A student review by Jaime

I’m officially a month into my exchange semester at Georgetown University in Washington DC— here’s exactly what I wish I’d known before applying for the University of Melbourne Study Overseas program…

1. The application process is pretty straightforward

• The exchange application is fairly simple and doesn’t take too long. Mine took around an hour to complete
• You get to nominate three universities (‘preferences’) that you’d like go to. It’s worth researching the institutions that will land in your preferences: consider things like subjects offered, location, cost of living and accommodation options
• One thing I didn’t fully appreciate is that you don’t get to choose between your three preferences after nominating them. MLS nominates you to one of the three universities you’ve selected
• As part of the application, you’ll need to write a short paragraph about why you want to go on exchange. It doesn’t need to be an essay, instead focus on what you’re hoping to get out of the experience academically, professionally and personally

2. Consider scholarships

• There are mobility scholarships and other merit-based scholarships available, so definitely investigate these when you’re applying
• Note the eligibility thresholds, which include things like your WAM and financial need— don’t assume every scholarship, if any, will be available to you
• I’d recommend looking into any scholarships early, especially as money can be one of the biggest practical considerations when deciding whether to go on exchange

3. Once you’re nominated, plan out your subjects

• The Overseas Study Plan seems intuitive, but really crucial so you have to get this part right. I’ve heard so many stories about students doing the incorrect amount of corresponding Unimelb credits who then needed to complete another semester back home
• The Global Learning team will provide resources to help you work out how your host university’s subjects will translate into Melbourne Law School credits. Make sure you’re looking at the credit-point requirements for your particular institution- this varies between universities!!
• The number of subjects you need to take can look different from what you’re used to at Melbourne. For example, at Georgetown I’m completing four subjects— three 2-credit subjects and one 3-credit subject— which is the equivalent of three Melbourne Law School subjects
• I’d recommend taking your time to sort this out so you have a good idea of what your semester will actually look like. You don’t need to have it submitted before you leave, as most universities have an add/drop period where you might need to shuffle subject around

4. Be proactive about money

• This is probably the most important thing I’d tell people to think about most seriously before applying
• Consider the costs of flights, food and day-to-day spending, but there are also costs that might not be so obvious
• Some universities, including Georgetown, require you to demonstrate that you have a certain amount of savings to show that you’ll be able to support yourself while you’re there
• You may need to pay for insurance through the host university
• The good news is that you can still receive any Centrelink payments such as Youth Allowance or Austudy while studying overseas, provided you continue to meet the relevant eligibility requirements. I’d recommend sorting this out before you leave!
• Make a proper budget before you go rather than just winging it
• Remember, studying abroad is an amazing experience, but it’s much easier to enjoy it when you’re not constantly stressing about money

5. Start researching accommodation and the area

• Once you’ve received your host institution, get the lay of the land— in my opinion, the earlier the better
• Don’t assume that your host university will have on-campus accommodation. Some universities and colleges don’t offer it, meaning you’ll need to organise somewhere to live yourself (especially for masters-equivalent courses like the JD)
• I spent quite a bit of time looking through Facebook groups, which were really useful for getting a sense of different areas of the city, types of living spaces and what other students were saying. It’s also a good way of getting a feel for the city before you arrive, particularly if you’ve never been there before.
• Obviously, use common sense with online groups and forums— there are plenty of legitimate students and landlords, but be careful about sending money or sharing personal information online!

6. It can be lonely!

• This is something that definitely doesn’t get talked about enough- you’re essentially the new kid
• Going on exchange is so incredibly exciting, but you also might be in a completely new country where you might not know anyone
• Culture shock is a thing, particularly at the beginning. It sounds silly and is totally cliché, but bringing a small jar of Vegemite was a must-have for me. When you’re somewhere unfamiliar, having something small and familiar from home is comforting
• It’s worth remembering that making friends is a process. Everyone is figuring it out at the same time, even if it looks like everyone else has already secured a group of friends
• The hardest part is often just putting yourself out there: going to an event when you don’t know anyone, introducing yourself to someone in class, or saying yes to an invitation when you’d rather stay home
• My top piece of advice would be to keep showing up!! Eventually you’ll start to recognise people and build a routine

7. Finally, settle in

I’ve now been away now for about a month, and I think the biggest thing I’ve realised is that the exchange experience doesn’t magically begin the moment you arrive. There’s a period of figuring things out, feeling lost, making mistakes and taking wrong turns, meeting people, and slowly establishing a routine. Give yourself some time to settle in. You don’t have to have the perfect exchange experience from day one.

For more, head to https://students.unimelb.edu.au/course-admin/study-overseas