Studying overseas as part of your degree is an exciting opportunity that will not only enhance your UNSW experience but will greatly benefit your career prospects. You get to travel, meet new people, study in a different country and experience a new culture. On this page you can find an overview of the in-person study options available with the UNSW 3+ Academic Calendar.
One of the benefits of the UNSW 3+ Academic Calendar is the increased flexibility for you to study, intern and volunteer overseas - you can choose to go on exchange to over 300 partner universities across the globe! We encourage you to explore the many opportunities available to you.
To make the most of your time overseas, it's a good idea to start planning in your first year. You can map your courses to save your elective and general education courses and work out the best time for you to go on exchange. You should also talk to your Faculty about the courses you wish to study overseas and ask for a progression check.
While overseas, you will be completing your exchange within the partner university’s academic session/s and you can check the terms you will be away for by comparing UNSW term dates with the partner’s academic calendar.
Options for exchange
You can generally choose from the following options to complete your exchange:
1. One term away:
- UNSW Term 1 where the Partner institution’s study period is between January–May.
- UNSW Term 3 where the Partner’s study period is between September–December/January.
2. Two terms away:
- UNSW Terms 1 and 2 where the Partner’s study period is between January–August.
- UNSW Terms 2 and 3 where the Partner’s study period is between August–December/January.
3. One year away:
- UNSW Terms 1, 2 and 3 where the Partner’s study period is between January–December.
- UNSW Terms 2, 3 and 1 where the Partner’s study period is between August–May.
- UNSW Terms 3 and 1 where the Partner’s study period is between September–May.
UNSW also has an intensive teaching term that runs from mid-August through to the Orientation Week of Term 3 (T2C). There are a select number of courses on offer, which may be appealing to returning exchange students.
The best option will depend on your own personal circumstances. You should also consider your travel plans, internship opportunities, finances, and other non-academic considerations.
To explore your options and find out more information, complete the Student Exchange Tutorial