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Short Term Options

Like the idea of studying abroad, but not sure about committing to a full university course straightaway?

If you’d like to get a taste of studying at university in Australia or New Zealand, rather than enrolling on a full degree, you can study for four, or for eight, months with Tester Semester or on Exchange.

Tester Semester

Tester Semester allows you to enrol at an Australian or New Zealand university for one or two semesters (terms). What can you study? That’s up to you! You get to choose what you want to study while you are there. Courses from different academic schools are available, and you can combine subjects in any way you like.

Tester Semester requires you to take three or four courses per semester. If you want to get involved in lots of extracurricular activities at university – sport, travelling, student clubs and societies and so forth – you might go for three courses, to ensure that you have a lighter workload and therefore time to do everything else. If you are using it as a trial run for university, or you need to use your academic credits toward a degree in the UK or elsewhere, you might prefer to take four.

Click here for Tester Semester Courses
Click here to read a selection of student stories

Why take Tester Semester?

Tester Semester allows you to add overseas study to your list of life experiences. It will give academic (as well as geographical) breadth to your studies, as you’ll have the chance to take courses that might not typically be offered in the UK, or which are taught from a different, fresh, perspective.

Tester Semester also provides all the benefits of studying abroad – the chance to experience a different culture and lifestyle; to travel and try new things; to develop your initiative and self-confidence; to give your CV a point of difference – without you having to commit to doing a whole qualification overseas.

It’s a great option for anyone who loves sport. Whether you are into running, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, netball, rowing, swimming, athletics or cycling, during a Tester Semester you’ll get the chance to experience great facilities, a sports-mad culture, a climate that’s conducive to being outside a lot and training methods considered among the world’s best, all at the same time as studying.

Outside of the extra-curricular, Tester Semester is a valuable opportunity to experience study at university level and to try out different academic subjects, before you commit to a full degree.

Who can take a Tester Semester?

1. Gap year students

Tester Semester can form part of a gap year after leaving school. The flexibility of Tester Semester, which allows you to take a wide variety of courses from different areas of the university, means it is a great way to try out different degree subjects, but it is also a great chance to see how you get on with university more generally.

If, during your Tester Semester, you find you love studying overseas and want to stay to complete a degree, it’s straightforward to convert to a full degree programme (this is something Study Options can help you with).

If you decide you’d rather come back and enrol at a UK university, you will be returning home having amassed experiences and insights during your university term overseas that should serve you well going forward, in other university applications, job applications and life in general!

2. Current university students looking for an alternative to Exchange

If your home university does not have an exchange agreement with the university you want to study at in Australia or New Zealand, you can use Tester Semester as a direct alternative to Exchange as a means of studying abroad during your UK degree.

This means planning your overseas study carefully to make sure you will be able to take your academic credits back to your UK degree.

The Practicalities

How much does it cost?

In Australia, tuition fees range from A$5,900 to $16,000 per semester while in New Zealand they range from NZ$12,000 – NZ$13,500 per semester.

When would I go?

The academic year in the southern hemisphere runs from February to November. Tester Semester is available to take in semester 1 (February through to June), and in semester 2 (July – November) though not all courses may be available in S2. Contact Study Options to discuss your eligibility.

Do I have to leave the country as soon as the term ends?

No. Your Australian or New Zealand student visa will allow some time after finishing to stay and travel if you want to.

How do I apply?

Through Study Options. Please click here for full details. If you have any questions or you’d like to discuss, please contact us.

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Exchange

Exchange programmes are only open to students currently enrolled at UK universities that have formal exchange agreements with New Zealand and Australian universities.

The advantages of participating in an exchange are, first, that you will continue to pay your usual tuition fees to your UK university for the overseas study, so there are no extra tuition fees to budget for. Second, there will be an established cross-crediting arrangement set in place already, so transferring credit back to your UK degree should be straightforward.

The disadvantages are that you may be limited in your choice of overseas destinations, as you can only apply to universities that your UK university has a formal exchange contract with. Places can also be limited, and therefore competitive. Universities can only send as many students out on exchange as they receive in return. This can mean that even if a university has lots of agreements in place, it might only have a few places available on each. Check this carefully! If you want to apply for exchange programme you would do so through your UK university. Most students go on exchange in their second year of undergraduate study.