Preparing to go

All students going on exchange must attend a full-day pre-departure session organised by the 360 International team. This will typically be scheduled during the study break before exams commence.

Pre-departure will cover a range of topics, including enrolment, culture shock, and risk management during your time abroad, and is designed to help you prepare for your exchange and meet other students and exchange alumni.

We will email you more information leading up to your scheduled session.

You must have faculty approval, with courses approved for cross-credit, prior to exchange as part of supporting documentation. Submit at least one completed course approval to 360 International by the deadline advised. You can continue to obtain and submit new course approvals after the deadline as needed.

Once you’ve been accepted by the host university and submitted your Course Approval form, 360 International will enrol you in the Approved Exchange course which indicates to the University that you are on exchange. You are enrolled in 45 to 75 points while on exchange, and your enrolment points is the maximum number of points you can credit back. Your tuition fees are generated by your enrolment points. At your host university, you are still required to complete a standard full-time course load, even if you may be transferring back an equivalent of fewer points. You are responsible for enrolling in courses at the host university.

If eligible for student loan and/or student allowance support during your exchange, you will need to complete the Overseas Study Application Form for StudyLink.

Once you have been accepted by the host university and enrolled into the approved exchange course at the University of Auckland, 360 International can complete part two of the form. It is your responsibility to submit your completed form to StudyLink via the StudyLink Connect portal. We will also email part two of the form to the IRD.

Participants of the 360 International Exchange programme are not covered under the University funded travel insurance. You are responsible for purchasing adequate travel and medical insurance for the duration of your overseas study programme and any associated travel. You must also follow any host university insurance requirements, including purchasing the compulsory host university insurance if applicable.

Travel and medical insurance must be in place from the date you leave until you return to New Zealand. Please note that many host university insurance policies will be for general medical care only and will not provide the range of coverage that a travel insurance policy will cover. You may need to take out additional travel insurance as well. It is common for students going to certain countries, such as Canada, the United States of America, Japan and Korea, to have two insurance policies - personal travel insurance and the host university's compulsory health insurance. 

The Studentsafe Outbound is an example of a comprehensive insurance policy that is recommended for exchange students. University of Auckland students can get a discount with the code 360OSE. Note that many insurance policies do not provide coverage for claims related to pandemics or epidemics, however there are some policies such as the Studentsafe Outbound that provide limited coverage for Covid-19 and you should read the insurance policy carefully. Generally, exclusions for Covid-19 cover include claims arising from any lockdowns, changes in government alert levels, border closures or quarantine. For more information, please check out the Covid-19 section of the Insurance Council of New Zealand website.

• You are responsible for getting the necessary visas and/or permits for the country in which you will be studying, as your exchange is conditional upon being granted the relevant visa/permit.
• Research the host university’s exchange or international student website, and the relevant embassy or consulate website. 
• Please be aware that some countries may require travel to the nearest embassy or consulate of your host country, which could be in Wellington or Canberra in Australia.
  
• Allow plenty of time for your visas and/or permits to be processed. Once your visa is confirmed then your exchange is truly confirmed.
  
• 360 International can’t advise you about immigration requirements. Contact the relevant embassy or consulate for more information.

• For housing options and estimated housing costs, check the host university website and partner university fact sheets.
• Follow the host university’s instructions when applying for accommodation, as there may be deadlines or limitations. You may need to apply for accommodation during the application process before you’ve been officially accepted.
  
• Many host universities offer student housing but can't guarantee it for all exchange students. Have a back up plan and research rental options in the area.
• Do not make any financial commitments prior to receiving your acceptance letter and confirmation of your exchange being able to proceed. If necessary, this should only be undertaken if refundable.
  
• Contact your host university exchange office for more information. 

We advise you to wait to purchase your airline tickets until you’ve received an official letter of acceptance from the host university. We strongly recommend you purchase return flights and flexible fares that enable you to make changes if necessary. If you do not purchase return flights, please note that insurers will not likely cover costs in the event a traveler needs to return home unexpectedly before the end of their programme.

Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, travel advisories and public health advisories at home and abroad can change at any time and at short notice, so please be prepared to make changes accordingly.

Please note, travel will only be permitted between countries rated at an Alert Level 1 or 2 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Travel, upon departure from New Zealand. Please be sure to review the travel advisories for your intended destination on the Safe Travel site well in advance of any planned travel, and in the lead up to your departure.

Registering your Travel

You are required to provide details of your travel plans, including your flight itinerary for your travel to and from your host country, and any personal travel you plan to take outside your host city during your exchange. The form to register your travel will be sent to you and your travel registration form must be submitted to 360 International at least two weeks prior to departure.

The University’s emergency response provider, Healix International, will monitor global security incidents and may contact you in the event of any incidents in your host country. It is essential that you confirm your safety if contacted by Healix. We also encourage you to download the Healix Travel Oracle app prior to departure. Please note however that in the event of an emergency, you must contact your insurance provider in the first instance, as students participating in the 360 International Semester Exchange programme are not covered under the University’s corporate travel insurance policy for assistance from Healix.

All New Zealand citizens must also register their travel on the Safe Travel website, in addition to registering travel with the University. Non-New Zealand citizens should register travel with the equivalent site for their country of citizenship.

It is your responsibility to update your current contact details, your current address and next of kin emergency contact details for the period you are overseas on Student Services Online. You must also notify your host university of these details. 

Your host university will communicate orientation details to you. Orientation attendance is mandatory at some universities, but we strongly recommend that you attend even if not required, as this is a great way to meet other students and familarise yourself with your host university. Some universities charge an orientation fee and it’s your responsibility to pay this on time and directly to the host university.

As a student ambassador on exchange, you can share insights to your experience and what it’s like to navigate a new environment. Applications for bloggers will be announced during the pre-departure session. To read past students’ experiences, you can check out the 360 International blog!

If you have any questions, or if there is anything that our team can help with to make your overseas study experience just a little less daunting, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re here to help and want to ensure your exchange experience is as smooth as possible!