Get academic credit for volunteering

How it works

Challenges Abroad are an approved third-party provider at Griffith University and a partner of the Service Learning department, who run the Global Community Internship. This means that you can receive both academic credit and funding by volunteering on one of our programs!

where you can get credit

Community Internship (3002LFC / 7510LFC) is a free elective available to most students at Griffith. This allows you to volunteer on one of our programs and receive academic credit as a 'Global Community Internship'. It's an incredible opportunity for you to spend part of your degree overseas and is unique to Griffith University! Learn more about Community Internship.

funding options

OS-Help Loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

global grant

Griffith aims to provide one grant to each student on an approved overseas program. The grant is for you to keep and is to support your program expenses. Grant values vary from $250 to $8000 depending on the program type, location and credit-point value. Read more about Griffith Uni travel grants.

free travel insurance

Griffith University supports you through your overseas program with coverage under Griffith University's Corporate Travel Insurance Policy at no additional cost. Once you submit your Short-term Program Application, you are automatically assessed for access to this coverage.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

how it works

La Trobe offers some fantastic opportunities for students to volunteer overseas and gain academic credit!

where you can get credit

LTU2SLC: service learning in the community

Arts, social science, commerce, science, health and engineering students can all enrol in LTU2SLC. This is a service learning unit available to students in their second year with an available elective unit. Service Learning in the Community in a self-sourced placement, which means that you need to find your own volunteering experience and have it approved by your subject coordinator before enrolling in the unit. 

Get in touch with us so that we can help you choose the best volunteering program to align with your area of study and provide the documentation that you'll need to be approved for the unit. You can learn more about the unit here.

ASC3WPP: Work Placement Program

All students are eligible to enrol in ASC3WPP! It is another self-sourced unit available to all 2nd and 3rd year students, pending approval by your subject coordinator. This is an internship unit, which means you will need to complete approximately 100-120 hours - equivalent to a 2 week Challenges Abroad program including pre-departure preparation. We also offer overseas internships for 3 weeks or longer if you would like to spend more time overseas. You can learn more about this unit here. 

funding options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

mobility grant 

La Trobe students can access a range of grants and scholarships to help cover program and travel costs. All eligible students will receive the mobility grant of $500, but you might also be able to receive additional funding of a higher value. You can read about the grants available here.

free travel insurance

La Trobe students attending an overseas short-term program must complete an application through La Trobe to be considered for travel insurance coverage. All the information about this is here.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

How it works

Challenges Abroad are an approved third-party provider of QUT. This means that you can access funding when volunteering on one of our programs and can also be guided on how to receive academic credit! 

where you can get credit

QUT have a central process for students who wish to receive academic credit. The good news is that all QUT students can apply for credit for one of our volunteering challenges or internships on a case-by-case basis! 

to apply:

Email your faculty with a copy of the program details, ensuring you include:

• The program name e.g. "Challenges Abroad Australia - Cambodia Community Challenge"

• A summary of the program. This can be found on the QUT Global Portal and on our website. Get in touch with us if you would like a more detailed program overview specific to your field of study.

Click below to contact your faculty:

• Business School

• Creative Industries

• Education

• Health

• Law

• Science and Engineering

funding options

OS-Help Loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

Global Mobility Bursary

Students that apply through QUT Global and are accepted into an approved Challenges Abroad program are eligible for a $1000 QUT Global Mobility Bursary. Funding will be distributed on the completion of all mandatory pre-departure requirements.

free travel insurance

When applying to QUT for a short-term program you will receive further information about how you can be supported by QUT travel insurance.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

how it works

Challenges Abroad is an approved third-party providers at RMIT, which means that no matter which program you are volunteering on, you can register with RMIT Global Mobility to access support, travel insurance and guidance on receiving academic credit.

where you can get credit

If you would like to receive academic credit for your Challenges Abroad program, you should get in touch with your Course Coordinator or your Work Integrated Learning (WIL) team to seek guidance and approval. Lean more about WIL at RMIT here.

Your WIL coordinator will advise if you're eligible to do a placement or project overseas, so this can be a great place to start. Key contacts for WIL at RMIT can be found here.

funding options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

Global experience grant

Eligible students can access a Global Experience Grant of $1000 to cover their program and travel expenses. You can read more about the grant here.

free travel insurance

All RMIT University students traveling overseas on an approved global experience receive complimentary travel insurance. Once your registration in RMIT’s online application portal has been processed and confirmed, you will be automatically covered. You can read more information here.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

How it works

The university of Newcastle provides some great opportunities for students to receive academic credit when volunteering on one of our programs! For Humanities, Social Science and general Science students there are clear pathways which we've provided further information on below. If you're not in one of these degrees, there are still options for receiving credit and we're here to help you navigate the system!

where you can get credit 

humanities and social science

HASS students can apply for academic credit for an 'international placement' by enrolling in HUMA2000. This provides a platform for you to develop areas of study into a careers through a period of volunteering overseas. HUMA2000 is a student-driven course, so you will only gain access through your own initiative. This means you're expected to organise your own activity and provide the course coordinator with a written brief on your proposed activity for formal approval. You can email the coordinator to find out more information about enrolling. 

science 

Science students can apply for academic credit for an 'international placement' by enrolling in SCIE3600. This provides a platform for you to develop areas of study into a careers through a period of volunteering overseas. SCIE3600 is a student-driven course, so you will only gain access through your own initiative. This means you're expected to organise your own activity and provide the course coordinator with a written brief on your proposed activity for formal approval. You can submit an Expression of Interest form to enrol in SCIE3600 here.

general elective

You can also apply to receive academic credit through a general elective, which is UON's recommended way to receive credit for volunteering overseas. You can read more about general electives here.

work integrated learning

UON offers a number of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) courses that you might also be able to use to receive academic credit for participating in a Challenges Abroad program. You can view the WIL courses here.

funding options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

global traveller grant

UON offers a short-term global traveller grant between $500 - $750 to help cover some of your travel expenses. You can learn more about the grant here.

free travel insurance

Travel insurance support is available to UON students who are travelling overseas on an approved program. UON’s travel policy does not cover personal travel. You can read more information here.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

how it works

Students at UNSW who want to volunteer overseas and access academic credit can contact the Study Abroad Office or their Faculty Advisor. We also recommend that you explore the 'general education' or 'general elective' units that may be available in your study plan. These are often the best units use when applying to receive credit for volunteering on one of our programs. 

There are also many courses available at UNSW for Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is another avenue to explore to gain academic credit for an overseas short-term experience or internship, both of which you can do with Challenges Abroad.

where you can get credit

To see the courses that are available under WIL for your study area, follow the links below. Look for general WIL courses or ones that mention global or international experiences.

There are contact details on each page so you can get in touch directly with your faculty WIL team to learn how to align a Challenges Abroad program with a WIL course. 

• Arts and Social Sciences

• Engineering

• Business

• Science

• Medicine

funding options

OS-Help Loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

travel grants

UNSW students who participate on a learning abroad program may be eligible to apply for travel grants such as the New Colombo Plan or International Mobility grants. You can explore the grants and scholarships available here.

free travel insurance

Once your travel is approved by the uni, you will automatically receive access to UNSW’s travel insurance.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

how it works

Challenges Abroad is an approved third-party provider of the University of Queensland. This means that you can access both academic credit and funding when you volunteer on one of our programs! All overseas experiences at UQ are managed by their Global Experiences team. Getting in touch with the team at UQ can be a great place to start if you would like to access credit for your Challenges Abroad program.

where you can get credit

humanities and social science students

You can apply for academic credit for your volunteering program through PHSS2000: Practical Employability Experience. This is a flexible course designed to assist you to gain credit for work-related experience that suits you and your goals. You need to have completed 16 units of study before the course start date to be eligible to enrol. More info.

science students

If you have a free elective in your course you might also be able to enrol in PHSS2000: Practical Employability Experience and receive credit for your Challenges Abroad program. You'll just need to get it approved by your course coordinator!

health and behavioural sciences & medicine students

You might be able to access academic credit for one of our Health Promotion programs by enrolling in HLTH3001: Practicum in Health Sciences. To be eligible you must have completed 2 years of study in a Bachelor of Health Sciences. This course is only offered in semester 2, so we recommend speaking to your Course Coordinator at the beginning of semester 1 to receive approval and enrol in the unit. 

engineering students

You may be able to access credit for one of our overseas programs via your Professional Practice Hours, as part of the 50% of your hours that can be attributed to activities like volunteering overseas. To do this, our programs will need to be approved by your Course Coordinator.

We recommend seeking approval for one of our Environment or Sustainability programs as these have the most relevance to your area of study. You can find more info here or get in touch with the Engineering Employability team via email.

Funding Options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

short-term travel grant

Even if you can't access academic credit, you still might be able to receive funding from UQ! When you register your participation in one of our programs with the Global Experiences team, you will be automatically considered for a $1000 short-term travel grant.

There is no guarantee that all students participating on a UQ approved short-term experience will receive a grant, so you shouldn't rely on this to fund your volunteer program.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

How it works

As a student at the University of South Australia, you can apply for academic credit for one of our volunteering programs here.

You should contact your program director or relevant staff member to discuss your options for receiving credit for a short-term overseas experience. You should show them your planned Challenges Abroad program and make sure they're aware of how you plan to receive credit.

Funding Options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

travel grant

UniSA offer $1000 international travel grants for students participating in an overseas short-term program. There are additional travel grants and scholarships available that you can learn more about here.

free travel insurance

Students at UniSA will be covered by the University’s travel insurance when undertaking an approved overseas program. You can read more about this here.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

how it works

University of Sydney students can register a Challenges Abroad programs as a 'BYO Mobility Program'. This will allow you to access support from USYD, including travel insurance, advice on receiving academic credit, information on funding and pre-departure support.

You can register your BYO Mobility Program here. After you open the application you'll get more information about receiving academic credit. You can also access the USYD Global Mobility Guide which provides information about receiving credit and funding.

If you're aiming to receive credit for your Challenges Abroad program, get in touch with your course coordinator to see it there are any specific units/electives they recommend you should use to apply for credit. 

funding options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

scholarships

USYD aims to provide funding support to at least 50% of all students who travel overseas. This means they offer a huge variety of scholarships that you could apply for to fund your overseas program. You can view all of the scholarships here.

free travel insurance

If your short-term travel is approved by your faculty or school at the University of Sydney, you will be covered by their travel insurance policy. More information is available here.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

how it works

At the University of Wollongong you can apply to receive credit for a Challenges Abroad program as 'unspecified credit'. To do this, you need to submit an online application through Student Mobility Online (SMO). There are specific deadlines, so keep an eye on those.

You will need to apply for your Challenges Abroad program before you can submit your SMO application. You can then specify what type of academic credit you want to receive for volunteering:

• 'Specified' credit means that you have a particular unit in mind that you think your volunteering program will align with

• 'Unspecified' credit means that you want to use the experience in place of a general elective.

You can access more information here.

Funding options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

travel grant

UOW students going overseas may be eligible for a $500 travel grant. Learn more here.

free travel insurance

If your overseas program is approved by UOW for receiving academic credit, you will automatically be covered by their comprehensive travel insurance policy for the duration of your overseas program. This does not include any personal or leisure travel, you will have to arrange your own travel insurance for any personal travel.

chat to a volunteering expert to help guide you in the best direction for receiving academic credit or funding.

If you're not studying at one of the universities mentioned, this doesn't necessarily mean you can’t receive academic credit. We highly recommend you get in touch with us so we can help support you through the process and guide you in the best direction!

How it works

Challenges Abroad are an approved third-party provider at Murdoch University. This means that you can receive both academic credit and funding by volunteering on one of our programs!

where you can get credit

Real World Learning (MSP201) is a free elective available to ALL students at Murdoch University. This allows you to volunteer on one of our programs and receive academic credit for participating in the experience. It's an incredible opportunity for you to spend part of your degree overseas and is unique to Murdoch University!

Funding Options

os-help loan

If you are able to receive academic credit for volunteering on one of our programs, you can access approx. $6000 via the OS-Help Loan to cover your program fees and travel costs, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.