University of Sydney / Faculty of Arts / Department of French Studies / Undergraduate / Student Exchange Program

Studying Overseas

Who can study overseas?
Where can I study?
How long can I go for?
How is credit decided?
What finance is available?
Information about overseas institutions
How to apply
Before you go overseas....

Who can study overseas?

Any Sydney University student can apply to the International Office to be accepted onto the exchange program to study overseas and have that study counted towards a Sydney University degree. The conditions are:

  • Students have attained at least a credit average in their studies
  • Students are enrolled as a full-time student at Sydney while they are on exchange. This means that you have to convince department/s to accept the study you will do overseas as equivalent to units here. Often you will be enrolled in 'Exchange' or 'In-country' study units.
  • Students are prepared to go to one of our exchange partners. Exchange partners are listed at the International Office

Exchange or In-country study units

These are the unit names and numbers for French Exchange and In country Study units:

  • French exchange units:
    FRNC1801
    FRNC1802
    FRNC2803
    FRNC2804
    FRNC2805
    FRNC2806
    FRNC2807
    FRNC2808
  • French Incountry Study unit:
    FRNC3801

For more information about these units, and guidance about which units to enrol in, contact the French department international coordinator.

Also, if you are a BA languages student, visit BA Languages.

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Where can I study?

Exchange institutions particularly relevant to students studying French are:

Information about these institutions can be obtained from the International Office, from the Department, or from the foreign university web sites.

Students will normally follow substantially the same courses as native students, therefore the level of French required is advanced. Sometimes the foreign university offers extra language tuition before their year starts, in September, or during the semester (L'Ecole des Sciences Politiques and the Université de La Rochelle do so).

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How long can I go for?

Students can go for one semester or one year. Remember that in most countries the academic year starts in October, and the first semester runs until the end of January. It is often preferable (but not essential) for students to start their overseas studies in October in order to take advantage of introductory courses etc.

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How is credit decided?

This is done on a case-by-case basis: it depends on the number of hours a week of study, the assessment tasks and the level of the course.

Students need to complete the relevent form available from the International Office and include the details of the courses they will be enrolled in at Sydney, and which courses they will follow overseas. The form must be signed by the Department's International Coordinator and returned to the International Office with the initial application to go overseas.

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What finance is available?

Language travel scholarship

The School of Languages offers a number of language scholarships of $3000 each. For more information click here.

Other scholarships

  • Each year the French Embassy offers Baudin Travel Grants worth $2000 each. The grants must be used to travel to France for University study. More information and application forms are available from the French Embassy.
  • Scholarships of $2000 are available through the International Office.
  • A few foreign universities, such as the University of Geneva, have their own scholarship scheme.
  • The Scholarships Office also has a number of prizes and scholarships available.

Details of these schemes are available from the International Office along with a very useful booklet listing all institutions with which Sydney University has exchange agreements as well as closing dates for applications etc.

Please note that scholarships do not cover the full costs of studying abroad, which can total $10,000 a semester depending on the country chosen.

BA (Languages) students

Students enrolled in BA (Languages) have specific financial arrangements and must complete the forms available at BA (Languages) before they go.

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Information about all exchange institutions

The International Office has information about all exchange institutions and hold written accounts of students who have studied overseas, which can be consulted.

The French Department also has information, particularly about Sciences-Po and the University of La Rochelle. Students can also access the relevant university websites.

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How to apply

For more information and application details, contact the International Office.

Please note that students need to apply a long time in advance for exchange and places are competitive.

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Before you go overseas...

Students must leave full details of their plan of study, dates of absence etc with the Department. It is essential to keep in touch while overseas, preferably through email.

Students who fail to keep us informed of their studies risk being given a fail result at the end of semester.

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