Written by Charlotte Penhall
So you have just been sent an email from your Course Director about international school programs that you can attend as part of your degree – you want to go, but have no idea what to do.
As someone who just got back from one such trip that ran out of Liverpool in the United Kingdom for Policing, let me give you some advice on how to go about applying for these programs, what they can involve and advice from what I experienced.
Please note that I will be drawing from my trip with John Moores University in Liverpool and there may be some differences between my degree and program to other degrees and programs.
Finding out about the programs
Before you even apply to go on these international school programs, you need to decide on which one you want to go on and gather information on them.
The best places to find information about trips that have already been announced are either through your Course Director or the Overseas Opportunities page on the Current Students website for Charles Sturt.
However, for general enquiries contact our Charles Sturt Global Team.
Applying for the program
Now it is time for the fun part, applying for the program! Don’t worry though, it is not actually that difficult to apply for the program.
You will see a ‘Apply Now!’ button under the overview of the trip which will take you to this page.
Fill out your details and answer the two extra questions at the bottom of the page. Once you have done that you will see a little section wanting you to upload any supporting documents needed for the trip.
This could be things like a CV or a supporting email from one of your subject coordinators (this is fancy wording for lecturers).
Check under the eligibility tab for your program for more information on what you have to add to your application.
Now if you forget to add any of these additional documents, accidentally miss this section, or not understand adding the supporting email properly (like I did, whoops), it is okay!
Just make sure you email Charles Sturt Global about it and they will help you out.
For myself, I just had to forward my lecturer’s supporting email to another email address they gave me and everything worked out!
Now you just need to keep an eye on your emails to see if you are accepted into the program!
Passport advice
Just a quick word of advice before continuing.
Make sure you start the passport application/renal process ASAP if you don’t already have a valid passport! You cannot go overseas without it, and passports can take six weeks or more to arrive at your address. You will also probably need your parent’s full birth certificate for citizen proof.
Check the Australian Passport Office for more information. You don’t want to be left scrambling if it is not here in time.
What to do after being accepted
So you have been accepted into your chosen international school program. Congratulations! Now it is time for more of the important stuff.
Make sure:
- Your passport is valid
- You’ve organised getting VISAs if you need them
- You’ve got travel insurance
- You’ve booked flights
- The Program is all paid for
- Accommodation is organised if you’re travelling before or after the program
…and so on.
Make sure you start the process for these things as soon as you can. For some of these things, it means waiting for confirmation that the program is going ahead. The longer you leave them, the risk of either missing out, stuff not getting here in time, and prices going up, go up a lot.
Also, make sure you do research when looking at flights, insurance, and so on. Prices and inclusions can be different with different companies. Make sure you select what is right for you and be sure to ask for advice if you need help.
Another thing to do after being accepted is keep an eye on your emails. This is how your Course Director and Charles Sturt Global will contact you with updates about the trip and any additional information you may need.
This for example could be stuff about getting the OS-HELP Loan to help with expenses for the trip. If you are eligible for this loan, depending on where you are going, the amount of money you could receive will be different.
There is Part 1 of my blog done!
Be sure to follow the rest of this series to find out what your trip could look like, what I enjoyed and learnt while in Liverpool, and any final recommendations I have if you are thinking about applying.
