Why overseas study is a core part of the university experience

Rob: Welcome to the National Virtual Expo. I'm your host, Rob Malicki. This topic is so close to my heart -- we're going to be talking about study abroad and exchange opportunities while you're at university. I'm joining you from Gadigal land in Sydney. If you're here live, thanks for being here. You can ask your questions in the chat wherever that appears on your screen, and we'll try to get to them by the end of the session. If we can't get to all of them, every question will be posted in the Discord community -- all the details are down below. The same goes for parents: there's a Facebook group in the description. So every question, whether it's about your specific situation or something more general, will get an answer.

Rob: I'd like to introduce you to an old friend and work colleague of mine from the early 2000s -- Amy. Amy is the head of student mobility and exchange at the University of Sydney. It's great to see you again.

Guest: It's great to see you. We've known each other for a really long time, so it's a pleasure. And I'm coming to you from Gadigal land as well. Hello!

Rob: We're both passionate about this area because learning abroad and going on exchange is literally life changing, isn't it?

Guest: It really is. You can ask any student who has gone abroad how wonderful an experience they've probably had. It's been challenging, crazy, wild, and it informs a lot of what they do thereafter in their university studies. It often changes career paths, and it determines lifelong friendships and connections. It's a big deal.

Rob: So in this session we're going to talk about the sorts of overseas study experiences available while you're at uni, funding programs and how you can pay for this, and how it all fits into your degree. But let's start with the why. We've said it's life changing -- but why should students go and have an overseas study experience as part of a degree?

Guest: It's interesting because it's a fairly new concept for Australian students. Ten or fifteen years ago we knew how important it was, and yet it really wasn't common practice. Most Australian students would go abroad on a gap year or go backpacking after they graduated, so including it in the university experience wasn't the norm. I'm glad that's changed. Covid disrupted things for a while, but before that we were sending upwards of 50,000-plus students from across Australia abroad in some capacity.

Guest: The benefits are enormous. If you're learning languages, it can improve your language acquisition. If you're into international politics, political science, or learning about other cultures and political systems, it's amazing. If you're in medical studies and want to see what practitioners are doing in another part of the world -- again, the learning benefits are tremendous. And we're also talking about personal growth. Whether you've never travelled before or you're an avid traveller, you understand it's going to bring value. We're talking about everything from semester-long experiences -- four or five months, maybe a year abroad -- right through to a two-week faculty-led study tour. All of those things are going to help and benefit your university experience.

Guest: We always say you're going to be graduating alongside a lot of other people. So what can you add to your degree to enhance what you're studying? Having the ability to talk to an employer about what your university life was like -- and most often students who have these experiences will talk about the opportunities they took and what they learned from them -- sets you apart from someone who didn't. And of course you're going to have lifelong connections. Networking opportunities are huge. We often hear students say, "I now know five people across the globe and I have a couch to stay on whenever I visit those countries."

Guest: Through research, Rob -- and I know you've done a lot of work on this -- we know that retention rates improve. Students who come back from overseas study often perform better and stay on to finish their degrees. On the career and employability side, there's always a lot of weight given to these experiences, and it benefits you long term. There's research in the US showing that people who go abroad earn a little more than those who don't. So it's quite an overarching benefit from start to finish.

The career and employability case for international study

Rob: I want to hone in on that career case. From what you've just said, this is a safe, fun, career-boosting experience that makes sense as part of your degree -- and you can get scholarships for it. Why would you not go and do this? Why do so many students look inward rather than outward?

Guest: A lot of students just don't know about it, or they know about it too late. And as much as one of the major things we try to do in an international office is outreach -- telling people how it can be applied to their university degree and what the benefits are -- you do get a lot of students where life gets in the way. They just want to get their degree done. They have commitments at home or work obligations. So this is a good time to plant the seed and start thinking about how to incorporate this experience into your university life.

Rob: Exactly. If you're watching this live or on the replay, planning this in advance is so beneficial because you can fit it into whatever degree program you're doing. Before we get to how to make it happen, let's hone in on the career research, because it's incredible. Students who've had international study experiences do better at university -- better grades -- and that's probably because if you go out into the world, you discover things, and then you come back more motivated and more aligned with what's genuinely interesting to you. Do you agree?

Guest: Absolutely. A lot of students think they understand their degree and the direction they want their life to take, but something about these experiences either solidifies that or gives them space to rethink it. It might be a conversation you had with someone during your time abroad that made you think, "Actually, I was originally thinking of this field of study, but this one is also really interesting -- maybe I can explore that." It might be a lecturer abroad who sparked an interest in a topic you wouldn't have known about had you stayed here the whole time. It really does allow for space and time to rethink and reimagine where you want to go in your career -- and sometimes it just reinforces that you're on the right path.

Rob: And from the career point of view, the research goes back 50 years. People who've had international study experiences are valued by employers because they're more creative, more flexible, more adaptable, and better team players. They can solve problems. The whole suite of soft skills you get from an international learning experience is exactly what employers want to see. And isn't this especially true now, with AI technology meaning you're not just competing with other graduates with pieces of paper -- you actually have to level up your soft skills in a way like never before, because technology is doing a lot of the heavy lifting at the bottom end?

Guest: Yes, and it reinforces the connections you make with other people and those relationships. Like you said, it creates and enhances soft skills in a way you wouldn't have developed otherwise. I really believe that. And for parents listening -- the idea of becoming resourceful is so important. Nothing like going abroad to teach you how to get yourself on a train, be on time for an appointment, make your own meals, engage in hard conversations, and navigate language barriers. Travel is not easy breezy. There's nothing easy about going abroad in that sense. It's amazing, it's transformational, but it's challenging. And those features are really important for creating resilience and adaptability in anyone, and for building character.

Guest: And going back to that point about employers -- a lot of universities, including us here at the University of Sydney, work with our careers offices because they understand the value of these experiences and how to present them. What does it practically look like on a resume? How do you present it in an interview? How do you talk about these skills you've gained and bring them to the table in conversation? All of those things matter, and our careers offices and employers are smart about that.

Rob: This is a challenging experience -- and that's so true, and I know some people might be a little daunted by the idea of going overseas by themselves for the first time. But firstly, you don't have to go by yourself -- we'll talk about that in a moment when we cover options. The most rewarding things in life are the things that are hard, the things you have to work for. It's the hard things that build us as human beings. This isn't the hardest thing you'll ever do, but there are challenges to it -- and for goodness sake, it's rewarding.

Guest: Absolutely. It's where the magic happens. You'll be on a plane on your own, meeting new roommates for the first time, not knowing who you'll be living with for the next few months. It builds character. And we talk about the idea that "it's not wrong -- it's different." What you're used to and what's done overseas might feel so wrong to your senses, and yet it's just different. Getting into the bones of those experiences really changes who you are for the better. Parents see this all the time when their kids come back. We talk about culture shock and the adapting process, and becoming adaptable. These are all really important features of these big experiences.

Types of overseas study programs available

Rob: Let's make this real for people. I hope everyone watching -- live or on replay -- is thinking, "Okay, I want to go and do this." So let's make it practical. The University of Sydney has perhaps the best, or certainly one of the top, programs in all of Australia when it comes to overseas study opportunities. The breadth of experiences is enormous. We'll talk a little specifically about the University of Sydney and then explain how that fits with other universities as well. What sorts of experiences can students potentially have as part of their degree?

Guest: The wonderful part is that it's almost a buffet of experiences to suit the individual. We understand that people have work commitments, family commitments, time constraints, and financial constraints -- a lot to consider when choosing the type of experience. Most Australian universities, if not all, will offer a range to look at. You can look at year-long, two-semester exchange programs where you go abroad to a partner university and in return they send one of their students to you -- hence the name "exchange." Or you could choose a two-week faculty-led program. If it's your first time and you're a little apprehensive, going in a group of twelve peers with a faculty member to, say, Indonesia to study a particular unit might be a great way to start. Perhaps you just want to take a summer and do an internship -- some credit-bearing, some not. The range is really wide, so you can find the right thing for you.

Guest: You want to look at what's applicable to your degree and your areas of study -- how it aligns with what you're doing at university. There are also four-week programs, volunteer programs -- tons of options.

Rob: So what I'm hearing is that if you've never travelled, never had a passport, never left the country, and you're a bit nervous, you can potentially do a short-term experience accompanied by an academic from your faculty -- right through to, if you're confident and well-travelled, disappearing for six months or a year. The qualifier I think is important: you mentioned credit-bearing versus non-credit-bearing. Can you explain what that means?

Guest: For most programs, students will want to do credit-bearing, which means what you're doing abroad counts towards your degree requirements -- it counts for one of the units you're studying and goes on your transcript. Some programs may be non-credit-bearing, which means you're doing it more for the experience. It's still great for a resume, but it doesn't count towards your degree. The majority of the programs students do are going to be for credit. And it's important to know that because a lot of the funding available has requirements -- it often has to be a credit-bearing program. So bear in mind that the majority of experiences will count towards your degree.

Guest: And we see students doing multiple experiences here at the university. They'll start with a two-week language course and then decide, "Wow, that was great -- I might try four weeks in another country," or "That made me fall in love with this country -- I'd love to try a semester there." Students dabble in a few different options sometimes, which is fabulous to see.

Choosing a destination and what to consider

Rob: A quick note, folks: Sydney has one of the most extensive ranges of offerings, but every university offers different types of programs. A quick Google search for "student exchange at University X" will usually pull up a study abroad or learning abroad website where you can see the options available at each institution -- semester exchange, short-term study tours, internships, volunteering. That's how you find out what might suit you. Before we get to funding -- and I really want to cover that -- can we talk about destinations? The world is big. Where can people go, and how do you decide?

Guest: Where to go is a hard one because the range of options can feel almost limitless. At the University of Sydney we have over 250 partners globally. You want to look at what an institution offers in terms of locations, but you're really going to be considering things like: am I someone who likes winter and heavy snow? Well, Finland in December might not be right for you. Or if you hate the heat, Mexico in July might not appeal -- or maybe it does, maybe you want to get out of your comfort zone and try it for two weeks. Start looking at the nitty-gritty of places.

Guest: I would also say: be flexible. With semester exchanges, for example, you're often asked to list a few different preferences, which means that if you don't get your first preference, you might still go to your second preference location. And really consider what's driving you. Maybe it's a language you're after, even if you're not studying languages. Maybe you're a biomedical student with a fascination with Italian and a 400-day Duolingo streak -- that might be where you start. Maybe you have family connections in a particular country. Take a pen and paper and start putting down your thoughts.

Guest: The most valuable tip is to be as open and as flexible as possible. This is supposed to be an opportunity to go somewhere new. If you always travel to Fiji with your family on holidays, do you want to do that again, or would you be open to trying something vastly different?

Rob: Can you name-drop a couple of destination universities -- the well-known ones -- that students could go to as part of an international study experience?

Guest: We have what we call our super partners -- institutions where we have a lot more active engagement and aim to send hundreds of students per year. The University of Edinburgh, for example, the National University of Singapore, the University of Toronto -- there are quite a few top-notch institutions in that list. And we also have Reykjavik University in Iceland. You can go to Iceland! I know some students will say all they ever wanted was to see the Northern Lights -- that was enough to sell them on going to one of those Nordic countries. You just have to figure out what you want your story to be.

Funding your overseas study: scholarships, grants, and loans

Rob: Let's talk money, and we've got about five minutes left. Let's hone in on how people can actually pay for this. Can you take us through the different scholarship and funding opportunities?

Guest: Finances are super important -- we know how much it means to have the right financial backing to make these experiences happen. Whether it's two weeks abroad or four to five months, there are generous scholarships available across Australian institutions. Not just the University of Sydney -- other institutions will have a range as well. This can include the university offering its own grants and scholarships, some merit-based and some based on financial need. There's also New Colombo Plan funding offered through the Australian Government, specifically for Asian and Indo-Pacific destinations. And we have OS-HELP loans -- these are loans, not grants, so you do pay them back if you're a Commonwealth-supported student. But these are all wonderful tools to make affording these experiences easier.

Guest: Some students, if they stack the funding a certain way, can really make it go a long way and have much less coming out of their own pocket. That said, the expectation should be that you'll still likely contribute some of your own money. These things help to subsidise the experience, but they don't always cover it entirely. So be prepared to save some money, work those summers, and build a buffer -- you never know if you'll end up doing additional trips or need to spend more because of unexpected costs like textbooks. Having your financial house in order is really important, and this is why talking about it now matters, so you can see what it might look like for you. Every location will look a little different: Mexico is a lot cheaper than, say, living in France with the euro. So consider location and time spent abroad.

Guest: To be fair, most students who do blow the budget do so because they've gone and travelled more, seen more places, and spent more time with people -- not on day-to-day costs. Which is a great reason to overspend.

Rob: I'm going to put links down in the description to things like the OS-HELP loan scheme. For local Australian students, you can borrow -- what's the figure now?

Guest: It's a little over $8,400 under the standard loan, and just over $10,000 for the Asia-specific OS-HELP loan.

Rob: So if you've come from a background where you have no money and think you could never do this -- here's what you can do. You can do a New Colombo Plan-funded program. You can take an OS-HELP loan, which you pay back as part of your HELP debt -- it's an interest-free loan of up to $10,000. You can literally do this without a dollar in your bank account right now. That kind of money gets you into an Asian institution for around six months. If you play it smart and figure out how to make the funding work, it's fantastic. The New Colombo Plan semester grants can be $10,000 to $15,000, and the short-term mobility grants range from $3,000 to $4,000, depending on the institution and program. These are substantial amounts of money, and it's wonderful that Australian universities are putting forward these funds for their students.

Rob: The peak of all of this -- if you really want to look for the pinnacle experience -- is the New Colombo Plan Scholarship. This is a very special program, and the details are down in the session description below. You can get a scholarship of up to $110,000 to help you go and study in the Indo-Pacific for up to 19 months. It is absolutely mind-blowing. It's not for everyone, but it is literally the most extraordinary opportunity for Australian university students, and you must look at it.

Where to start: the REACT framework

Rob: It's been so good having you here at the National Virtual Expo. I wish we could go on and on about this. Thank you so much for joining me.

Guest: Can I finish with one last thing -- one little tip? Because I put this together knowing our audience might be thinking, "Okay, so what do I do? Where do I start?" I just wanted to leave you with one word: REACT. Research, Engage, Act, Commit, and Thrive. It depicts the journey you'd be taking, so instead of feeling overwhelmed by the whole process, think of it in five simple steps.

Guest: Research: start by really understanding your degree and your options. Look into partner universities, locations, and what fits best for you. The more research you do now, the more confident your decisions will be later. Engage: show up. Go to the information sessions, attend webinars, ask questions, and actually use the resources available to you -- don't just scan. Get involved and stay informed. Act: make a plan and start moving. Know your deadlines, figure out your finances, and map out what needs to happen next -- then follow through. This is where ideas turn into real progress. Commit: at some point you've got to back yourself. Submit your applications, organise your documents, and lock things in. This is the shift from "I might do this" to "I'm doing this." And Thrive: finally, embrace the experience. Be open to new cultures, new people, and new ways of thinking. Things might not always go exactly to plan, as we mentioned earlier, and that's okay. Adapt, say yes to opportunities, and make the most of it. When it feels like a lot, just come back to Research, Engage, Act, Commit, Thrive -- REACT. That's my final word of the day.

Rob: Thank you so much, Amy, for joining me at the National Virtual Expo.

Guest: Thanks, Rob.