UQ ABROADNext Steps

THE UQ ABROAD TEAM

Jan McCreary - Manager

Heidi Benjaminson - Team leader, Asia, Scandinavia,

USA

Danni Patterson– - Europe, Latin America

Irene Hui - UK, Ireland, NZ, South Africa,

Canada

COMMUNICATION WITH UQ ABROAD

Write to relevant adviser through uqabroad@uq.edu.au

UQ email – check it frequently Subject line

Subject of inquiry / HOST UNI / Student # / LAST NAME First name

Leaving phone messages – be clear Please do not communicate directly with Host

University at this time Join UQ Abroad’s face book

DOCUMENTS RELATED TO EXCHANGE

• Get a document wallet

• Make a copy of everything you submit related to your exchange a keep a copy in your wallet or electronically

• UQ Abroad cannot provide copies of previously submitted documents (eg, study plans)

 

SOME STATS FOR SEMESTER 1, 2014

• Over 400 students have applied

• 36.5% applying for Europe & Scandinavia

• 22% applying for the US• 21% applying for the UK

& Ireland• 13% applying for Asia 

NEXT STEP: UQ ABROAD APPLICATION ASSESSMENT

1. Applications assessed once grades have been released Eligibility criteria

2. Assign host university placements based on first preference

Cumulative GPA in current program Prior UQ Abroad experience

3. Students notified by mid/late July4. UQ Abroad to notify faculties and request

study plans

CAN I CHANGE MY FIRST PREFERENCE AT THIS TIME? NO, unless . . . . You want a guaranteed travel grant of $1000:

KAIST Chinese University of Hong Kong Nanyang Technological University National Taiwan University Chulalongkorn University Sun Yat-sen University

You have concerns about prior convictions (eg DUI) – make appointment to discuss with UQ Abroad

Change must be made in writing prior to June 28, 2013.

WHAT IF I DON’T GET MY 1ST PREFERENCE? You will be considered for your 2nd preference

and, if necessary your 3rd preference If all three preferences are full, you will be

contacted to discuss your options Once you have been told by UQ Abroad

which host university you will be nominated for, you will need to submit a new study plan to your faculty if not your first preference

NEXT STEP: APPLICATION TO HOST UNIVERSITY

Due dates varyEnd of July (UC) –

SeptemberAdviser will contact you

regarding the application processPlease do not start the

process until advisedMostly on line

STUDENTS APPLYING TO THE USA

Some applications due at end of July Stay for 15 minutes at end of session for

more information Check your UQ email for information

STUDENTS APPLYING TO JAPAN . . .

Cannot defer their studies the semester

prior to going on exchange

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Official UQ transcript (apply through My

Advisor: http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/academic-record-transcript

Proof of Finances US universities – at time of host application

Original documents only Others – usually at time of student visa

application Personal statement

Focus on academic reasons for studying at host university

Valid passport for US application

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Letters of reference Usually needs to be academic unless otherwise

stated Ask your tutors If you need further guidance, contact UQ Abroad

CV/Resume If you do not know how to write a CV/resume,

find out and write one over the break Medical check

Mainly Asia and US partners You will be advised as to the requirements

ACCOMMODATION

Host university required to provide information Part of host university application or the acceptance

packet Read testimonials from returned students for advice Write to students on facebook for advice

SELECTING COURSES AT THE HOST UNIVERSITY No guarantee that courses pre-approved by

your faculty will be available. May have to select new courses Flexibility is key! Must be enrolled in equivalent full time

load/semester UQ = 8 units (usually 4 courses) US/Canadian unis – 15 credits (usually 5 courses) UK – 60 credits (4-6 courses) Europe – 30 ECTS (2-8 courses) Japan – 8-14 credits (8-10 courses)

NEXT STEP: HOST UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE

Response time from host university varies

UQ Abroad has no control over host university processes

Do not plan any travel prior to your exchange until you have received your acceptance

WHAT IF I DON’T GET ACCEPTED?

UQ Abroad tries to identify any issues prior to host university application

No guarantees UQ Abroad will try to get you a place, but

flexibility is essential.

NEXT STEP: FUNDING YOUR EXCHANGE

Scholarships – notification in late September Host university acceptance and completion of UQ

Travel Form required for payment Centrelink

Payments can continue while on exchange Centrelink requires written confirmation from UQ

that you are enrolled in a full time study load at the host institution.

We will provide you with this letter once you're accepted by your host university.

Sort it out BEFORE going on exchange

FUNDING YOUR EXCHANGE: OS-HELP

Students may receive up to $6,051 per six-month study period (in 2013) for one or two overseas study periods

A student must be an Australian citizen or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa;

Students cannot receive an OS-HELP loan for the first year (equivalent full-time) or last semester of their course of study.

The loan is subject to the same repayment arrangements as HECS.

If you are unsure whether you will need the loan, apply – you can always withdraw your application.

You can receive a scholarship and a loan.

Apply through UQ Abroad office. Deadline August 31

FUNDING YOUR EXCHANGE: OS-HELP

Students must have at least 8 units to complete on return to UQ

If you have only 22 units left in your degree Semester 2, 2013 – 6 units Semester 1, 2014 – 8 units (on exchange) Semester 2, 2014 – 8 units (on return from

exchange) OS-HELP and Diplomas

Cannot receive credit towards Diplomas while on exchange and receive an OS-HELP loan

For more information: http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/os-help-21170

NEXT STEP: GETTING READY TO GO

Meet and greets Held throughout the semester Get to know other students going to your region Meet returned students and international

exchange students Mandatory pre-departure session held in

November

NEXT STEP: GETTING READY TO GO

Student Visa requirements Your responsibility to investigate whether you require

a visa and the requirements for obtaining a visa. See links on UQ Abroad website.

Ask the relevant consulate or embassy, not UQ Abroad. Travel agents may be provide assistance for a small fee.

Convictions – eg, DUI – may affect USA and Canadian visas

Getting a visa takes time. Do not leave it until the last minute!

NEXT STEP: GETTING READY TO GOPassport Must have at least 6 month

validity after your return to Australia

If not, apply for a new passport

Travel insurance Covered by UQ’s corporate

insurance - limitations Some host universities have

mandatory policies

TRAVELLING BEFORE YOUR EXCHANGE

Primary purpose of UQ Abroad is STUDY! UQ Abroad does not recommend that you

travel prior to receiving your acceptance documents and visa.

UQ Abroad has no control over the response time of the host university or the time it will take to process your student visa.

Do not plan to travel before going on exchange unless you have received your university acceptance and student visa.

Do not purchase air tickets unless deposit is refundable

GOING ON EXCHANGE IN YOUR LAST SEMESTER

Will probably delay your graduation by one semester

Host university must send transcript Faculty has to transfer credit Official confirmation of your degree Graduation takes place only twice a year

WITHDRAWING FROM EXCHANGE

If you decide to withdraw, please do so early so that your place can be allocated to another student.

Can withdraw at any stage No penalty (UQ Abroad); BUT host

university may require payment Let us know in writing We are here to help – contact us if you

have any concerns Do not leave your withdrawal to the last

minute!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GOING ON EXCHANGE!

Read student testimonials

Contact returned students

Become a UQ Abroad friend on Facebook

Join QUEST questsociety@gmail.com

Research the place you are going to on exchange

ATTEND THE WELCOME BBQ FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Tuesday16 July, 2013 An opportunity to meet students from the

university you may be going to on exchange Watch your UQ email for more information

FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE

Print out check list from UQ Abroad home page

Take responsibility Be patient Ask for help

USA SPECIFIC: DEADLINES

Late July deadline Cal State University of California University of Washington University of Wisconsin-Madison Kansas State – post-graduate

If you plan to travel over the break, it is strongly recommended that you organise a Power of Attorney to act on your behalf

USA SPECIFIC: APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Proof of finances (liquid funds) US university indicates how much you will need

for the semester Verification of funds as a self-supported student

Official bank statement- signed and dated by bank Sponsored or supported by your family

Certificate of financial support Recent bank statement shoring sponsor’s name

STUDENT VISA

Host university provides the DS-2019 form Must make an appointment with the

consulate in Sydney for a face-to-face interview AFTER you have received the form and acceptance letter

Convictions/ arrests:http://canberra.usembassy.gov/arrests_convictions.html

USA SPECIFIC: PRE-REQUISITES

Higher level UG courses require pre-requisites and the student must show proof of completion

Especially stringent for UC students http://

www.eap.ucop.edu/Documents/ReciprocalExchanges/Prerequisites.pdf

STUDENT VISA Canada/US – arrest/conviction of DUI Thank you for your email. Information about arrests and convictions is available at our website. The website will not tell

applicants whether or not their specific circumstances make them ineligible for visas. That would occur at the interview. Unfortunately, should they be found ineligible, it is unlikely they would have five spare months to wait for a determination on a waiver.

  http://canberra.usembassy.gov/arrests_convictions.html   Regarding your question about visa interviews, applicants’ fingerprints are registered at the Consulate before their interview.

As this fingerprinting technology is not mobile, visa interviews are only performed at Consulates. As to which consulate an applicant should choose for their interview, they should use the one responsible for their place of residence. For most of your students, that would be Sydney, which is responsible for Queensland. However, if they have a residence in Victoria, NT, or SA, they should apply in Melbourne.

  That being said, if the applicant is Australian, we have not turned away someone who lives in Darwin and chooses to apply

in Sydney. We understand a flight is involved, and the applicant has to fly somewhere. They’d likely choose the most cost-effective choice in their circumstances.

  International students studying at UQ or QUT can consider themselves as residents of Queensland for visa application

purposes. They are not required to return home to interview. That being said, one of the things an officer must determine is whether we believe an applicant will leave the U.S. at the end of their program. An international student has a higher threshold to prove they have somewhere to go after the exchange program, be it Australia or their country of citizenship.

  Hope that helps guide you.   Best, Ryan     Ryan Ingrassia - Consular Officer - US Consulate General Sydney Office: +61 (0)2 9373 9173 Mobile: +61 (0)402 956 075