How to Find a Partner University
We know you're excited to find out where you can go — but before you dive into searching for a partner university, it’s important to understand how the Semester Exchange program works.
As part of your exchange, you'll need to choose 3 or 4 Swinburne units (37.5 credit points or 50 credit points) per semester to study overseas.
A great starting point is downloading your Course Planner, which outlines the structure of your degree and helps you identify which units would be best to take abroad. If you're unsure how your course is structured or want advice on rearranging your units (for example, grouping all your electives into one semester), we recommend speaking with booking a session with an Enrolment Specialist at StudentHQ.
Step 1: Understand Your Course & Unit
Step 1: Understand Your Course & Unit
Before choosing a university, make sure you:
Understand which units are available and suitable to take on exchange.
Know how to be flexible with your course structure if needed.
Familiarise yourself with how to complete an Exchange Study Plan, which maps the Swinburne units you’ll be replacing with equivalent units from your chosen partner university.
Need help? Check out our Study Plan guidelines (Step 6) for step-by-step instructions.
Also, keep in mind that credit systems vary between universities and countries, so double-check the credit equivalence table (Step 5) to make sure your study load overseas will match Swinburne’s requirements.
Step 2: Consider the Colour Category System
Step 2: Consider the Colour Category System
When picking your top 3 partner universities for a semester exchange, you must take into consideration the colour category system of our exchange partner universities.
This system demonstrates the availability and popularity of each destination:
🟢 Green: High availability – you are more likely to secure a place here.
🟡 Yellow: Moderate availability – popular but may have more places available compared to those in the red category.
🔴 Red: Highly competitive, with very limited or no places available.
If you select a partner with a Red or Yellow category as your first preference, your second and third preferences must be Yellow or Green. This helps ensure you have realistic and achievable backup options.
Note: The colour category of each partner university may change with each application round, depending on demand and capacity. Last updated June 2025.
Step 3: Use the Partner University by Study Area Guide
Step 3: Use the Partner University by Study Area Guide
Use the links below to browse potential partner universities by Swinburne study area. This resource is especially useful if you need to take core units on exchange. If you’re planning to take all electives, you’ll have more flexibility when choosing where to go.
⚠️ Important: This tool is a guide only- it’s not always accurate or up to date.
Partner university offerings, requirements and course availability can change frequently. You’ll still need to research course offerings at your shortlisted universities to check current eligibility on our partner university website, and confirm a good academic match.
Step 4: Learn More & Apply
Step 4: Learn More & Apply
Once you’ve found a few good options:
Check for eligibility requirements for specific partner universities (some may require a higher GPA, specific majors, or language proficiency)
Check their academic calendars and available course offerings.
Make sure the location, lifestyle, and overall cost of living align with your needs.
When you're ready, read through the rest of our website for full details on the application process, deadlines, and make sure to register for an upcoming information session — or watch a recorded version if you can’t make it live.
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