Sydney, Australia
Macquarie University

ACCEPTANCE AND PLACEMENT
All exchange program applications will be reviewed by a panel, and qualified candidates will be interviewed by the placement committee soon after the application deadline.  When the number of students requesting placement at a partner institution overseas exceeds the number of positions available, a competitive selection process occurs.  Some candidates may be asked to consider a site that they did not request but which may nevertheless meet their scholastic needs; others may be placed at their second and third choice sites.  Some applications may be declined.

Because Southern Miss’s exchange programs are reciprocal in nature, the number of positions available at each partner site depends, in part, on the number of students Southern Miss will host from that institution during the same time period.  All candidates will be notified of their status as soon as possible following the completion of the interviews.  Those accepted for participation are required to attend a series of orientation sessions designed to assist students with administrative procedures, and to prepare them for life in a different culture and educational system.

While grades are an important criterion in the selection of candidates, they are not the only factor.  In examining grades, for example, the committee notes the kind of courses taken and the consistency of achievement.  Other factors include the applicants motivation and degree of commitment, desire to gain an understanding of global issues, and the kind of representative s/he will be for Southern Miss abroad.  Group characteristics (regarding academic classification and field of study) may also be considered, as may also be considered, as may the suitability of the candidate’s scholastic interests and background to her or his program of study abroad.  Decisions made the committee are, additionally, based on a qualitative determination about the candidate’s ability to be productive in, and benefit from, the host university environment.  Final enrollment decisions will be made by program directors at Southern Miss and the host university.

COMMITMENT
Because exchange programs depend on a balance of students exchanging places between Southern Miss and its partner universities abroad, applicants must be committed to participating for the full duration of the program.  We therefore ask that you carefully consider your personal, financial and academic circumstances – and how your program of study abroad might affect these – before making the decision to apply.

You will almost certainly have questions relating to these considerations.  Don’t hesitate to contact the staff of International Programs for assistance on any aspect involving your exchange.  We are experienced in working with academic and service departments at Southern Miss, and in advising students on how to incorporate their study-abroad program given their own individual circumstances.

WITHDRAWAL
Once you have been accepted into an exchange program, you will be asked to sign a statement of commitment, declaring your intention to participate for the full length of the program.  Withdrawal after this statement has been submitted for any reason other than an emergency may result in partial tuition/fees forfeiture.

Note:   Southern Miss exchange participants are required to inform their advisors or major department chairs about their credit-abroad program prior to departure from the U.S.  These faculty members may have special instructions regarding coursework undertaken abroad and should be consulted at the earliest opportunity.

back