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FAQs

View our frequently asked questions below or contact Monash Connect for more information.

How much does it cost?

A key feature of the GIG unit is that the cost of airfares, accommodation, travel insurance and required local travel associated with the intensive overseas based field trip component of the units are covered! You will just need to pay for some food and any other personal expenses whilst you are away.

You do, however, have to pay for the unit in the same way you would for other units in your degree. The two-week immersive international learning experience provided through the Global Immersion Guarantee is equivalent to a 12 point academic unit. The unit is a Band 2 unit, which is explained in the Handbook. The fees are calculated and charged at the same level as any other Band 2, 12 point unit.

The unit fee for GIG does not include the cost of travel and accommodation over the two weeks as these costs are covered.

What costs do I need to cover?

You will be responsible for covering the costs of the following:

MON2100 tuition fee for a Band 2, 12 credit point unit;
the cost of a passport;
meals and drinks not included in the program;
medical expenses (which may be claimable via the insurance policy);
vaccinations;
transportation to and from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport;
personal expenses and spending money; and
personal travel outside of the program activities.

What will I study?

You will complete a field-work centred unit exploring the inter linkage of the environment, society and technology. Drawing on and experiencing in-country case studies as examples, you will look at the human impact on the environment and develop a deep understanding of the context of solving real world problems in sustainable development.

You will be required to complete work prior to, during and after your time overseas , which combines online and face-to-face learning and engagement. Before you go, you will undertake online lessons that will help prepare you for your time abroad, including intercultural competency, and engage with key theoretical concepts you will then have to apply in the country you are visiting. While in-country, you will attend a series of lectures and seminars, and visit a range of field sites. You will be expected to draw on these classroom and field work experiences to complete assessment tasks. After your immersion, you will be required to complete your major assessment tasks that will prompt you to reflect on your overall experience and apply the theoretical frameworks you have discussed to real world situations.

This is a 12-point unit so there is a heavy assessment load. You are required to complete all pre-departure, in-country and post-immersion assessments to pass the unit. While we want you to have fun and explore the country and all it has to offer, this is not a holiday!

Who can do the GIG?

The Global Immersion Guarantee is available to all students in the first year of their studies at Monash and are enrolled in one of the following eligible degrees.

In addition, you need to have a minimum WAM of 50 at the end of your first semester and be 18 years old at the time of departure. Please note that your participation in the unit may also be subject to a check of your general misconduct history. Where you have been found to have committed general misconduct or have general misconduct allegations pending against you, you may be removed from the unit.

When can I apply?

All students in the degrees listed above will be notified when the application opens. There are two parts to the application. The first will assess your eligibility and collect your preferences for the country and time block. The second will occur after exam results are released in July and you will need to provide additional information to support your travel, such as your passport details.

Can I transfer to another degree after my first semester and complete the GIG?

No, you must be in your first semester of your first undergraduate degree at Monash University Australia at the time of application. Refer to the eligibility website for more information.

Can I change my GIG application responses after it has been submitted?

No changes to your country ranking or available blocks can be made post submission as that would be unfair to other students. This is because country and block allocations are done on a first come, first served basis.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your country rankings and block availability is correct prior to submitting the form.

You will have an opportunity to submit a country and/or block appeal during the conditional offer period. Appeals will only be considered if you can demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Appeals based on, but not limited to, the following examples will not be considered extenuating:

you change of mind;
you want to complete the program with your friend(s);
you have volunteering or personal event or personal holiday or travel commitments; or
you have food allergies which you think limits your choice of country (note that we will ensure suitable food is available).

I am a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, is it safe for me to complete GIG?

Students who are participating in GIG should be aware that laws and social attitudes towards LGBTIQA+ people around the world can be very different from those in Australia. We work closely with each of our country partners to prioritise the safety and security of all our students whilst on the GIG program.

Leading up to departure, we provide students with a detailed briefing on local culture, customs, and laws. We also encourage all of our GIG students to prepare well and read up about their GIG destination before departure. With careful planning and research, LGBTIQA+ students can have a very successful and rewarding overseas study experience.

If you have any questions or concerns and would like to speak to someone, please contact either gigenquiries@monash.edu or Respectful Communities.

Can I choose where to go?

Countries are allocated on a first in, first served basis. The earlier you submit your application, the more likely you are to get the preferred country and block.

As part of the application you will be asked to rank the countries in order of preference, but we can’t promise that you will get your first preference. The more blocks you are available for, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate your preferred location. If there are reasons why you are unable to go to any of the countries or at particular times, there is a space in the application for you to explain that.

When will I travel and where will I stay?

The GIG unit runs in two-week intensive mode blocks each year.

The Summer in-country program offering runs from November to February and the Winter in-country program offering runs from June to July.

2024/2025 Summer Blocks

Block 1: 16^th November 2024 – 30^th November 2024
Block 2: 30^th November 2024 – 14^th December 2024
Block 3: 4^th January 2025 – 18^th January 2025
Block 4: 18^th January 2025 – 1^st February 2025

2024 Winter Block

Winter Block: 22^nd June 2024 – 6^th July 2024.

2023/2024 Summer Blocks

Block 1: 18^th November 2023 – 2^nd December 2023
Block 2: 2^nd December 2023 – 16^th December 2023
Block 3: 6^th January 2024 – 20^th January 2024
Block 4: 20^th January 2024 – 3^rd February 2024

You will fly as a group from Melbourne to your allocated country 1 to 5 days prior to the program start date and fly back to Melbourne 1 to 5 days after the program ends.

Depending on which country you travel to, you may be staying in a hotel or on a campus and you are required to stay with the group for the duration of the program.

When will I be enrolled into the unit and what is the census date?

You will be manually enrolled into MON2100 after your first semester results have been released, this is referred to as the final offer phase. As per any standard Monash unit, students can withdraw from GIG without any financial penalty prior to census. The census and important dates are noted below:

2024/2025 Summer Program

- Teaching period: Friday 18th October 2024 - Friday 14th February 2025

- Census date / 'Withdrawn early' ends: Monday 11th November 2024

- 'Withdrawn late' starts: Tuesday 12th November 2024

- 'Withdrawn fail' starts: Sunday 28th December 2024

2024 Winter program

- Teaching period: Monday 27th May - Sunday 21st July 2024

- Census date / 'Withdrawn early' ends: Friday 7th June 2024

- 'Withdrawn late' starts: Saturday 8th June 2024

- 'Withdrawn fail' starts: Saturday 29th June 2024

2023/2024 Summer Program

- Teaching period: Friday 20th October 2023 - Friday 16th February 2024

- Census date / 'Withdrawn early' ends: Monday 13th November 2023

- 'Withdrawn late' starts: Tuesday 14th November 2023

- 'Withdrawn fail' starts: Saturday 30th December 2023

All students are required to attend a compulsory pre-departure session that will be held during Swot Vac.

The 2023/2024 Summer program enrolment is considered part of the 2023 teaching period (i.e. Summer A), even if you have been allocated to a block in January 2024. You may be able to consider doing fewer units in semester 2 but will need to check to ensure this doesn’t have implications for your visa.

Only a faculty course advisor can provide you with course advice. If you are unsure about how GIG will fit into your degree, we encourage you to submit a Course Advice Request Form so that a faculty course advisor can provide this advice to you.

What is the unit and how much are the tuition fees?

The Global Immersion Guarantee unit (MON2100) is a 12 point, SCA Band 2 academic unit. The tuition fees are calculated and charged at the same level as any other SCA Band 2, 12 point humanities unit. Refer to the Course Fees website for more information.

Start-year intake students complete the program over the summer break and are enrolled into a Summer A study period. Mid-year intake students complete the program over the winter break and are enrolled into a Winter study period.

The tuition fee you’ll be charged depends on the year the teaching period starts. For example, if your teaching period starts this year, you’ll be charged at this year’s rates, even if the teaching period finishes the following year.

Will this replace other options of different overseas study?

This GIG unit is intended to complement rather than compete with the suite of Monash global mobility options currently available. By undertaking a brief overseas study experience early in your studies we believe you will develop an even greater appreciation of the benefits of overseas study. We encourage you to pursue further mobility opportunities later in your degree and explore different destinations.

What if I commenced my studies mid-year?

The same eligibility criteria apply for students that start at Monash mid-year. You will be able to apply in a second application round, and will be contacted directly about the application process and timelines.

How does it work if I am part-time, when can I go?

Whether you are part-time or full-time the eligibility requirements are the same.

If I transfer from another institution/another Monash degree, am I eligible?

Yes, providing you are in your first year of study at Monash University.

I have a disability and require adjustments. Can I still participate?

Our goal is to make a Global Immersion experience available to as many students as possible. We will work with you on a case-by-case basis in liaison with the University’s Disability Support Services to assess what reasonable adjustments we can make to enable you to be included in the program. In many cases we can do this, but due to the nature of the immersive experiences we may not be able to accommodate all cases.

Can I travel before and/or after the program and how do I change my flights?

We encourage you to take time to complete onward travel through the region, however you will be responsible for arranging and paying for your own travel, insurance and any other personal expenses, and ensuring that you are complying with all COVID-19 border controls. It is important to also be aware of your visa conditions before you make any arrangements.

If you choose to travel outside the program, you will be required to submit a flight change request form during the final offer acceptance period and can only work with the Monash Travel Management Provider to book your flights. If you do not submit a flight change request form, you will be required to depart and return to Melbourne on the group flight.

It is important to note the following when planning your personal travel:

Under no circumstances are you permitted to book your own flights. This can only be done by the Travel Management Company (TMC).
Under no circumstances will you be able to leave for personal travel before the program finishes. As you will be required to complete work prior to, during and after your time abroad, which combines online and face-to- face learning and engagement, you must take this into account when planning personal travel around the program.
All flights must depart and return to Melbourne which is due to airline policy.
It is your responsibility to be aware:
- of any visa conditions before you make any arrangements.
- that you are complying with all COVID-19 border controls for the country/ies that you are travelling to.
- any immunisation or vaccination requirements of the country/ies you will be travelling to.
If you fail to board your flight for reasons other than those accepted as exceptional circumstances you may be liable for airline penalty charges. Exceptional circumstances are defined as any event that is unavoidable, unforeseen or outside the control of the student.

I have family in the country I am travelling to, can I stay with them?

No, you will be required to stay in the accommodation provided for the duration of the program.

I am an international student, can I still participate in GIG?

Yes! GIG is available to international and domestic students who meet the eligibility criteria. As an international student on a student visa, you must study a full-time study load of 48 credit points (8 units) each year.

The GIG is a funded study abroad experience, but still incurs tuition fees. The Global Immersion Guarantee unit (MON2100) is a 12 point, SCA Band 2 academic unit. The tuition fees are calculated and charged at the same level as any other SCA Band 2, 12 point humanities unit. Start-year intake students complete the program over the summer break and are enrolled into a Summer A study period. Mid-year intake students complete the program over the winter break and are enrolled into a Winter study period.

Refer to the Managing your Student Visa website for more information. Contact Monash Connect if you have any questions.

What if I can't go to our allocated country due to travel restrictions?

The delivery of all Monash mobility programs are subject to the advice and requirements of the Australian government and the requirements of the destination country. Monash may need to cancel or defer planned mobility programs based on these requirements. We will do our best to allocate you to a different country if there are travel restrictions into the country you’ve been allocated to, however this is subject to availability and other considerations.

My country of birth is listed as a destination. Can I travel there?

No, you cannot travel to your home country / country of birth for the GIG unit. GIG is designed to provide you with hands-on experience in a country and culture that is different from your own.

If your home country / country of birth is a GIG destination, you will be allocated to a different country destination.

I'm not vaccinated for COVID-19, can I still travel for the GIG unit?

To be able to travel as part of GIG, you must meet conditions for travel including vaccination requirements as per our COVID-19 factsheet (see travel advice).

What is the New Colombo Plan and how does it support my participation in GIG?

The New Colombo Plan is an Australian Government grant program that is designed to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study in the region.

We are proud to be supported by the New Colombo Plan for our India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Fiji programs. With this support, we can help you build the skills, knowledge and networks to continue engaging with the Indo-Pacific region throughout your degree and into your career.

The NCP Mobility Grants go directly to covering the costs of your travel. You do not need to apply for these grants as your eligibility will be assessed by Monash if you are accepted into an NCP Mobility Grant awarded program.

What if I withdraw late or fail to board my flight?

If you withdraw from the GIG unit after census date, you will, as per normal processes, incur the tuition fee for the unit.

In addition to the above, if you fail to board your flight for reasons other than those accepted as exceptional circumstances (see below) you may be liable for airline penalty charges.

Exceptional circumstances are defined as any event that is: unavoidable; unforeseen; outside your control.

For example, withdrawal because of a change in official government COVID-19 travel advice falls under extenuating circumstances (as it is outside your control).

I have a dietary requirement, can I still participate in the program?

Yes! You will be asked to disclose any dietary requirements you have during the conditional offer phase. This is to ensure that we can make the necessary adjustments to accommodate your requirements while you are participating in the program in your allocated country.

What is the criteria for GIG Digital Badge?

GIG Digital Badge - ‘Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Leadership’

Demonstrate outstanding performance through an integration of exemplary interdisciplinary teamwork skills, individual intercultural awareness, and perspective taking.

To earn a GIG digital badge:

Your interdisciplinary team presentation must have the highest score of its in-country cohort.
Your submission statement mark must be 80% or above.
Your mark for pre-departure intercultural reflection must be 80% or above.

Digital badges for these programs commence in November 2023. Badges cannot be issued for achievements before this date.

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