Learning abroad

Fully immerse yourself in a new culture by spending a semester or two studying overseas.

Choose to study 1-2 semesters overseas at one of CDU's partner universities and earn credit points towards your degree. You'll get to explore a different part of the world, enhance your career goals and broaden your university experience.

During your semester abroad you'll continue to earn full credit points towards your CDU degree and won't need to pay tuition fees to your host university. Instead, you'll continue to pay your normal CDU tuition fees and will have access to great financial support options to help cover the cost of travel and living expenses.

To find out more, contact the Learning Abroad team or learn how to apply for a semester abroad below.

Learning Abroad

cduglobalengagement@cdu.edu.au

Fast track your degree and get a global perspective on your studies when you take part in a short term program overseas.

Short term programs run for 2-4 weeks and are a great opportunity for students who may not be able to take a whole semester off to study abroad.

There are generous funding opportunities to support your international travel while studying.

Types of programs on offer:

• Summer/Winter Schools: Generally 2-4 weeks at a partner university to earn credit for one unit at CDU. Often, you'll engage with industry experts to work on real-world problems while you learn. You'll also get to study with students from universities all around the world and have the opportunity to build great connections.
• College Led Programs: Generally 2-4 weeks overseas with a group of CDU students and a staff member.
• Internships: Varying in length, internships with approved companies may be available to students.

CIS Australia
CDU partners with CIS Australia to offer a range of short-term programs to students. From Japan and England to USA and Europe, check out the range of programs available.   

To discuss your short term program options and find out how to apply, please contact the Learning Abroad team:

Learning Abroad

cduglobalengagement@cdu.edu.au

The ISFEPS is a distinguished scholarship program, funded by INPEX Scholarship Foundation (ISF), offering three outstanding Australian undergraduate students at Charles Darwin University (CDU) the chance to embark on a one-semester exchange program at one of the following of CDU's esteemed partner institutions in Japan: 

• Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. 
• Kyoto University 
• Kanazawa University 
• Doshisha University

The scholarship, is valued at $10,000 (approx.) includes:

• Return economy class air tickets between Darwin or Alice Springs and Tokyo
• Monthly  stipend of $1000AUD (approx.) for up to 7 months
• Public transportation fare between Tokyo and the host university
• Overseas student insurance
• Japanese language lessons prior to departure

View the Terms and Conditions document below to learn more about the eligibility requirements and terms and conditions.

For more information or to discuss your application please contact cduglobalengagement@cdu.edu.au.

Terms and conditions

Applications close Friday 1 November.

Apply Now

Commencing in 2022, the INPEX Scholarship Foundation has expanded its focus to include Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Scholarships will be offered to promising Indonesian, Australian and UAE students who wish to study a Postgraduate university course in Japan. The Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships for 2025 under the following program.

Eligibility guidelines

To be eligible for this scholarship all of the following conditions must be satisfied:

• Those who have the nationality of the Commonwealth of Australia and are less than 30 years of age at the time of the submission of the application, and have an Undergraduate Degree from an Australian university with at least 16 years of school education and tertiary education, or equivalent academic background.
• Those who have the aim to study and research a course of Natural Science or Cultural Science or Social Science in a Master’s program at a Japanese university, and were permitted or are expected to be permitted to enter the university.
• Those who have excellent results of their studies at the university (cumulative GPA of undergraduate: more than 3 on a scale of 4 or more than 5 on a scale of 7).
• Those who have been permitted to receive the scholarship of the Foundation by their belonging institutes, universities or companies.
• Those who have interest in the friendly relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and Japan and are prepared to contribute to the promotion of such relations.
• Those who had not or have not been awarded similar scholarships in Japan for the Program.

For further information, refer to the 2025 Scholarship Application Guidelines or visit the INPEX webpage.

2025 Scholarship Application Guidelines

How to apply

Applicants must complete the application for scholarship form, along with a photograph (standard graphics format such as jpg, pdf, gif) taken within the last six months, shoulders and above without a hat, and email to isf-foundation@inpex.co.jp.

Applications close Thursday31 October.

Apply now

OS-HELP is a deferred HELP loan for Australian students who are enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place and wish to study abroad.

In 2024, the maximum you can borrow for a six-month study period is:

• $9,504 if you study in Asia; plus an extra $1,263 if you do Asian language study in preparation for study in Asia, or;
• $9,504 if you do not study in Asia.

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program is an Australian Government initiative that aims to strengthen knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia. It encourages people-to-people and institutional relationships through study and work placement.

Scholarship recipients must undertake a study program (for at least one semester, but this can be up to two semesters in duration) for which they will receive credit at their home university (CDU).

The program also includes relevant language studies and internship/mentorship components.

To apply, send an expression of interest to globalengagement@cdu.edu.au.

Visit Australian Government International Education for a list of other government/institution scholarships you may be eligible for.

You can use the Hobsons Coursefinder as a search engine for Higher Education Research scholarship support.

To apply for a semester abroad (one or two semesters) at a partner university, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Undergraduate students need to have achieved a minimum of 60 CDU credit points before the semester abroad begins
• Postgraduate students need to have achieved a minimum of 40 CDU credit points before the Semester Abroad begins
• Demonstrate a satisfactory academic record
• You must return to CDU with 10 CDU credit points remaining
• Study a full-time load (equivalent of minimum 30 CDU credit points) whilst abroad.

Once you know you meet the criteria, contact the Learning Abroad team to start your application.

Learning Abroad

cduglobalengagement@cdu.edu.au

The outcome of your learning abroad application is dependent on:

• you meeting the eligibility criteria
• your credit transfer being approved by your faculty
• availability of places at the host institution.

The final decision on acceptance into an exchange program rests with the host university.

Here's a rundown of how credit points at CDU compare to universities in other parts of the world.

40 CDU credit points are equivalent to:

USA = approx. 12-15 Credits

Europe = approx. 30 ECTS

Canada = approx. 15 Credits

Japan = approx. 15 Credits

UK = approx. 60 Credits or 30 ECTS

*Other regions do not have universal credit point systems. Refer to each host university's website to determine the full-time load at that university.

You can choose from a huge range of units to study overseas, as long as you have your unit choices approved by your CDU course coordinator before departure. This is to make sure that your units will count towards your CDU course.

Some universities specialise in particular areas. We encourage you to research the universities that you are considering to find out which one best suits your area of study. You also need to check whether the units that you're interested in are being taught in English in the semester that you wish to study overseas.

As a guide, it's easier to apply for credit for elective units rather than core or specialist units. If you do wish to take a core or specialist unit, you will need to print out all the documentation and take it to your course coordinator to assess.

If you are applying for a place with one of our partner universities, you need to stay enrolled at CDU. The Learning Abroad team will advise on the equivalent CDU units to enrol in. You can do this by submitting a Higher Education Enrolment Form.

When enrolled, you can pay the fees or submit an online HECS-HELP Form as usual through MyStudentInfo.

Students who travel overseas on official university activities, such as learning abroad programs, are covered by the University's corporate travel insurance policy. This cover is limited to the duration of your University activities and allows two days of cover getting to and from the set destination.

To activate the University's travel insurance, students must submit and have approved a CDU Global Learning Abroad Agreement.

To find out what the University's travel insurance covers and does not cover before departing, and organise additional personal travel insurance if required, please read CDU’s Travel Policy.

The Australian Passport Office offers advice and information about applying for an Australian passport. If you already have an Australian passport, check that is has a minimum of six months validity.

A visa permits you to enter a country for a particular purpose. As consular rules are always changing, we can't advise on visas. It is your responsibility to check with the appropriate consulate about visa requirements before leaving Australia.

Smartraveller is a great source of information for all travellers and is provided by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

• Valid passport
• Current visa
• Letter of offer/admission from the host university
• Address and contact details of the host university
• Insurance documentation
• At least AUD$500 or equivalent in cash
• Other official identification such as your driver’s license
• Any medical records (particularly of immunisations) and any necessary medical prescriptions
• Appropriate clothing
• Personal items such as special medications and copies of prescriptions, camera, personal computer/laptop.

• Check the validity of your passport; you must renew your passport if it has less than six months validity remaining
• Apply for the appropriate visas using the letter of offer/admission issued to you
• Read and understand the conditions of your visa
• Complete the CDU Movement Request for International University Travel and have it approved as instructed
• Obtain a copy of CDU’s Business Travel Insurance with the emergency contact number
• Book flights and arrange any additional travel insurance required
• Subscribe to SmartTraveller to receive travel advice for your destination. 
• Arrange for immunisations, medications and request copies of any medical records from your doctor (if applicable)
• Arrange access to sufficient funds and credit card
• Organise accommodation
• Provide primary and secondary emergency contact details in Australia
• Familiarise yourself with CDU’s Code of Conduct - Students.

• Phone or email home to let them know you've arrived
• Register your arrival with the International Office at your host university
• Get to know where you will live and how to get to the campus, shops etc
• Open a bank account
• Attend any orientation or welcome activities organised by your host university.