How to register for an exchange program

Please click here to start researching each Exchange Partner on the Mobi portal.

For each preference you choose, please ensure you have considered the following:

• You meet the eligibility criteria from both the home and host university.

• You have at least 4 favorite partner universities with at least 1 place graded as Low Demand.

For details on Demand Level, please refer to each Exchange Partner page on Mobi for reference.

• The host institution offers sufficient courses that are available to exchange students in your study area, in the semester(s) that you will be on exchange
• The host institution offers courses in English or in a language of instruction for which you are eligible
• The host institution offers additional services that you require; for example, disability support
• The host country’s climate, culture, geographical situation, language(s) spoken and political situation
• The estimated cost of living in my host country for the duration of my exchange
• Whether you can meet your academic, personal and professional goals during your exchange if you attend this institution; for example, add a minor to your program/complete an internship and/or learn a new language and/or travel to other places etc.

Make sure you have researched and are happy with all of your host institution preferences before registering your interest, as you may be nominated to your second, third, or fourth preference.

In order to ensure that you have room in your program structure and to effectively research potential institutions, we recommend following the below steps:

1. Check your RMIT program structure:

• In order to determine how far you have progressed in your program and what courses you have remaining, consult with your Senior Academic Advisor (Student Connect) and your Program Coordinator about how an Exchange Program can fit into your current RMIT program structure
• It is possible to take courses at a host institution to meet the requirements of core courses, program electives or general electives

2. Save your electives:

• Remember: Using general electives will reduce the complexity of your registration and increase the chances of your study plan being approved

Select your host Institution preferences

• Preference guidelines: When registering for exchange, you are required to choose up to four host institutions, in order of preference, where you would like to be placed for your exchange

Note: The institutions to be ranked in the order of preference (i.e. the most favourite one is placed on top and others follow the order accordingly)

• Grading scale: Each host partner has a limited number of exchange places available. To give an indication of how competitive a host institution is and how many exchange places are available, each host institution is rated by Demand Level: ‘Low’, ‘Medium’, ‘High’ or ‘Closed’:

To ensure we can successfully place you at one of your preferred host institutions, choose at least one host institution preference that is graded ‘Low Demand’.

Note: The rating on Demand Level is based on the exchange agreement between RMIT and the Exchange Partners. ‘Low Demand’ does not mean that the program or destination is not good. Instead, many universities in fantastic destinations are rated as ‘Low Demand’ thanks to the expanded partnership between universities that allow more exchange places to be available for students. Therefore, you might want to consider to choose more universities in this group to better secure your place at the Global Exchange Program.

How to search for suitable preferences

To ensure your preferred host institutions are suitable for you, you are required to carefully research your preferences and identify courses available for credit transfer to RMIT. To help you do this, we have designed the following tools:

1. Browse the Host Institution List

We suggest you start your research by exploring the List of Global Exchange Partners. You can visit each Exchange Partner’s page on Mobi to view the partner institution profile. Please pay particular attention to the ‘Study Level’, ‘Demand Level' and ‘Disciplines Available’ sections to determine whether exchange to your chosen host institution is possible within your study area, and note the host institution’s grading, as explained above.

Each host institution profile features a link that will take you to a dedicated brochure that contains more information about the host institution, academics, living, funding, and more. Please follow the links to the host institution webpage; for example, under ‘Academics’, ‘For Exchange Students’, or ‘More Information’, to search for more information about courses on offer to exchange students and in your study area.

If you require any additional information, please contact RMIT Global Experience - do not contact the host institution directly at this stage to avoid any confusion caused.

2. Tips for choosing courses at partner institution

When considering courses at the partner institution, make sure that:

• They are available to exchange students
• They are offered in the semester(s) that you will be on exchange
• They are offered in English or in a language of instruction for which I am eligible
• You meet any prerequisites associated with the course
• The courses fit in your RMIT Program Structure 

When searching for compatible courses at your preferred host institutions, please keep in mind that using RMIT electives will broaden your options of what you can study whilst on exchange, and make the process of getting a study plan approved further down the track a lot easier.

Create an account on Mobi portal and proceed to create an application. Within the application, complete the required questionnaires and submit it by the deadline.

During your application, please ensure you have a valid passport:

• Upload a copy of your information page (which includes your photo, passport number, address, etc.). Please note that the passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of the exchange program.
• Title your passport as "Your student ID number_Last Name_First Name_Passport/Identification" before you upload it.

Once the deadline passes, RMIT Global Experiences will review your application. If eligible, you will be allocated to a suitable host institution.

Get Set Session

Once you are allocated to a host institution, you will be requested to attend our “Get Set Session”. The briefing will provide you with all necessary information you need to know to finalize your application process for the Global Exchange Program.

Accept or withdraw your allocation

To accept the allocation, you must login to Mobi and choose ‘Commit’ your Exchange Program allocation. Once you have accepted the allocation, an instruction of the next steps will be followed.

Please note that a nomination by RMIT Global Experience is not an acceptance by the host institution. Acceptance by the host institution depends on your submission of a finalised and approved study plan, and successful application to the host institution as per our instructions.

A Study Plan serves as a proposal for courses you intend to study on the exchange program to be credited towards your program in RMIT Vietnam.

Read the full Study Plan guide to learn how to complete your Study Plan.

Once you have the approved study plan, please upload it via your Mobi application by the required timeline. 

Note: Results of your completed courses at the host university will be transferred back to RMIT Vietnam* based on your official transcript (directly sent from the host university to RMIT) and approved study plan(s). These results do not carry weighted grades (highlight this). 

*The transfer of grades and credits will be subject to the applicable Credit Transfer policy and program structure at the time of results being transferred back to RMIT Vietnam after the exchange program concludes.

Once your approved study plan is submitted on Mobi portal, the Global Experience team will assess and nominate you to the host institution. 

You'll receive official exchange application instructions once the host university accepts your nomination.

 It is the student's responsibility to watch for these instructions and apply to the host university by set application deadline –  the Global Experiences team cannot override the application deadlines of our partner universities.

The Application Outcome/ Acceptance Letter will be sent to you by the host university.

Only after receiving your official acceptance from the host university should you make further travel arrangements, including booking flights and applying for a visa.

Students will continue to pay to RMIT Vietnam at Vietnam's rate. Students will make upfront payment before their exchange by the given deadline.

Pre-departure Session are facilitated by RMIT staffs, Global Experience Peer Advisors and Global Experience Ambassadors.

The session is a great way to prepare for your global experience – it includes reminder regarding academic matters such as course enrolment; living tips while going abroad to strategies for coping with the initial culture shock or unexpected situations.

During your exchange semester, your RMIT email account will remain active. It is essential to regularly check and update your information to ensure you do not miss any important announcements or communications.

Upon completing your exchange program, you will continue to enroll in the subsequent semester at RMIT Vietnam. 

For students applying Partner Exchange in Semester 2, you will be enrolled in Semester 3 at RMIT Vietnam. Therefore: 

• You need to enrol in Semester 2 at RMIT Vietnam as usual. 
• Alternatively, if you anticipate a schedule conflict between campuses or need time for preparation before your exchange, you can lodge an LOA request for Semester 2 to Student Connect VN.

Please note that it is the student's responsibility to manage their own study timeline at both university.