ATAR Notes: Forum

Uni Stuff => Universities - Victoria => Monash University => Topic started by: Joseph41 on December 26, 2015, 05:57:42 pm

Title: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on December 26, 2015, 05:57:42 pm
***This post is in no way affiliated with the official Monash Uni account. All views are mine, and information may, subsequently, be slightly inaccurate. But I have tried my hardest to make it all on point.***

Hi there! Are you interested in studying abroad, experiencing exciting things, meeting new people, and still contributing to your Monash degree?

tl;dr: then do it! It’s not hard.

I have recently returned from my semester studying at the Monash University Malaysia campus. It truly was a brilliant and much appreciated experience. Or, rather, collection of experiences. I am compiling this post to encourage others to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and give exchange a red-hot crack. I was hesitant at first – doing such things isn’t really my bag – but I don’t regret it for a second. I’ve not met a single person who does.

The other primary reason for this post is that exchange at Monash is inexplicably under-utilised. The benefits (financial and otherwise) are severe and many. I feel like very students are even aware of the options available to them. So please, strap yourselves in!

NB: I don’t pretend to be an expert, here, but I think that this is an important thread. The fact that this forum focuses so heavily on student life, yet has comparatively little information regarding studying abroad, is an oddity. I had the opportunity to work with Monash Abroad this semester, and the work that they do to make your life as smooth as possible is incredible.

Once I outline the different types of exchange program offered at Monash, I will focus primarily on intercampus exchange. As this is the program that I was involved in, I am naturally more familiar with it. As my knowledge is relatively lacking in the other programs, I would absolutely love it if other users contributed to this thread through their own anecdotes or knowledge. Other questions, discussions, notes and hesitancies are also more than welcome! So if you have or are currently studying abroad, or if you are thinking about doing so, please contribute.

Cheers!
   
Studying abroad

If you attend Monash and are interested in studying abroad, you’re in luck. Monash has a range of options that are sure to whet your metaphorical whistle. Perhaps what you’re not aware of, though, is that there are different types of exchange programs. Let me take you through them briefly.

International exchange

Spoiler
In international exchange, you receive credit for your overseas study whilst remaining enrolled at Monash. Monash has an incredible range of partner universities – over 100, in fact – in more than 25 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa.

Interested in where you can go? Take a look at the list of Monash’s exchange partners. But if you want cliff notes, here you go:

Spoiler
-   Austria;
-   Brazil;
-   Canada;
-   Chile;
-   China;
-   Colombia;
-   Denmark;
-   Estonia;
-   Finland;
-   France;
-   Germany;
-   Hong Kong;
-   Indonesia;
-   Israel;
-   Italy;
-   Japan*;
-   Korea;
-   Latvia;
-   Mexico;
-   The Netherlands;
-   New Zealand;
-   Norway;
-   Russia;
-   Singapore;
-   Slovenia;
-   Spain;
-   Sweden;
-   Thailand;
-   Turkey;
-   United Kingdom; and
-   USA.

*The application process for Japan is a little different and often more stringent. The student’s major, for example, must be Japanese language.

Not a bad list, eh?

Intercampus exchange

Spoiler
As you may or may not be aware, Monash University has a fully-fledged campus situated in Malaysia. Monash also has a campus in South Africa. As Monash students, you have the option to travel to study at either of these campuses. The advantage of this is that you will still be studying at a Monash campus. That is, you’ll still use Moodle, you’ll still use WES; lots of things will be the same, and this makes the process somewhat easier. In intercampus exchange, you pay no additional fees than those that you usually would pay at your home campus.

The other (extremely positive) thing about intercampus exchange is its financial aspect. I will outline this in greater detail below, but for now, consider this (at least for Malaysia): free flights, free accommodation, travel scholarship.

Faculty overseas program

Spoiler
Faculty overseas programs are great if you want to experience exchange but you’re not sure whether or not you want to commit an entire semester. They are typically two to eight weeks in length, and are run by Monash faculties. To quote the Monash website, “[a] faculty overseas program allows you to study either a core or elective unit of your course while you explore exotic overseas locations like Italy, New Caledonia, France, Chile, the UK, Indonesia and Rwanda. Programs range in length but are typically four weeks, and are most often run during holiday periods.”

You may have heard of Monash’s faculty overseas program run in Prato, Italy. Selection is based on merit (academic results), and scholarships are available.

My experience at Monash University Malaysia

My brother did the same exchange five years earlier, and I had actually been to the Malaysia campus whilst travelling, so I had something in mind as to what to expect. But really, past experience can only go so far, especially for a six-month journey surrounded my new people and new experiences.

In total, I was away from home for exactly 23 weeks. In that time, I met a bunch of new friends, completed a semester of my degree, travelled extensively throughout the region, experienced living away from home (and on campus) for the first time, developed as a person monumentally, started a new job, and networked with some pretty important political figures (Julie Bishop, Peter Cosgrove). All opportunities afforded to me as a result of intercampus exchange.

You are also encouraged to participate in ICEP (the Inter-cultural Enrichment Programme). This is a *free* program designed to make easier the transition to Malaysian culture. ICEP runs for four weeks, during which time you learn about Malaysian history, customs and values, learn basic Malay, and participate in a homestay over a weekend. Great!

Teaching standards

As Monash Malaysia is, ultimately, an Australian institution, teaching standards are quite similar to those in Australia. Most teaching staff seem to be from the region. This is something that I enjoyed, for it allowed a more comprehensive and insightful set of experiences relevant to each particular unit.

My gripes were not with the teaching per se, but more the structure of the teaching. That is, all of my lecturers were all clearly knowledgeable, but lectures were more like tutorials, and assessments were perhaps marginally less organised than at home. But in summary, these differences are both negligible and subjective. If you are concerned about teaching standards at Monash Malaysia, I wouldn’t be. A couple of units in particular were very well run.

I must note that frustrating was the fact that two hour classes often ran for one if that, but this sort of thing, I think, annoys me more than most.

Facilities

The campus is, really, very nice. Much, much smaller than Clayton. Monash Malaysia hosts just under 7,000 students, compared to Clayton’s ~31,000 and Caulfield’s ~16,000. As a result, there is a lovely community feel where you get to know a lot of people quite well. Monash Malaysia is situated about 18km out of Kuala Lumpur, and is easily accessible via public transport (there is a SunU-Monash stop on the BRT (bus rapid transit) service, directly outside the campus).

The campus itself includes a three-storey library (which feels very Monashy on the inside), a rock-climbing wall (yep!), a canteen, and many high-quality classrooms. A lot of these are actually underground, and very heavily air-conditioned, which helps with the heat. Some of my lectures were held in tutorial rooms, which, as previously mentioned, frustrated me slightly. But overall, facilities are good and largely comparable to those in Australia.

Student accommodation

As part of the Malaysia Package, Australian students are provided free accommodation at Sunway Monash Residence (SMR). SMR is essentially on campus, a two minute walk from class and linked via a small bridge.

SMR hosts a number of students on its 22 storeys. For us, all exchange students lived on level 8; however, I think they will be more widely distributed from now on. I actually think this will be better, because you will get to meet a wider range of people (local students, international students, exchange students and so on).

Each unit hosts up to eight students. Mine had six. Each unit includes a kitchen area (but, annoyingly, no cooking facilities aside from a microwave), a balcony, small lounge area, and a bathroom. The bathroom has three sinks, three showers, and two toilets. From memory, there are twelve units per storey, but that may be inaccurate.

Your individual room has a bed, a desk, a whiteboard, air conditioning (quota of roughly five hours per day, which is enough), a flat screen television, a bookshelf or shelving, and a cupboard.

SMR has full time security, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a pizza shop, a gym, a study room, a twenty-four hour convenience store (7-Eleven), and a laundry service. Honestly, this makes living away from home particularly convenient, even for first-timers such as myself.

Some students appeared unimpressed by the ‘regulations’ of SMR, but they are more than reasonable. No curfew, just common-sense stuff (don’t keep other people awake with alcohol-fuelled antics or gratuitous music and you will be fine).

Is exchange not expensive?

Not if you do it right!

Monash is awfully generous with its aforementioned Malaysia package. I can’t find the 2016 version, but this was the one relevant for this year. It includes:

-   $1,000 Monash Abroad travel scholarship;
-   Covered student pass to Malaysia;
-   Reimbursed flights to and from Malaysia (up to ~$585);
-   Free on-campus accommodation (worth ~$1,700); and
-   Free airport pick-up.

Basic insurance is also covered.

Further, cost of living in Malaysia is very low. Monash quotes about $6 for a meal at a restaurant, and about $2 to $3 for a meal from a street vendor. Personally, I think that even that is a bit high.

Even better, studying in Malaysia makes available to you a number of other financial benefits. You may apply for the Global Officer program. This was honestly one of the best parts of my exchange. In this program, you receive a $5,000 bursary (replacing the $1,000 travel scholarship), and work, in exchange, with Monash Abroad during the semester. For me, this involved working two days per week at the Monash Abroad office. It was also through this program that I met Julie Bishop and Peter Cosgrove, and was able to participate in a number of other activities.

My work at Monash Abroad was real work; there is an emphasis on building international, professional experience rather than being lumped with photocopying and the like. I had three bosses, and they were all absolutely brilliant. I will be keeping in contact with all of them without any shadow of doubt.

OS-HELP is available, too. This is a loan of up to $3,000, provided by the Department of Education. Eligibility criteria are available here. I very much encourage you to explore this possibility.

And if you are currently on Centrelink’s Youth Allowance scheme, it is possible to continue these arrangements whilst studying overseas. Brilliant!

The best things about my exchange experience

In three words: friends, travel, perspective.

Friends

Some of my closest friends, I met in the last six months. This is unusual for me, because I tend to stick with the same crew as much as possible. But just by virtue of living, studying and travelling together, you will form bonds that will, hopefully, last a very long time. I met people from all over the world, including but not limited to Australia, Germany, France, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Estonia, America, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Sweden, and Denmark.

Travel

I travelled both domestically an internationally during O-Week, on weekends, for the entirety of mid-sem, and after the semester had finished. Popular locations in Malaysia include Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang, the Cameron Highlands, Langkawi, and the Perhentian Islands. And as for other countries in the region, try Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, South (and North) Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Singapore. The *brilliant* thing about Kuala Lumpur is that it is the hub of travel in the region.

Personally, aside from a lot of places within the very diverse Malaysia, I went to Singapore for a weekend, Japan for ten days during mid-sem, and Cambodia (one week) and Vietnam (four weeks) after semester. Fully grouse, and relatively cheap.

Perspective

I have returned a calmer, more rounded, and more worldly (sorry for the wankiness, here) person with greater understanding of different cultures and customs. I have become even more motivated to excel in my studies as a result of experiencing the lives of others. I want to make a difference.

How do I find out more?

Firstly, post in this thread! But there is so much to learn about exchange, most of which can come only through first-hand endeavours.

Otherwise, the Monash University Study Abroad website is an excellent place to start. You can research all sorts of things, here. Included in this are some student testimonials from fellow students who have returned from exchange programs all over the world.

In Australia, the Monash Abroad office is at 21 Chancellors Walk, Clayton Campus. That is, directly above the bookshop in Campus Centre. Something nifty is that there are open advising sessions, run by Australian Global Officers. As these students have previously studies overseas, they are perfect for advice and encouragement. They have been exactly where you are now! You will need to register for these sessions.

And perhaps most importantly, consider attending an information session. These should cover most of what you need to know, at least initially.

Conclusion

Exchange was, perhaps, the best decision I have ever made. This post is a direct product of that, because exchange is truly underutilised at Monash, and I want as many people to experience it as possible.

You won’t regret it.

I look forward to hearing the experiences of others, and also the questions of prospective students.

All the very best,
Nick. :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: extremeftw on December 26, 2015, 07:53:44 pm
 Very good post, thank you.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: brenden on December 26, 2015, 08:10:44 pm
Genuinely amazing work!
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: heids on December 26, 2015, 09:01:56 pm
Wonderful post. Well done, and thank you.

;)

P.S. It really is awesome, can it be added to Monash Guides and Resources Brenden?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Kanon on December 26, 2015, 09:10:41 pm
Super super keen to go Abroad,  just think my grades are stopping me :'(

Interestingly when I volunteered for one of the open days I met a guy that claimed that he actually made money by studying at Monash Malaysia.  He basically told me that Monash covered pretty much all the expensive stuff with scholarships and he still received Youth Allowance whilst overseas.  He said it was almost impossible to spend that much money in Malaysia fortnightly. 
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: IndefatigableLover on December 27, 2015, 11:35:04 am
Thanks for the awesome post Joseph41! Will definitely look into this more once the new year hits *claps hands*
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on December 28, 2015, 08:12:40 pm
Quote from: extremeftw on December 26, 2015, 07:53:44 pm
Very good post, thank you.

No problem!

Quote from: brenden on December 26, 2015, 08:10:44 pm
Genuinely amazing work!

Thanks pal.

Quote from: bangali_lok on December 26, 2015, 09:01:56 pm
Wonderful post. Well done, and thank you.

;)

P.S. It really is awesome, can it be added to Monash Guides and Resources Brenden?

Very sneaky. I see what you did there.

Quote from: Kanon on December 26, 2015, 09:10:41 pm
Super super keen to go Abroad,  just think my grades are stopping me :'(

Interestingly when I volunteered for one of the open days I met a guy that claimed that he actually made money by studying at Monash Malaysia.  He basically told me that Monash covered pretty much all the expensive stuff with scholarships and he still received Youth Allowance whilst overseas.  He said it was almost impossible to spend that much money in Malaysia fortnightly. 

Don't be too disheartened! Grades can improve, and different places require different things. Where would you ideally go?

And very interesting anecdote. That doesn't surprise me in the slightest. My bank account certainly hasn't suffered too much. If you're tight on funds but are still keen on exchange, I really don't see a better option that Monash Malaysia (for present Australian Monash students, at least). Thanks for the input. :)

Quote from: IndefatigableLover on December 27, 2015, 11:35:04 am
Thanks for the awesome post Joseph41! Will definitely look into this more once the new year hits *claps hands*

Wicked! If there's one thing I will say here, it's start planning early, particularly in regard to your units. This will make it much easier in the future, because you never know what sort of units will or will not be offered when the time comes.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on February 15, 2016, 06:35:34 pm
A reminder of the Intercampus Exchange (Monash University Malaysia) application deadline for Semester 2, 2016:

Your study plan is due at your faculty by 28 February.
Your completed application is due at Monash Abroad by 31 March.

More information is available here.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: BigAl on March 25, 2016, 11:30:37 pm
I got my study plan approved. I am now doing final checks in my application and I'll probably submit my application after the mid-sem break :) I was wondering if I could do 5 units overseas because I don't want to overload in my final sem :(
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on April 06, 2016, 10:21:14 am
As per the general chat thread, the Monash Abroad Expo is on today in and around the Menzies building. Could be helpful if anybody is interested in studying abroad.

Quote from: BigAl on March 25, 2016, 11:30:37 pm
I got my study plan approved. I am now doing final checks in my application and I'll probably submit my application after the mid-sem break :) I was wondering if I could do 5 units overseas because I don't want to overload in my final sem :(

This is obviously up to you, but if anything, I wish I could have underloaded when overseas! Where are you off to? Where are you at with the application?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: stunfiskery on April 12, 2016, 01:22:32 am
This sounds like such an awesome program.

At the moment (still in HS), I'm considering taking a double degree at Monash. Could you give me a general idea as to the logistics of the study abroad program (mainly just the Intercampus Malaysia one)? As in which semester of my 4-year course would I do it? Would I basically study the exact same units as I would be at the Clayton (or other) campus and be credited accordingly? Or would it somewhat interrupt my studies?

Thanks for this post. It has certainly suddenly made Monash a much more appealing option. ;)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on April 12, 2016, 09:55:31 am
Quote from: stunfiskery on April 12, 2016, 01:22:32 am
This sounds like such an awesome program.

At the moment (still in HS), I'm considering taking a double degree at Monash. Could you give me a general idea as to the logistics of the study abroad program (mainly just the Intercampus Malaysia one)? As in which semester of my 4-year course would I do it? Would I basically study the exact same units as I would be at the Clayton (or other) campus and be credited accordingly? Or would it somewhat interrupt my studies?

Thanks for this post. It has certainly suddenly made Monash a much more appealing option. ;)

Hi stunfiskery,

It is a pretty nifty option! What are you thinking of studying? :)

For intercampus exchange (i.e. going to Monash University Malaysia), you need to have completed at least 48 credit points (except for Law - see here. 48 credit points is the equivalent of 8 units, which is the equivalent of 1 year (2 semesters) of regular study. Don't worry about this, though - I think it would be preferable to save intercampus exchange until a little later into your degree, anyway. Typically, Monash also advises against going overseas in your last semester (but it is still possible to do so (case in point: me)). So I guess to answer that question, you would either go Year 2 Semester 1 (2;1), 2;2, 3;1, 3;2 or 4;1. It's up to you, really - there is a lot of flexibility.

What I would recommend, though (irrespective of when you go), is to be careful with the units that you do. Monash Malaysia offers fewer units than the Australian campuses, so you wouldn't want to rely on particular units being available. You certainly won't have to worry about this until some time into your degree, but it's worth keeping in mind. The units available at the Malaysia campus this year, for example, can be found in the relevant section of the 2016 Handbook.

So you might not study exactly the same units as you would at Clayton, but this can often be a good thing. For example (and this depends on what you study a little bit), Monash Malaysia offers some really sick units not available anywhere else in the world. It's a good opportunity. And because it's still a Monash campus, you will certainly be credited accordingly. So no, it wouldn't interrupt your studies in the slightest on the assumption that you have planned accordingly (which is actually part of the application process, so you'll be fine).

Please ask any more questions if you have them. :)

Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: BigAl on April 24, 2016, 01:49:54 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on April 06, 2016, 10:21:14 am
As per the general chat thread, the Monash Abroad Expo is on today in and around the Menzies building. Could be helpful if anybody is interested in studying abroad.

This is obviously up to you, but if anything, I wish I could have underloaded when overseas! Where are you off to? Where are you at with the application?

I am off to my home country, Turkey. However, I was actually a little bit disappointed when I found out that Monash is going to suspend its partnership with Turkish universities due to security risks. I submitted my application form nevertheless but it will be probably rejected. 
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on June 08, 2016, 01:15:10 pm
Quote from: BigAl on April 24, 2016, 01:49:54 pm
I am off to my home country, Turkey. However, I was actually a little bit disappointed when I found out that Monash is going to suspend its partnership with Turkish universities due to security risks. I submitted my application form nevertheless but it will be probably rejected.

How did this turn out for you? :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: BigAl on June 20, 2016, 03:28:04 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on June 08, 2016, 01:15:10 pm
How did this turn out for you? :)
I got an email a few weeks ago saying that Monash Abroad will start reviewing the applications after semester 1 results come out. I currently have a WAM of 68 and if I keep my WAM above 65 I hope I will get accepted.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Reus on July 11, 2016, 08:15:25 pm
Can you explain the marking? I heard its based on a pass or fail mark only, no actual score is given to you for exchange units?  :o
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on July 11, 2016, 08:26:54 pm
Quote from: Reus on July 11, 2016, 08:15:25 pm
Can you explain the marking? I heard its based on a pass or fail mark only, no actual score is given to you for exchange units?  :o

This depends, I believe. Where were you thinking of going?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Reus on July 11, 2016, 11:09:29 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on July 11, 2016, 08:26:54 pm
This depends, I believe. Where were you thinking of going?
NUS, Singapore!
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on August 08, 2016, 12:30:21 pm
I went to this Back From Abroad forum the other day, and apparently only 4% of current uni students study overseas. That's a pretty nifty advantage for employment opportunities, I reckon.

Quote from: Reus on July 11, 2016, 11:09:29 pm
NUS, Singapore!

Hey! Sorry, Reus; I completely missed this somehow. I know of NUS but I'm not fully familiar with how it works in regard to exchange; by now, I trust you've seen Monash Abroad?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Kanon on August 15, 2016, 10:56:12 pm
Quote from: Kanon on December 26, 2015, 09:10:41 pm
Super super keen to go Abroad,  just think my grades are stopping me :'(

Guess who put down his deposit for Monash Prato today? :D

Super excited but at the same time extremely nervous about the finances and everything like that, does anyone know if you can get the OS-Help Loan for the full 6k if you go to Prato?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on January 16, 2018, 03:20:54 pm
Yo!

I just wanted to say: if you're considering exchange, you might as well start thinking about it early in your degree! There's no rush, as such, but doing so would allow you to better plan your units and the like. I was saving this one particular Linguistics unit to do during my degree because I thought it sounded most interesting; in the end, I couldn't do it, because it didn't correlate with my exchange study period (not well explained, but the point is: I stuffed up my planning because I left it too late). Not a huge issue at all, just a bit of an annoying one.

If you're interested at all in exchange - even if you just want to see what's on offer - I really highly recommend speaking with Monash Abroad. You can go for an open advising session, and they'll be able to talk you through your options: where you can go, financial situations, different programs etc. Exchange really was one of the best experiences of my life, and Monash has a great student mobility program.

When I was there, the Monash Abroad office was in Campus Centre, on the second floor (down a pretty random corridor - it was never well signed). I heard recently that they were temporarily in the Menzies Building, though, so it might be worth asking around. But yeah, I really recommend speaking with them! :)

EDIT: Yep, according to their website, Monash Abroad is temporarily (until the end of January) in Room S109 and S111 of the Menzies Building (the huge, dated building - very difficult to miss). After entering Menzies, that's just one floor up. :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: thelolcat on January 16, 2018, 03:34:49 pm
Is it possible to study abroad with students from other universities in Victoria? Or is it only limited to students within your own uni’s own pool of students?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on January 16, 2018, 03:50:07 pm
Quote from: thelolcat on January 16, 2018, 03:34:49 pm
Is it possible to study abroad with students from other universities in Victoria? Or is it only limited to students within your own uni’s own pool of students?

Thanks!

Hey!

Do you mean like, could Person A from University A and Person B from University B both go on exchange to University C at the same time?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: sarangiya on January 16, 2018, 04:21:54 pm
I was wondering if anyone had any information/experience about overseas experience/exchanges with Monash Med?
For example, for fieldwork while doing hons year, or as a clinical placement. Is it common? Hard to get into? Not recommended?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on January 16, 2018, 04:37:02 pm
Quote from: sarangiya on January 16, 2018, 04:21:54 pm
I was wondering if anyone had any information/experience about overseas experience/exchanges with Monash Med?
For example, for fieldwork while doing hons year, or as a clinical placement. Is it common? Hard to get into? Not recommended?

Only second hand experience (girlfriend studies Med), so take with a huge grain of salt. I'm sure others will be able to answer more accurately.

- I know of people who have done some of their rotations in Malaysia.
- I believe you can also do a fifth-year rotation overseas.
- BMedSci can theoretically be overseas.
- Is it common? Nah. Is it doable? To my knowledge, yeah, under particular circumstances.

This may or may not be useful. :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: thelolcat on January 16, 2018, 06:07:37 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on January 16, 2018, 03:50:07 pm
Hey!

Do you mean like, could Person A from University A and Person B from University B both go on exchange to University C at the same time?


Hey! Yep, whilst both are doing different courses too, is that possible at all?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on January 17, 2018, 04:05:11 pm
Quote from: thelolcat on January 16, 2018, 06:07:37 pm

Hey! Yep, whilst both are doing different courses too, is that possible at all?

Hey. :)

Theoretically possible, I'd imagine - like, when I was on exchange, there were heaps of people from different unis doing different degrees. I'd imagine it would harder to coordinate (as in, between you and the other person), though.

You can find Monash's exchange partners here; you could then compare this to other universities' partners. My knowledge is a little limited in this particular domain, however.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: thelolcat on January 20, 2018, 12:06:12 am
Quote from: Joseph41 on January 17, 2018, 04:05:11 pm
Hey. :)

Theoretically possible, I'd imagine - like, when I was on exchange, there were heaps of people from different unis doing different degrees. I'd imagine it would harder to coordinate (as in, between you and the other person), though.

You can find Monash's exchange partners here; you could then compare this to other universities' partners. My knowledge is a little limited in this particular domain, however.

Will check it out, cheers!
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Zealous on January 23, 2018, 11:41:31 am
Quote from: Joseph41 on December 26, 2015, 05:57:42 pm

My experience at Monash University Malaysia

My brother did the same exchange five years earlier, and I had actually been to the Malaysia campus whilst travelling, so I had something in mind as to what to expect. But really, past experience can only go so far, especially for a six-month journey surrounded my new people and new experiences.

.....

This is an excellent post.

I just completed a full year of intercampus exchange at Monash Malaysia in 2017. When I originally applied for the exchange, I chose to do only one semester. When I actually reached Malaysia I felt that the experience was so valuable and that the time was going so fast, so I got in touch with Monash abroad and they were able to extend my exchange.

I feel that going on exchange last year was one of the best experiences of my life. There's just so much stuff you've got to go through when you live in another country. Your whole entire lifestyle changes and you get put into both good and bad situations. When you hit the bad situations, you grow through it and your perspective on life changes.

One of the crazier experiences was when I was "deported" and had to fly out to Singapore and re-enter Malaysia because they had problems extending my student VISA. Since I chose to extend my exchange program they attempted to extend my student VISA to cover the second semester but they weren't able to do it before it expired. They gave me two days to exit Malaysia else I'd be overstaying and have immigration issues. Had to skip some classes and lectures too and basically got forced to go on holiday.

There's a lot I could say about my time in Malaysia. To be honest, I don't think I've even properly processed it or reflected back on it - just so much happened in what felt like such a short year. I think I might drop in this thread and leave a more detailed response to share my thoughts on my exchange sometime in the future.

But basically, just do it. It's cheap and Malaysia also recently removed any sort of WAM or entry requirements for the Monash Malaysia package. Literally any Australian studying at Monash can do it now regardless of past grades.

You may be a little out of your pocket going on exchange for a semester (like seriously little: 1k-2k) but the amount of experience that comes into your life makes it incredibly valuable.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: undefined on May 07, 2018, 10:50:42 pm
Just wondering can you do a Diploma of Languages completely in another country while on exchange?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on May 08, 2018, 10:55:24 am
Quote from: Zealous on January 23, 2018, 11:41:31 am
...

This is a really great post, incidentally. Would love to hear more about your experiences studying in Malaysia if you get the chance. :)

Quote from: undefined on May 07, 2018, 10:50:42 pm
Just wondering can you do a Diploma of Languages completely in another country while on exchange?

Hey! So, my understanding is this (diplomas are a little tricky):

It's theoretically possible, but might be difficult; I don't think your faculty will give credit for all units to the point that it's been fully completed overseas. Another option would be to study a diploma at the uni overseas - so, not Monash.

Your best bet is probably to speak to the Faculty of Arts directly, though, pertaining to the flexibility of their language diploma. There are also some OS-HELP and visa restrictions you might like to ask about (I don't know much about this myself). :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on September 07, 2018, 09:16:51 am
Hi all! :) I received a PM regarding Monash Malaysia recently, and I'm going to answer the questions here so that other people can benefit. I really, really recommend popping into Monash Abroad if you're on the fence - Monash Malaysia is such a fantastic experience.

Quote
I'll probably be staying at SMR, but noticed you mentioned that there was only a microwave in the kitchen. How did cooking/eating work? Did you have to eat out every day or could you buy a slow cooker or something to make meals with?

SMR is certainly the most popular choice. As you've mentioned, there were no cooking facilities in our apartments. For food, I'd basically go:

Breakfast - cereal or similar. Obviously doesn't require cooking facilities. You have both personal and communal storage where you can keep stuff like this, plus a fridge in your room for milk or whatever else you need.

Lunch - I was usually on campus, and ate at the canteen from memory. But there are lots of options not too far off campus, and this is what a lot of people did.

Dinner - there's a restaurant practically on campus (like, directly next to the SMR accommodation - part of the same complex), which was super easy and convenient. But again, otherwise there are lots of options for eating close to campus. The Rock was a popular choice, which had a number of different options available.

So to answer your question, I pretty much ate out every day, and this was just part of the fun. When I couldn't be bothered or was tired, getting takeaway food from the restaurant and having it in our apartment/my room was easy. Food is so cheap that I never even really considered the financial aspect.

Slow cooker? I don't think we were allowed - I'm pretty sure we couldn't "cook" in our rooms at all (probs safety concerns?). But things might have changed, and I'd recommend chatting to the good people at Monash Abroad for more info on the specifics here.

Quote
Also, what's is like living in Sunway City? It seems quite far away from Kuala Lumpur, or is it quick/easy to get to the city?

It's pretty cool! I definitely felt welcome, and there are lots of other students around; further to the Monash campus, Sunway University is also really close by (in fact, some people would go there for lunch haha). You have pretty much everything you need there. Sunway Pyramid (probs like a 15-minute walk - the best thing about this is the walkway that goes directly to Pyramid is entirely covered, so even if it's absolutely pissing down (not unlikely), you can get from your room to Pyramid and back without getting wet) is a big shopping complex where you can stock up etc. You're also close to Casa Subang, which is good for shopping options (Mydin).

You're right in that it's not Kuala Lumpur, and you're not right in the heart of the city. But I actually think I liked this, and it added to the "living on campus" sort of experience (which was new to me).

Getting to KL from Monash is wayyyyyyyyy easier than it used to be. You can now get the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) from directly outside Monash to Setia Jaya (can't exactly remember how long this takes - maybe 10-15 minutes?). Then from Setia Jaya, you can get the KTM (slowish train) to KL Sentral. With the BRT, which is extremely well air-conditioned haha, the commute is pretty direct and doesn't take that long. In saying that, it's not as easy as just crossing the road to get into KL. Over the course of the semester, I probably went into Sentral like five times? But I'd been to KL a few times before, so didn't feel I needed to do some of the touristy stuff other people were, and many weekends were spent travelling to other parts of Malaysia (or elsewhere).

Really, really happy to answer any more questions at all. :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on July 17, 2019, 08:15:35 am
Today marks exactly four years since I left for exchange, which was absolutely one of my better decisions in my uni "career".

Anybody considering exchange atm for future semesters? Or on exchange now? Or recently returned? :)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Bri MT on July 17, 2019, 02:01:40 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on July 17, 2019, 08:15:35 am
Today marks exactly four years since I left for exchange, which was absolutely one of my better decisions in my uni "career".

Anybody considering exchange atm for future semesters? Or on exchange now? Or recently returned? :)

Hmmm... I feel slightly targeted :P

I didn't go on exchange but I did recently return from the Global Leaders Experience where I got to stay on res at Monash Malaysia for a week and it was amazing.

We had theory on leadership and cultural intelligence (which tbh I already knew from my course and previous leadership experiences), talked with notable people making things happen in Kuala Lumpur (entrepreneurs, academic, founders of non-profits etc.) and went out to visit businesses and NGOs, and came up with and pitched plans to tackle issues faced by global cities such as KL. (this component of the program happened in just 4 days)

Crucially, the participants were a combination of students from Monash Australia (such as myself), Monash Malaysia, and Warwick (in the UK); the main value I got from the program has been connecting with great people. To say I'm grateful to the Monash-Warwick Alliance, Monash Abroad, and Access Monash is an understatement.

I'd never been overseas before and after completing this program I'm definitely keen to go overseas again. Next time probably won't be all expenses paid (so I'll need to save up) but I'm keen to explore more, meet up with the friends I've made, and make new ones. Hopefully I can land an international internship in Asia as I think the potential for environmental impact there is huge and the intersection with socioeconomic and political issues is fascinating.

If I wasn't living out of home (and thus needing to consider my lease, storage of my stuff etc.) I would apply for exchange for next year.


This is the first year the GLE has ran and I hope it runs for many more years so other students can have the opportunities I've had.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: undefined on July 17, 2019, 02:13:28 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on July 17, 2019, 08:15:35 am
Today marks exactly four years since I left for exchange, which was absolutely one of my better decisions in my uni "career".

Anybody considering exchange atm for future semesters? Or on exchange now? Or recently returned? :)
I'm currently in year 12 and one of the main reasons why I'm leaning towards UoM rather than Monash is UoM offers an exchange at a certain university whereas Monash doesn't and they offer 12 month long exchanges as well. It's a pretty illegitimate reason but yeah I've been thinking about going on exchange since year 10 and hope to during 2nd year uni in either Japan or Singapore (or both :p ). Looking forward to it as it's one of the only things keeping my head up during the stress and pain of year 12!
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Joseph41 on July 17, 2019, 02:16:39 pm
Quote from: undefined on July 17, 2019, 02:13:28 pm
I'm currently in year 12 and one of the main reasons why I'm leaning towards UoM rather than Monash is UoM offers an exchange at a certain university whereas Monash doesn't and they offer 12 month long exchanges as well. It's a pretty illegitimate reason but yeah I've been thinking about going on exchange since year 10 and hope to during 2nd year uni in either Japan or Singapore (or both :p ). Looking forward to it as it's one of the only things keeping my head up during the stress and pain of year 12!

Why so set on that particular uni, out of interest?

(Cool - sounds exciting for you!)
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: Bri MT on July 17, 2019, 02:21:52 pm
Quote from: undefined on July 17, 2019, 02:13:28 pm
I'm currently in year 12 and one of the main reasons why I'm leaning towards UoM rather than Monash is UoM offers an exchange at a certain university whereas Monash doesn't and they offer 12 month long exchanges as well. It's a pretty illegitimate reason but yeah I've been thinking about going on exchange since year 10 and hope to during 2nd year uni in either Japan or Singapore (or both :p ). Looking forward to it as it's one of the only things keeping my head up during the stress and pain of year 12!

I don't know enough about your circumstances to know if UoM or Monash would be a better fit for you but it's definitely not the worst reason to pick a uni that I've seen. Monash does seem to only offer exchange to Japan if you study Japanese so it might be worth checking UniMelb's rules around this as well (if you haven't already). What makes draws you to Japan and Singapore?
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: undefined on July 17, 2019, 02:44:46 pm
Quote from: Joseph41 on July 17, 2019, 02:16:39 pm
Why so set on that particular uni, out of interest?

(Cool - sounds exciting for you!)
When I was in year 10 I did a language exchange to Japan for 2 weeks where I studied at a high school linked to a uni. It was an amazing experience and I have some friends there who will/already are studying at that uni and I would love to go back for an exchange in the future.

Quote from: Bri MT on July 17, 2019, 02:21:52 pm
I don't know enough about your circumstances to know if UoM or Monash would be a better fit for you but it's definitely not the worst reason to pick a uni that I've seen. Monash does seem to only offer exchange to Japan if you study Japanese so it might be worth checking UniMelb's rules around this as well (if you haven't already). What makes draws you to Japan and Singapore?

Actually I've been studying Japanese since year 7 :p Right now I'm planning on doing either commerce or science then a master of engineering at UoM (I know, engineering is probably better taught at Monash) or a Bachelor of Data Science/Engineering at Monash. The only thing I'm set on studying is a Diploma of Languages. So pretty much the problem is that I'll probably take my degree overseas after I finish uni, and I'm not sure about international competitiveness when it comes to a degree at either Melbourne or Monash so I'm leaning more towards Melbourne. Also I feel like I'd like the atmosphere more at Melbourne since there are more clubs and extracurriculars that look appealing to me. So the decision comes to whether I want to get straight from point A to B with a degree at Monash or do a general degree at Melbourne then potentially do a masters (not very time efficient).

As for why I want to study in Japan and Singapore; I mentioned why I wanted to go to Japan in my response to Joseph41 and Singapore looks like a great place to study at and I'm thinking about doing a post-grad/PhD there so I'd like to scout it out before committing.
Title: Re: Studying abroad, student exchange: what, why, how
Post by: undefined on January 23, 2020, 10:38:39 pm
Hey! Bumping this post. So I was wondering how difficult it would be to go on exchange for 6 months if not 1 year while doing a double degree. Since I pretty much have 0 electives, I've been told that the units I take overseas have to be very similar for me to get credit for them. Is there any form of leniency/actions I can take to get credit?

Also, I was wondering if I could do 4 language units for my DipLang in my first 4 semesters, then do the last 4 (non-language units) when I go on exchange to bypass the core unit problem I have?

Also, how much of a say do I have in where I want to exchange at? Because it looks like Japanese unis are becoming increasingly harder to go to. Thanks!