Inbound students Study Abroad and Exchange at the University of Melbourne
Research students on exchange
This page is for students wanting to come and do research at the University of Melbourne for a short period of time as part of their masters or research doctoral degree or for a research project (sometimes called an internship in parts of Europe) at their home institution.
Minimum period: three (3) months
Maximum period: twelve (12) months
This information is for students who are studying at an exchange partner institution, which supports them coming here as an exchange student. Check with your home exchange office first as staff in that office must nominate you to study at Melbourne.
Students whose home institution does not support them coming as an exchange student or whose home institution is not an exchange partner, may only apply as a study abroad research student.
Step 1 - find a temporary supervisor at Melbourne
Before you can follow these steps you must have the agreement in writing from an academic at the University of Melbourne agreeing to act as your temporary supervisor while you are enrolled here undertaking your research. An email from academic's unimelb email account will suffice. It is your responsibility to find a potential temporary supervisor and to negotiate that person's agreement.
Note that while tuition fees do not apply to exchange students coming to the University of Melbourne, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) fees apply for exchange students, see the Program Costs page, and you should be clear about what you will need to pay before you begin your application.
Step 2 - assemble documentation for your application
Once you have agreement from an academic here to act as your temporary supervisor, assemble the documentation that you will need for your application:
- Check that you have met the English language entry requirements and how you can prove that, if necessary;
- A copy of the details page of your passport which has at least six months left on it at the end of your time at Melbourne;
- A summary in English of the research that you plan to undertake while at the University and how this will contribute towards your degree at your home institution; and
- Academic transcripts in English for prior tertiary study you have completed.
You will be required to upload this information when completing the online application.
Step 3 - download the application instructions to begin the application
All graduate students wanting to come here for a period of research through the exchange program apply on-line for the course, exchange postgraduate, EX-PG. The application asks for:
- The name of your home institution and an institutional approval form
- The duration of your stay
- A transcript
- A study plan (in addition to uploading the study plan listing any subjects you may want to do (leave this out if there are none), upload the email/letter from the academic who has agreed to be your temporary supervisor here and the research summary)
- A copy of the details page of your passport
- How you meet the English language requirements
- Any discipline-specific requested additional information
Download application instructions (1.6 MB pdf) on how to complete the online application. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid making any unnecessary mistakes with your application. It will take about 45 minutes to complete.
A nomination form is sent to Melbourne Global Mobility (MGM) by your home institution confirming that you have submitted an application and that they support application. They will also confirm that your transcripts are genuine. Once we are satisfied that you will be coming for research, we will change your course from EX-PG to exchange research (EX-RES).
As requested in the instructions, please forward your acknowledgement email of your submitted application to Melbourne Global Mobility (MGM) which will prompt the relevant advisor to review the application and proceed with having your application assessed.
Step 4 - apply for housing
If you have received your six digit application number and want to apply for University housing you can do so immediately, you do not need to wait to be accepted by the University. Note that depending on the time of year you are wanting to come and the length of time, there may be limitations on the options available to you in University housing.
If you do apply, however, and later change your mind about the housing or are not accepted by the University, you can simply decline the offer if you are offered a space in the University housing.
Step 5 - letter of offer
Once your application has been assessed by your hosting faculty and approved, MGM will send you a letter of offer by email. You should read this carefully. If satisfied it is correct and reflects what has been agreed, complete the acceptance form attached to it and email that back to MGM. You must pay the OSHC at this time and there are instructions on how to do that.
Step 6 - apply for your visa
When your payment has been received, MGM will admit you to the University and issue your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) document. This is the document you will need to apply for your student visa. The visa for which you apply is subclass 500 student visa.
Step 7 - activate your university account
In the email with your CoE attached will be information that explains how you can activate your student account at the University and complete your administrative enrolment. You can do that before you start at the University so that you are ready to complete your enrolment within a day or two of arrival on campus.
Step 8 - when you arrive
When you have finalised your arrival date, prior to arriving, contact your advisor at MGM to arrange for an orientation briefing. Once that is complete, we lift an enrolment sanction in the student system and then you can meet with the relevant person in the faculty or graduate school who completes the rest of your orientation in consultation with your supervisor and hosting department.
Note, even though you are research students you will need to be enrolled in research subjects while you are here and your status at Melbourne is not complete until that has happened.
Step 9 - begin your research
Now that your enrolment is complete, you have collected your student card and your OSHC card, you are ready to begin the research that brought you to Melbourne. Don't forget to enjoy your time in Melbourne, Victoria and Australia also before you return home.
