Right now you’ve just started your degree, and you’re probably coming to terms with what University study is all about. But as the confusion starts to settle, you should cast your mind forward to where you want your degree to take you in the longer term.

There are many aspects to this, including choosing your main areas of specialisation in the mathematical sciences, and also considering whether you are aiming to move straight into the workforce, or whether you plan to continue with further study like an Honours or Masters degree.

But one option you might not have considered yet is that while you are completing your undergraduate degree, how about spending a semester or a year studying at an overseas university? Not only do you get the experience of living in another country and culture, but you also get to see how your discipline is taught in other universities, and broaden your perspective.

International Exchange Students Scheme

UTS encourages its students to develop an international perspective on their courses and careers. As part of your studies, you may have the opportunity to spend one or two semesters studying at an overseas partner university and receive credit towards your UTS degree.

To enable this to happen UTS has formal links with a large number of universities around the world. UTS is expanding its partnerships with universities – particularly where students can learn in English – so that more students can experience an exchange program. Some of these exchange opportunities will be in countries where English is not the first language but where university level teaching in English is available. These countries include Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Sweden.

How does it work?

The subjects you study overseas are credited towards your UTS degree. In the case of core (compulsory) subjects for your course, we try and match the subjects taught overseas with similar subjects taught at UTS. Depending on what subjects the overseas University offers, it is not always possible to find a match for core subjects in your course, but it varies between overseas Universities.

The key is to start planning early. So if you think you might be interested in spending some or all of your second year overseas, start discussing your options by the middle of your first year, at the latest.

Of course there’s always the money side to consider as well – the sooner you decide you want to go on exchange, the sooner you can start saving some cash!

Scholarships

UTS supports student participation in the International Exchange Students Scheme through the provision of a number of scholarships each semester as a contribution to the costs of going on exchange. While on exchange, students do not pay tuition fees in the overseas university. Local students pay their usual HECS fees, and international students pay their usual Australian tuition fees.

More info ...

More information and application forms for the Exchange Scheme and scholarships can be obtained from the International Exchange Students Scheme, run by the UTS Institute for International Studies

And when you get to the stage of choosing subjects, come and speak with an academic advisor.