Short Term: Explained

Short term exchange is where you study at an exchange partner for less than a regular semester, such as a summer/winter program.

In these programs you are enrolled into UniSA’s exchange course and receive credit towards your current UniSA degree. Tuition fees at the host institution are waived and you continue to pay fees to UniSA. These programs are hosted by one of our exchange partners.

These programs are a great way to improve language skills, experience another university, meet students from across the globe, and see the world! Consider this option if you want to study at another overseas university, but aren’t ready to commit to a full semester exchange. These programs can be anywhere between 1-10 weeks, depending upon what you choose.

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Study tours are UniSA-led tours, where you travel with a group of UniSA students and a member of UniSA staff. These are a great option if you haven’t travelled overseas before, or just don’t want to worry about planning your daily travels yourself! Study tours are usually around 2-3 weeks long, but may vary. For more information on these, you should contact your Program Director/Academic Unit.

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With these programs you can apply to receive academic credit towards your UniSA degree, but it's not compulsory. If you’re not receiving credit, you may be able to count the experience towards UniSA Plus.

You will pay tuition fees to the host institution or provider and do not need to be enrolled into corresponding UniSA exchange course. Generally, if you are approved to receive credit, this will be applied to your degree after you return.

Short term programs might be facilitated through an approved Mobility Experience Provider or be something you’ve found independently. Some of our full semester exchange partners offer short term study programs that are separate to exchange. This category also includes programs at non-partner overseas universities that are of less duration than a regular semester, such as a summer/winter program.

Short Term Other programs include:

Short term Study is like short-term exchange, but for programs at a non-partner overseas university. As well as applying to UniSA, you are also required to apply directly to the overseas university, or through an approved Third-Party Provider. You will also pay all associated fees to the host University/provider. Some of our full semester exchange partners offer short term programs, but if these are not on our short term exchange list they are not part of the exchange agreement and follow short term study processes and fee requirements.

Internship/placement is for students completing an internship or work placement at an external organisation overseas. These can be facilitated through our approved Third Party Providers, or you may have found your own placement abroad (which will need to be approved). For students completing a placement at one of our exchange partners, you’re still counted as an exchange student and should use that form, rather than the short term form. Internships and placements will vary in duration based upon what and where you do, but generally are between 2-8 weeks.

Research is for students conducting research relating to their degrees overseas. This may be as part of a research project, research double degree, conference presentation of research findings, or other lab-based experience. Generally this is limited to post-graduate students, however this is not always the case. Research students generally find their own opportunities, and complete the short term application form to register their travel with UniSA and gain access to UniSA International resources.

Volunteering is for students doing volunteering work overseas. This could be a placement or a field study program in which the educational focus is an activity that services the community. This may count towards your UniSA degree, and may be facilitated by an approved Third Party Provider or be self-sourced.

Conferences/international competition are for students attending an international conference or meeting, or participating on an international competition such as a moot court, related to their UniSA degree or activities. This may occasionally be through an approved Third Party Provider, but are often self-sourced or organised through an academic.

Note: All self-sourced experiences must also be approved by the University. UniSA does not support you to participate in programs run by non-approved Third Party Providers.

Approved Mobility Experience Providers

Think Pacific
Think Pacific offers partnership driven, locally-led, award winning global experiences to university students in Fiji and Bali. From volunteer projects to internships, these experiences are designed to have maximum global impact delivered through a responsible, local approach. Program offerings include but are not limited to Community Build projects, Sports Coaching, and most notably the Youth Empowerment Project working with young Fijians in rural communities to develop skills that employers value.

CIS Australia
CIS Australia provide innovative, high quality, short-term overseas study, intern and volunteer experiences aimed at promoting global awareness and fostering students' self-development. CIS partner with top ranking universities in over 30 countries to provide curated experiences with inclusive cultural excursions. Featured programs include European summer in the Tuscan city of Florence at the University of the Arts, or January in the economic powerhouse that is Tokyo.

International Internships
Students can kickstart their careers by gaining global work experience through internships and study intensives in Indonesia with International Internships. By partnering with industry leading organisations across all disciplines, International Internships work with students to align them with an organisation who can provide a beneficial and intensive experiences related to their study. Completing an internship in a different country and culture provides students with fresh perspectives as well as challenging them to adapt in a foreign environment.

Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad is the world’s largest provider of international volunteering, internships, and meaningful travel experiences across the globe. All of their short term experiences solve a specific problem, in a specific place to create life changing impacts. Experiences span from volunteer teaching children from unprivileged areas in Cambodia, to a Psychology internship in Mongolia taking part in community outreach and learning from qualified psychologists.

Pagoda Projects
Pagoda Projects strengthen students international employability with high-quality internships and experiences bespoke to the individual.  Available in 6 countries, such as Spain and Thailand, and across 40+ disciplines, Pagoda projects internships focus on increasing students' critical thinking and confidence in a global working environment.  Cultural immersion as well as networking events and work experience benefit students learning and overall employability.

We understand there’s a lot of variety, and you might be unsure what a program you’ve found is classified as, if you can count it for credit, whether there are grants available, or even if you can be supported for. Please contact us with the details of what you’re interested in, and we can help you apply. Remember, even if it’s not directly for credit to your UniSA degree, as a UniSA student you should register any University related overseas experiences through the correct application form.

Current opportunities

The fees vary under the various types of short term programs, for advice on how this will work for you specifically please speak to the Study Overseas team:

Short Term Exchange

Exchange partner programs that have tuition free places to offer our UniSA students means you will be enrolled in a UniSA course and pay your tuition to UniSA along with any necessary additional program fees to the partner (i.e. program fees cover the cost of accommodation, meals, transport, cultural activities, etc.) or;

Exchange partner programs that do not have tuition free places available for our UniSA students means you will defer all fees upfront to the host institution and you will apply for credit to be applied to your program upon your return and successful completion of the program, similar to short term study.

Study Tours

For specifics on study tours, please talk to the academic unit/staff directly in charge of the tour. In general, you are enrolled in a UniSA course that the study tour counts as credit for, and pay tuition to UniSA. 

Short Term Other (e.g. via an approved Third Party Provider, non-exchange Summer/Winter School)

These programs are recommended by UniSA, however these are at institutions that are not UniSA exchange partners. Application and fees are paid upfront to the provider and credit will be applied to your program upon your return and successful completion of the program and any other requirements.

1. Consider your destination and type of activity. You can see Upcoming Opportunities here.

2. Once you’ve worked out where and when you’d like to go, consider the following:

• Availability of suitable courses (if receiving credit)
• The language of instruction
• Program and tuition costs, available scholarships, and grant eligibility
• The availability of student support services e.g. disability services
• The culture of the country and host institution
• Program dates

3. Contact your Program Director or relevant staff in your Academic Unit to discuss your options and ensure you can get 4.5 units minimum credit toward your current program. You should show them your planned short term program, and make sure they're aware of how you plan to get credit. Receiving credit is compulsory for short term exchange programs, but may not be relevant for other short term programs e.g. a conference.