Information for Faculty and Staff

What is a reciprocal exchange?

A reciprocal exchange is where two or more universities have decided to allow students to pay tuition fees to their home university and then study courses at the host university without paying tuition fees to the host. Students may not be attending the partner university at the same time of the same duration, but the goal is to have the same number of EFTS hosted by both partners over the duration of the exchange agreement.

How do staff refer to exchange students?

Students are either:

  • Inbound (being hosted by Victoria University of Wellington) or
  • Outbound (going overseas as part of their degree studies at Victoria University of Wellington).

What is the difference between Study Abroad and Exchange at Victoria University of Wellington?

In the most basic terms, Study Abroad involves international fee-paying students who may be associated with another university or specialised international study provider and Exchange involves only students from universities with an established reciprocal student exchange agreement. Students attending the University via either of these pathways are enrolled in the Certificate of Proficiency (COP) qualification and receive support from Wellington University International as an international student. Exchanges are for a maximum of one year and are always for course work.

What international universities are we exchange partners with?

Victoria University of Wellington is has active exchange agreements with over 135 universities in 34 countries/territories around the world. Please take a look at the full list on our Partner Universities web page.

How do new student exchange agreements get established?

Proposal process

Any proposed new student exchange agreement must gain prior approval by the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (International). This involves the proposing Victoria University of Wellington School/Programme and Faculty completing the new agreement proposal form, and submitting it to student-exchange@vuw.ac.nz for assessment.

Proposal review

The Wellington Global Exchange Office will review the proposal to check that all parts are complete. It is the responsibility of the initiating Victoria University of Wellington School/Programme and Faculty to complete the proposal form.  If more information is required, the WGE Office will request it.

Memo to Assistant Vice-Chancellor (International)

The WGE Office will draft a memo to the AVC (International) providing comments for/against the proposed agreement.

Once approved

Once the AVC (International) approves the agreement, the WGE Office will advise the academic parties involved and the WGE office will liaise with the new exchange partner to draft and sign the agreement.

Finalising the agreement

Once the agreement has been approved by both parties (this can take months!), one of the parties will draft up two copies of the agreement and start the signing process.