a partner university and they in turn send a student to Griffith University. By doing so, you continue to pay your tuition fees to Griffith and do not pay tuition fees to the partner university. For this reason, you can only attend one of our partner universities as we have a specific agreements in place.
Go Global Information Session
This information session covers:
- What is Exchange?
- Navigating the Go Global website
- How to apply for Trimester Exchange
- Funding options
- Credit approval
NCP Funding Available!
New Colombo Plan Grants available! Select students will receive a grant of $10,000 - $15,000 for the following countries:
- South Korea (eligible universities only)
- Japan (eligible universities only)
Planning your exchange
Check application eligibility
To be eligible to participate you need to meet the following requirements:
- be enrolled in a degree program at Griffith in the trimester of application
- have a cumulative GPA of 4.5 in your current program (you must maintain this GPA throughout the application process and up until departure, to remain eligible for exchange)
- have successfully completed at least 60 credit points* (for undergraduate exchange) or 30 credit points (postgraduate exchange) at Griffith at the time of departure. Transfer credit from other Australian Universities and TAFE/Diploma studies can be accepted as long as this credit is counting towards your current degree at Griffith.
- Have at least 30CP** remaining in your Griffith program to complete on exchange
*Eligibility for OS-HELP loan - students have to have completed at least 80CP of study in their current Griffith degree program (at the time of application).
**Minimum CP per trimester. Please consider the following before applying for exchange:
- Your graduation may be delayed, especially if you are studying overseas during Trimester 2. As your host university transcript won't be available until January (at the earliest), your exchange credits won't be able to be transferred for December graduation.
- Flexibility with courses is necessary when going on exchange. If you only have core courses remaining in your degree, we don't recommended that you go on exchange in your final semester, as we can't guarantee the courses you need will be offered, or that you will be able to enrol in them.
- You won't be eligible for an OS-Help loan (if you don't have at least 10CP of your degree remaining upon your return).
Check program feasibility
One of the requirements for the Exchange Program is that you must be receiving at least 30CP of credit per trimester of overseas study. It is important that you understand your degree program to determine whether it is feasible to go on exchange.
The structure of your degree program will also influence how much choice and flexibility you have when selecting a partner university. Simply put, the more free-choice electives you have, the more options to choose from. Depending on your degree, you may find that you need to complete:
- all core courses (i.e. matching Griffith course to the overseas course)
- all free-choice electives or listed electives
- a combination of core and elective courses
We recommend that you use free-choice or listed electives if you have them. This will allow you to choose from a wider range of partner universities and may also be useful in the event that a pre-approved course is withdrawn after you arrive overseas as it is easier for you to get approval for another course.
For further information about program structures and for assistance with planning, please visit the Ask Us database.
Diploma of Languages
Please check you meet the specific criteria based on your diploma of languages or diploma/degree combination. Language requirements will depend on your country and institution of choice.
Restricted degrees
The following academic elements/programs do not currently allow for a trimester of exchange studies:
- Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Oral Health, Nursing and Midwifery, Education (Primary), Occupational Therapy, Paramedicine
- Students studying through Open Universities Australia are currently not eligible
Tricky Degrees
The following academic elements/programs may not allow for a trimester of exchange studies (please check program feasibility with your Program Director):
- Clinical Exercise Physiology, Counselling, Dental Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Science, Pharmacology
The Go Global Database will give you a good idea as to where you can study on exchange and should be used as a guide only. You will need to go the partner university's exchange website to find additional information, such as available courses. It is important that you find a university which offers courses that you will be eligible to receive credit for on your study plan.
Search by "In-country Exchange" or "Trimester Exchange" under 'Type of Program' to discover which universities around the world are available for exchange.
A study plan is a document that outlines the overseas courses and what they are equivalent to at Griffith University. Depending on your degree, the overseas course may be approved for a core course or an elective course. If a course is approved on your study plan, it means that you will receive credit for it towards your Griffith program provided that you achieve a passing grade.
It is compulsory for you to have an approved study plan in order to participate in the Griffith Exchange Program. Please only request assessment for the Study Plan of your first preference. If your first preference is competitive, we recommend you have a second study plan completed; however, please do not send for assessment until you have received instruction from Global Mobility to do so.
Steps to complete study plan
- Research your degree to find out what core or elective Griffith courses you are trying to find a match for.
- Find detailed course descriptions ("syllabus") for the overseas course. The course profile will need to include:
- level of study
- topics covered and duration of topics
- duration of the course
- contact hours
- methods of assessment, type and duration
- textbooks and/or learning resources
- Download and complete the Exchange Study Plan (PDF).
- Submit your study plan and overseas course descriptions to the relevant approver (see below)
Note: Some universities, particularly in North America, do not publish detailed course profiles online. As such, you may need to contact the overseas university's exchange office for assistance.
Study plan approval
The person delegated to approve your study plan will depend on your degree program. The approver must sign next to each approved course as well as at the bottom to ensure there is no uncertainty when you return back from your exchange. Please check the below table for details on who to email your documents to.
| Study Area | Approver Email |
|---|---|
| Griffith Business School | Submit study plan via the online credit application at Credit Transfer. 'How to guide' is available here. |
| Languages | Please get your study plan approved by:
Brisbane Universities Languages Alliance (BULA) Students: If you are a BULA student undertaking languages studies at the University of Queensland, please contact BULA to have your study plan assessed. |
| All other study areas |
|
How long does it take to approve a study plan?
The time it takes to approve a study plan varies significantly for each student as it is approved by different people at the university. Typically it takes at least 3 to 4 weeks for the courses to be assessed, however, you should allow as much time as possible in case you need to submit more courses for assessment.
This is often the most time-consuming process of the entire application, and you may even need to submit a couple of study plans before you have enough courses.
How many courses do I need to have approved?
You must have a full-time study load approved for each trimester you are on exchange. A minimum study load is typically 30CP or 40CP, depending on your program. However, we recommend that you have at least six courses approved per trimester. Having additional courses approved means you will have pre-approved options to choose from in case you experience issues with your enrolment at the partner university (e.g. if classes are full) or if you change your mind.
How many Griffith credit points are overseas courses worth?
This decision is ultimately up to your Program Director and will be based on factors such as contact hours for the course. However, typically 10CP at Griffith is equivalent to:
- 7.5 ECTS in Europe
- 3-4 credits in North America
- 15 credits in the United Kingdom
- 2-4 credits in Japan (depending on the university)
- 3 credits in Korea
- 2-3 credits in Singapore
How do I find the course code for a free-choice elective?
There are no codes for free-choice electives, so simply write free-choice elective as the Griffith course name.
Do I have to take all courses that are approved on my study plan?
No. We only expect you to enrol in a standard full-time study load. Enrolment in more than 50CP of study requires approval from the Program Director beforehand.
Will my degree program GPA be affected?
Whilst your exchange studies will not affect the GPA of the current degree program you are enrolled in, please be aware that for some postgraduate programs and other professional programs such as Medicine and Law, the GPA earned during your exchange studies will be considered in an application and an official copy will need to be submitted.
Application documents
As part of your online application, you will be asked to upload the following documents.
1. Approved study plan (see step 3 above)
Please ensure you have a full-time study load approved for each trimester, and check to ensure the overseas courses are offered at the correct time of year.
Queensland Conservatorium and Queensland College of Art and Design students may be required to submit a portfolio or audition CD/DVD to the overseas university at a later stage.
2. Motivational "essay"
No specific format is requested. You can choose to write a one-page essay, film a video, create a presentation, or even write in bullet point form - we invite you to be as creative as you feel comfortable being! Whatever you do, this file should demonstrate your objectives for participating in the Griffith Exchange Program and how it will fit into and benefit your overall academic program at Griffith. We also ask that you address why you have selected your preferred host university, as well as illustrate as best you can your seriousness of purpose, ability to take initiative, communication skills, social maturity, adaptability and your ability to represent Griffith University while overseas as a good ambassador in accordance with the Griffith University Student Charter.
Important: Please mention which faculty you would like us to nominate you to. If your host university has multiple campuses, please include which campus you would like to attend.
For Video Essays: As the application portal does not support video uploads, please submit a word document containing the link to access your video. The link could be in the form of an unlisted YouTube video or a SharePoint/OneDrive file - you will need to make sure your video is able to be viewed by those who have the link.
3. Copy of passport
Please ensure this is valid for at least six months after your return from overseas. If you do not have one or it is expired, you must upload a document explaining that you will get a new one when completing the online application.
4. Unofficial Transcript
To ensure you are eligible to partake in the Exchange Program, we require a copy of your current unofficial transcript. This can be obtained through your myGriffith.
If you are unsure about how to find your unofficial transcript please follow the directions on Ask Us.
5. Financial Support
In order to travel overseas and participate in an approved Global Mobility experience, you must document that you have sufficient financial resources to complete your program and to support your entire stay in your host destination(s).
This includes having an appropriate level of funding available for expenses such as program and/or registration fees, flights, visas, accommodation, additional insurances, vaccination, applying for/renewing your passport, books, living expenses including meals, local transport, additional travel/weekend trips, social activities, and miscellaneous costs. You are expected to have access to additional funds in the event of:
- An emergency for minor medical treatment or dental costs up to $500 per the University’s insurance policy
- Program cancellations or other circumstances requiring that alternative travel arrangements be made
Outline how you intend to fund the above listed costs, and your contingency plan in case you require additional emergency funds while abroad using the Budgeting for Overseas Study Worksheet.
Note: International SOS does not hold information on specific flights. All changes to flights should be made directly with the relevant air carrier. A claim can be lodged on your return to seek reimbursement, subject to insurance cover.
Application deadline
It is important for you to be aware of the application deadline as late applications are strictly not accepted. It will often take a couple of months to prepare the application documents so the earlier you can prepare, the better. If you are missing a document (usually a signed study plan) please submit your application by the deadline anyway and upload a word document with an explanation of the missing document in its place. We will contact you to advise what's missing and will give you a new deadline for that document.
Please note: applications will be assessed on a monthly basis.
| Griffith Exchange Trimester | Application Period |
|---|---|
| Trimester 1 (Feb to June) | 01 March - 15 July (the year before) |
| Trimester 2 (July to Feb) | 15 August (the year before) - 15 January |
Due to the academic calendar, few countries offer courses which align to Griffith's Trimester 3. Instead, most overseas universities commence in August/September therefore Trimester 2 is more suitable.
Go Global consultation
You are able to book a one-on-one consultation with one of the Go Global team at any point in your exchange journey. Whether you talk to us at the beginning of doing your research or if you book a time to talk to us because you get stuck at some point in the process, or even if you book just before you submit your application to double check everything is ready, we are more than happy to speak with you about your overseas adventure!
Online application
Applications for Trimester Exchange in Trimester 2 2025 are now open. Applications will close on 15 January 2025.
Application assessment
We assess completed applications on a monthly basis. Please ensure you monitor your Griffith student email regularly to check for an outcome.
Acceptance
If you have been accepted into the Griffith Exchange program, you will be emailed an offer letter detailing which of your listed partner universities we will be nominating you to. Please check your offer letter thoroughly prior to accepting your place in the program.
- Conditional letter means your application is not complete and we are still waiting on documents from you
- Unconditional means your application is complete and you have submitted all documents
Nomination and application to your host university
Once you have accepted your place in the Griffith Exchange Program, we will nominate you to the partner university and you will be provided with instructions on how to complete their application. It can take a few months for the partner university to assess your application and provide you with an outcome.
Events
- You will be invited to a Meet and Greet event within a month after receiving your acceptance letter - this event will cover what comes next in the Exchange application process
- Pre-departure Info session – this is compulsory for students going on exchange and will happen in week 12 of semester prior to your departure
- Teams Chat - we will create a Teams chat and invite all students, this platform will allow you to ask questions, share ideas and resources, and connect with each other in the journey to your exchange.
Connect with Ambassadors
Now that you've applied, what's next?
It's time to collect tips and advice from other students! Our Ambassadors did their exchange program in different parts so the world, so you can hear first-hand what their experience was like.
Receive upcoming opportunities in your inbox
Receive our monthly email updates with upcoming opportunities, trimester exchange application reminders, and scholarships.
What Students Say
Leeds Beckett University, UK
England had always been on my top places to visit. I wanted to be close to Europe but also in an English speaking country. Griffith has two partner universities in Leeds, offering something for my friend and I to go on exchange!
Tia
SKEMA, France
It was the greatest trip of my life and you'll be absolutely kicking yourself if you don't consider taking up this amazing opportunity.
Chris
City University of Hong Kong
Make the most of your university life by going on exchange. Not only for the travelling and meeting new people, but it will amaze you how much you get to learn about yourself. Why would you miss such a great opportunity.
Nene
University of Iceland
The most exciting part of my exchange was making new friends and connections from around the globe...One piece of advice is to take initiative with applications, in other words, be on top of your documents,visas, and most important due dates for submissions.
Rye
Mount Royal University, Canada
The most exciting part of the exchange was definitely the concept of finally living out of home, especially in a country I had never been to, in a city with lots of snow. I had made so many friends the first week there which made the whole settling in process a lot easier...
Danielle
University of the Andes, Chile
I loved all of the on campus activities my university ran including parties, life concerts, festivals and games. I also really enjoyed embracing the culture and meeting so many new people!
Mariah
Contact us
- Phone
- (07) 3735 8200
- 10 am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday except for Public Holidays.
- goglobal@griffith.edu.au
- Consultation
- Book a consultation
- Available Monday - Friday by phone, Teams or on-campus.
- Online
To enquire online or submit documentation:
- Visit Ask Us for current students (login required)
- Select topic - Global Mobility > Outbound
We will receive your enquiry and respond to your Griffith student email address.
You can also search existing answers.
Emergency assistance overseas
If you are on an approved program and need urgent medical and/or travel assistance, please contact International SOS