Global Challenges in Engineering – Jakarta

This program provides a unique opportunity to gain international experience directly relevant to your field of study. It helps build cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills while offering real-world industry exposure in an international context.

Whether you're considering graduate study or seeking a competitive edge in the job market, this program fosters a global mindset that will strengthen your professional development and help you explore potential career pathways and demonstrate experience to graduate employers.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Summer 2026

In this offering the tour will be to Indonesia. Hosted at our partner university, Universitas Indonesia.

The Global Challenges in Engineering subject will run from Monday 5^th January  to Sunday 1 March 2026 with travel taking place from Saturday 10^th January to Sunday 25^th January 2026.

A mandatory pre-departure briefing will take place in Melbourne on Monday 5^th January. This will be run in-person only and students are expected to depart for Jakarta from Melbourne. Students may make their own arrangements following the tour, if desired.

Applications close 11:59PM Wednesday 13th August, 2025

This subject (which includes a two-week intensive study tour) is open to students in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedicine, who are undertaking an Engineering Discipline Major and have completed at least 200 points. Applications will be considered based on a combination of academic record and personal statement.

Students must have completed at least 200 credit points prior to the commencement of this subject.

In addition to the standard tuition fee, there is a location-specific program fee. The program fee encompasses the following. For the Jakarta, Indonesia Summer 2026 study-program, this program fee amounts to $1,500 per participant. For this iteration of the subject, FEIT will cover this cost for all students.

• Twin-share accommodation (same gender) throughout the in-country component
• Some meals
• In-country group transportation costs associated with program activities
• Complimentary University of Melbourne standard travel insurance

Student participants bear financial responsibility for:

For student experiencing  financial disadvantage, there are several sources of funds to help:

FEIT Travel Grants* valued up to $1,500 for eligible students to support the Airfare and other travel costs

* Students are eligible if they meet one or more of the following specific categories: Recognition as an Indigenous Australian, and/or home address is in a low socioeconomic area (as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics). Access Melbourne students who meet one or more of the following Access Melbourne categories are also eligible: disadvantaged financial background, recognition as an Indigenous Australian, first in family and graduate of an underrepresented school.

Student Financial Aid - A range of funding available usually in the form of interest-free loans. Please see the Financial aid website for more information.

OS-HELP Loan - Available to students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a degree course who want to undertake part of their study overseas. Find out more here.

Global Challenges in Engineering

• Global Challenges in Engineering is a subject that includes a two-week study tour that provides a broad overview of Engineering in an international context.
• Alignment to Advancing Melbourne Globally where it articulates the University’s aspirations “to provide every undergraduate student the opportunity to study overseas or off-campus in an intensive Indigenous or intercultural context, during the course of their degree.” With the aim to help build intercultural capabilities throughout our student cohorts. These opportunities expose our students to new cultures and languages, help develop valuable skills and prepare our graduates for a global future.
• A Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology academic will lead this study tour, providing guidance and mentoring to ensure that students gain the most from the experience.
• The Global Challenges in Engineering subject is proposed to be available as an elective to all Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Biomedicine students undertaking Engineering majors.

The Global Challenges in Engineering subject will involve a two-week study tour and will have a quota approximately 20-30 students. The experience is inclusive of cultural immersion of several sites to learn more about the local culture and history, such as monuments, museums, significant buildings and more.

The handbook entry for this subject will be available from October 2025. The subject is worth 12.5 points and enrolment is in the Summer semester. The subject will be graded in the standard manner (eg. H1, H2A…etc.)

• Enhanced oral and written communication skills: developed via cross cultural communication, group work, group presentations and preparation of the major assignment.
• Cross cultural understanding: gained through interaction with other subject participants in the host country and immersion in the host country for the life of the subject
• Problem solving skill: developed through course and post course group work and working with issues related to cultural variations in business, personal and cultural issues.
• Collaborative learning and teamwork skills: enhanced by working in small groups, with colleagues from different courses and cultural backgrounds.
• Navigating a new culture and ways of learning and interacting.

Program runs daily from approx. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with breaks for lunch, optional free time in the evenings, and structured reflection sessions.

Students are expected to arrive the day before the official start and depart the day after the program concludes .