Study Abroad and Exchange
If you are joining the University as a Study Abroad or Exchange student in 2024, you're in the right place!
Accessibility support
If you need help with any part of your enrolment due to disability, you can register with our Accessibility service. Assistance is available to help complete the on-campus process and for support throughout your studies.
Let's get started! Read through the instructions below to start your time at Macquarie.
Checklist
Your Study Abroad and Exchange journey at Macquarie
Follow this checklist to complete your enrolment.
STEP 1
| Find your Student ID |
| Activate your Student ID |
| Choose your units for your Exchange program |
| Enrol into your units |
| Access your unit content |
STEP 2
| Understand Macquarie terminology |
STEP 3
| Book your accommodation |
| Check Smartraveler for travel advice |
| Book a free airport pickup |
| Purchase an Opal card |
| Order your Campus Card |
Step 1
Unit enrolment and class registrations
Follow these instructions to activate Macquarie systems and enrol successfully.
Find your Student ID
Received a letter of offer from Macquarie? Your 8-digit student ID is at the top of your offer letter. You'll need this to activate Macquarie systems and enrol.
Activate your Student ID
If you are a new student at Macquarie University, you will need to activate your Student ID before you can access Macquarie University systems. Click on the button below to activate your Student ID.
Login to your student email via gmail.com. You will receive your email address when completing your First time log in.
If you have issues with your First time login or your access to any Macquarie system, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Choose your units for your exchange program
If you are an Exchange student, you can enrol into units that are not on the Restricted Units List.
Undergraduate students can enrol into 1000 – 3000 level units.
Postgraduate students can enrol into 8000 – 9000 level units.
Use the Unit Guide and Course Handbook to look for units you would like to enrol into and check if the unit has prerequisites.
If the unit has prerequisites, you will need to apply for a prerequisite waiver via the Special Approval process.
Refer to the Application process page on how to apply for a prerequisite waiver via AskMQ. You may also watch this tutorial video for more guidance.
Enrol into your units
Once you have received your prerequisite waivers, log on to your eStudent portal to add the units onto your Study Plan and enrol.
When you login to eStudent for the first time, you will be required to set-up multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA will be required to log in to eStudent when you are not on the campus network. Find out more and how to set up multi-factor authentication for MQ systems.
Remember that all Study Abroad and Exchange students must be enrolled in 3 to 4 units per session.
Refer to the Visa Conditions webpage for important enrolment information.
Check out our eStudent video tutorial series.
Check out our eStudent video tutorial series.
Access your unit content
Log into iLearn and access information on where to get support from your Faculty as well as your learning materials for each of your units.
Step 2
Understand Macquarie Terminology
These terms will be useful to navigate your way through the enrolment process.
Course | As a Study Abroad or Exchange student, you will be admitted into one of the following four programs:
This will appear in your eStudent account. You will enrol into your units under these programs. |
Handbook | The Handbook is an important tool that sets out all the units available for study, and their prerequisites. |
Faculty | The University is divided into four key subject areas called faculties. Every degree falls under one of the four faculties. To see what faculty in which a degree falls, visit the Handbook.
|
Credit | Each unit is worth a specified number of credit points. Most units are worth 10 credit points. |
Unit | A unit is a subject studied within a course. Most units are worth 10 credit points. The letters represent the subject area of the unit and can be found in the Handbook. The first number represents the year level and level of understanding required for this unit. For example, AHIS1120 Latin A, is a 1000 level unit for Ancient Languages. Upon the successful completion of this unit, you will have the knowledge to attempt higher level units. For example, AHIS2120 Latin B. |
Prerequisite | A requirement that must be met for you to enrol in a unit. |
Special Approval (Waiver) | If there is a unit you would like to take for which you believe you meet the prerequisites, but do not have approval from Macquarie yet, you can request for a waiver of the prerequisite. Read up on how you can submit a special approval (waiver request) via AskMQ. |
Session | The academic year is divided into sessions. Session 2: Second half of the year (July to December) |
Study load | All Study Abroad and Exchange students must be enrolled in a full-time study load (between 30 to 40 credit points per session). |
Attendance mode | Refer to the Handbook for a description of the attendance modes for units. There will be either in-person or online. As an international student, you can study up to one-third of your course online. Refer to the Visa Conditions webpage for important enrolment information. |
Weighted Average Mark (WAM) | Your WAM is an average of all the marks achieved in all units of your course and is a mark out of 100. |
Step 3
What to do before/upon arrival in Sydney
Check out the information below to guide your travel to Australia!
Make sure to make your accommodation arrangements prior to arriving in Sydney. Visit our Accommodation page to explore available on and off campus options.
Check smart traveller and before leaving home travel advice.
Book Macquarie’s Airport pickup service from Sydney Airport to your accommodation in Sydney.
Get an Opal card , which will allow you to travel on public transport in Sydney. Please note that international tertiary students are generally not entitled to concession fares in NSW.
Visit our Campus card page to learn how to obtain one. This will take approximately 3 weeks and be sent to your Australian address you provided on your eStudent profile.