Swinburne Abroad
How can I afford to go overseas?
We get it, life is expensive right now. With the cost of petrol, rent and everything else- you're probably wondering how on earth you could afford to go overseas...
But that shouldn't stop you from getting to experience the adventure of a lifetime!
A number of our programs have generous financial support available for eligible Swinburne students- no complicated applications and the money often just goes straight into your bank account to be spent (and no, you don't even necessarily have to have really high marks). Sounds too good to be true, right?!
That's one of the benefits of going overseas on a Swinburne Abroad program- we receive a lot of Government funding to help support you on these programs.
Keep reading to learn more about the various funding options available...
OS HELP Loan
What is an OS HELP Loan?
The most common form of funding- this is a government scheme providing loans for Australian students of up to $8,519 (as at 2022) depending on your destination and study program. This loan is added to your HECs debt, which you do not have to repay until your income reaches the minimum repayment threshold. The money is deposited into your bank account and can be used for a range of expenses, such as airfares, accommodation and other travel or study options!
How can I get it?
Firstly, you need to complete at least 100 credit points (4 units) to get this loan. You also need to have at least 12.5 credits to return to (1 unit). Keep reading for the full eligibility criteria:
Eligibility Criteria:
- be an Australian citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder or a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the residency requirements
- have not received an OS-HELP Loan on more than one other occasion
- be enrolled with an Australian provider in a Commonwealth Supported Place and have completed one equivalent full-time student loan (EFTSL) — usually one year of full-time study
- be studying full-time overseas and this study will count towards the course requirements for the Australian course you are enrolled in
- have at least 0.125 EFTSL of your course left to complete once you have finished your overseas study — usually one unit of study
- have a valid tax file number (TFN) at the time of applying
- have submitted an OS-HELP debt confirmation form to your provider; and have read the OS-HELP statement of terms and conditions.
For more information on OS-HELP visit the Study Assist website or read the OS-HELP and overseas study booklet.
OS-HELP Loans are applied for and paid only after you have been accepted into your overseas program. If you’re eligible, you will be given more information from the Swinburne Abroad team on how to apply as your application progresses.
Current Funding Options
Each year we receive different funding grants and opportunities from the Australian Government and our partner universities. Check out the current options below for ways to get the most bang for your travel buck...
1
$5,000 to experience Japan
If you've always wanted to explore the exciting cities and culture of Japan, now's your chance! Study a Semester Exchange at one of our partner universities in Japan and you could receive $5,000 to help cover the costs of things like flights, housing, living expenses and any travel you want to do while you're there!
(15+ funding grants available)
(15+ funding grants available)
Accommodation paid for in France
Our partner university La Rochelle Academy sits on the scenic coast on the west side of France. This partner is giving one lucky student the chance to have a full semester of accommodation paid for-
so more money to spend on cheese, wine and croissants!
(1x place available)
so more money to spend on cheese, wine and croissants!
(1x place available)
2
3
$5,000 to study in Indonesia
Yep, you read that right. If you study a Semester Exchange at our partner university Gadjah Mada University, you could receive $5,000 to help cover all of your costs.
(10+ funding grants available)
(10+ funding grants available)
New Colombo Plan (NCP) Funding
What is the New Colombo Plan?
For full details, visit the New Colombo Plan website or contact Swinburne Abroad at exchange@swin.edu.au
The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region in Australia by financially supporting Australian undergrad students to study and undertake internships in the region.
Program One: Mobility Grants
The Mobility Grant program provides funding for certain Swinburne Abroad programs of between $1,500 - $7,000.
How does it work?
The way it works is that a number of our Study Tours and Internship programs have this Mobility Grant funding attached to them to help lower the cost of the program.
EG: a 2 week Study Tour to Vietnam costs $4,500 - a Mobility Grant of $3,000 is applied to your program when you apply for the program so you only need to pay $1,500 (Some program costs can even be fully covered by the grant!)
Eligibility Criteria:
- You must be currently studying a Bachelor or Bachelor (Honours) program onshore
- You must be an Australian citizen
- You cannot have held a dual citizenship or residency for the project destination
- You must be aged between 18-28 years at the commencement of the program (there is capacity to include a certain percentage of students over 28, this does not automatically exclude you)
- have achieved a minimum 70 per cent graded average or equivalent for their undergraduate course at the time of application.
- not be a previous recipient of a New Colombo Plan Scholarship.
Program Two: NCP Scholar Program
A prestigious scholarship opportunity for high-achieving students to participate in a fully funded study, internship and language program for up to 19 months in a range of 40 host locations across the Indo-Pacific region. This scholarship is valued at up to A$70,000. This includes academic and language tuition covering up to $20,000, monthly stipend for living expenses ($2,500 per month), travel allowance of $2,500, as well as insurance, case manager support and more.
How does it work?
Swinburne Abroad recruit and receive applications for this program once per year, around May-June. Keep an eye on our website for the next round of applications.
Eligibility Criteria:
- An Australian citizen
- Between 18 – 28 years of age on 1 January 2022
- Not be a previous recipient of the NCP Scholarship
- Enrolled in units of a Bachelors (or Honours) Degree at Swinburne University during the application
- Achieved a minimum of 70% graded average or equivalent
- Able to undertake this overseas experience for between 3 – 19 months duration and commence the experience between 1 January – 31 December 2023
For full details, visit the New Colombo Plan website or contact Swinburne Abroad at exchange@swin.edu.au
Scholarship Options
Vice Chancellor's Excellence Scholarship
Recipients of this scholarship are eligible to receive a one-off payment of A$2,000 towards an international study experience.
For more information, see the Vice Chancellor's Excellence Scholarship.
Piers Fowler Exchange Scholarships
Eligible students studying Aviation or Aviation Management can apply for this scholarship to receive A$5,000 towards an exchange semester abroad at selected partner universities.
For more information, see the Piers Fowler Exchange Scholarship.
Walter Mangold Language Scholarship
Eligible students who have reached certain levels of language proficiency can apply for this scholarship to receive funds towards an approved exchange semester abroad.
For more information, visit the Walter Mangold Trust Fund website.
Centrelink payments continue...
And on top of all that, if you currently receive Austudy or Youth Allowance, your payments can continue while you are overseas.
Need further assistance?
For more information about the fee help and funding options available to you, contact the Swinburne Abroad team- we can't wait to help you plan your adventure!
email
exchange@swinburne.edu.au
location_on
Swinburne Abroad
BA Building (Atrium)
Hawthorn Campus