The International Double Degree Program provides UQ students with access to a bespoke global experience that will unlock opportunities for graduates worldwide.
What is an International Double Degree?
The International Double Degree (IDD) program is a unique program that allows students of The University of Queensland enrolled in applicable programs to complete a master’s degree at a partner institution alongside their postgraduate studies at UQ. This program results in graduates receiving two master’s degrees at the end of their program, one from UQ, and one from their chosen host institution.
After completing a minimum number of units at UQ, students participating in the IDD will transfer to their host institution, where they will spend a number of semesters completing postgraduate studies. Credit from these studies is then transferred back to UQ to fulfil program requirements to graduate from their UQ program. Participating students may also have the option to complete their placement or project semester at UQ or their host institution, allowing participants to leverage the collective networks, industry relationships, and opportunities at two world-class universities.
The IDD is an excellent opportunity to combine studies with travel aspirations, giving participants the chance to live in another country for an extended period of time, gaining invaluable global perspective and international industry experience.
What to expect from participating
- Graduate with two master’s degrees instead of one
- Broaden your career opportunities and develop a global network
- Live and study in a different country and gain an excellent working knowledge of another language and culture
- Access industry and work experience opportunities overseas through your placement semester
How does it work?
The program is easy. Simply follow the steps below to complete an IDD.
- Complete the minimum number of units specified for your program at UQ. Tip: focus on completing your core/compulsory courses first.
- Apply for the program.
- Transfer to your host institution for the minimum number of semesters.
- Complete your 6-month placement or project at the host institution or at UQ.
- Graduate with a master’s degree from UQ and a master’s degree from your host institution.
Participant Obligations
- Participating students are representatives of the University of Queensland; it is expected that all students participating in the IDD at partner institutions abide by UQ’s Student Code of Conduct Policy while on their experience abroad.
- Participants should ensure they are contactable by The University of Queensland while abroad, and respond to important communications regarding their program progression.
- Participating students are also expected to provide feedback on their experience in the program to support program maintenance and promotional initiatives.
All students participating in the IDD must meet the below conditions upon their initial application:
- Be enrolled in an applicable program
- Have completed minimum number of units for your program
- at least 48 units of credit for the BE/ME
- at least 8 units of credit for the MDataSc
- Have a cumulative GPA of 5.0 or higher
In addition to the points above, due to international student visa restrictions, only domestic students (Australian/New Zealand citizens, or Australian permanent residents, holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas) can apply for the program.
Active pathways
The below programs are currently available under the IDD program as of 2024. See institution page for details on available program majors.
| UQ Program | UQ Projram Major (if applicable) | Host Institution(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Master of Engineering | Electrical Engineering Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering | |
| Master of Data Science | N/A | Technical University of Munich |
Host Institution Programs
| Host Institution | Program |
|---|---|
| CentraleSupélec | Master of Science in Engineering (Aéronautique et Spatial - Mécanique, Automatique, Énergétique) (AS-MAE) |
| Politecnico di Milano | Laurea Magistrale Electrical Engineering(equivalent to Master of Science in Engineering) |
| Technische Universität München | Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (MSEI) Master of Science in Informatics (MSc Informatics) |
Available Engineering Majors
| Host Institution | BE/ME Major |
|---|---|
| CentraleSupélec | Mechanical and Aerospace |
| Politecnico di Milano | All Electrical Engineering majors |
| Technische Universität München | All Electrical Engineering majors |
Discontinued pathway(s)
| UQ Program | UQ Projram Major (if applicable) | Host Institution(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Master of Engineering | Chemical Engineering | Lund University |
Establishing IDD program pathways is an intricate process, and as such, pathways are always under review. This ensures the viability of the pathway, consistency in program experience, and most importantly, that students paritcipating in the program will continue to progress through their program appropriately.
Due to the complex nature of ongoing assessment efforts, some pathways may become non-viable and thus be discontinued due to changes in programs offered by either UQ or a host institution.
Don't see your program or major listed? New pathways are always being investigated, giving more students access to the IDD program. Check back on this page or speak with the EAIT International Team to express your interest in the program.
The IDD program is free to participate in, in that there are no specific fees as part of the program. There are still many considerations to be made in terms of financing your experience.
UQ Administered Funding
- Frank Joseph Murphy Bursary (value varies)
- John Simmons Student Mobility Fund ($500 – 1,500)
- UQ Women in Action Fund ($1,000)
OS-HELP Loan
OS-HELP is a loan scheme for eligible Commonwealth Supported students who want to undertake part of their studies overseas. As the name implies, it is a loan program that operates similarly to HECS-HELP. Funding borrowed under OS-HELP accumulates to the same debt as your HECS-HELP loan.
In 2024, the maximum amount you can borrow for a six-month period is:
- $9,504 for study in Asia
- $7,921 for study not in Asia
More information, including eligibility requirements, application procedure, due dates, and outcome notifications can be found on UQ’s website.
Before applying, please read:
- OS-HELP Loan Scheme Guidelines from the University
- OS-HELP information from the Australian Government
Host Institution/Destination Funding
France/CentraleSupélec
- Nicolas Baudin Travel Grant (up to AU$2,500.00)
Italy/Politecnico di Milano
- N/A
Germany/Technical University Munich
The IDD program works similar to a semester-based exchange program. Participating students will remain enrolled on a full-time basis at UQ, and upon completion of their required studies at the host institution, they will request the transfer of their units back to their program at UQ.
It is important to note that as the BE/ME program at UQ is a vertically integrated program, participating students under this stream will continue to be considered undergraduate students until they have completed all requirements for the entire program.
Before Mobility
Before departing to the host institution/destination, students will consult with both EAIT International Mobility and EAIT Student Administration to confirm the progress of their studies at UQ.
During this consultation, students will confirm what credits are remaining to be taken, and any recommended courses to complete before departing UQ. Tip: it is best to take as many compulsory courses as possible; having more electives available will afford greater flexibility while studying at the host institution (in terms of what courses can be taken there).
During Mobility
Participating students must maintain their enrolment at UQ, even while studying at the host institution. To accommodate this, an 8-unit placeholder course is assigned that students must enrol in via SI-net each semester while at the host institution.
It is important to note that this course will bear a standard 8-unit fee each semester, which will be paid via the student’s regular payment method (e.g. upfront payment, or HECS-HELP). There will be no tuition paid to the host institution during mobility there.
After Mobility
Upon completion of their studies at the host institution, and posting of credits/grades, participating students should send their official transcript to EAIT Student Administration for credit transfer processing. This process may take some time, so it is important to submit transcripts as early as possible to avoid delays in conferral of degrees.
Graduation
After the credit transfer process is complete, participating students will be notified of their eligibility to graduate and attend a ceremony if they choose to do so. Some students choose to stay on in their host destinations, whether for job opportunities or otherwise. Students should ensure that their address is up to date in SI-net to avoid delays in receiving their testamur(s).
EAIT Student Administration has deadlines for finalising grades and degree conferral. Sometimes, the timing between UQ and a host institution may not line up well for students to meet these deadlines. Any students submitting credit transfer requests beyond these deadlines may not be able to graduate in a given graduation period, but may instead apply for an official Completion Statement, which will act as a proxy degree until the next available graduation period.
BE/ME Students Studying at TUM
Due to admission requirements at TUM, which require the submission of an undergraduate degree, BE/ME students pursuing the MSEI at TUM will need to be processed administratively as graduates of a Bachelor of Applied Technology. This will allow students to receive an exit award that can be used for their application and admission at TUM. This degree must be returned to UQ in order to administratively reverse the program change and revert to a BE/ME. More information will be given to applicable students during the application process.