International Study Opportunities
- Considering studying abroad?
- Quick facts about international study options
- Going on an exchange
- While you're on exchange
- Returning from exchange
- Letters of permission
Considering Studying Abroad?
As a student enrolled in the BSc(Env) program, you have a wide range of opportunities to experience other cultures first-hand as part of your educational program. You can participate in one of many available student exchange programs, or study through the Semester Abroad program, a formal University of Guelph semester conducted overseas. Shorter Field courses (1-2 weeks) are also available for students looking for an international experience that can be integrated with their on-campus studies.
If you are interested in going on exchange or a semester abroad, contact your Program Counsellor early in the Fall semester of your second year to discuss exchange options, requirements, application processes and deadlines.
More information about international study opportunities and deadlines is available through the Centre for International Programs (CIP). The CIP office can help you find study abroad programs and offers information sessions that students must attend before going on exchange.
Quick Facts about International Study Options
- Students must have a 70% cumulative average in order to participate in an exchange.
- Students will need to apply and be selected to participate before being able to choose courses. Application forms and deadline information is available through the Centre for International Programs.
- Students will pay their full-time tuition to the University of Guelph, not the institution where they will be studying.
- Students must pay their fees in full and select their courses before leaving on the exchange.
- The grading system for classes taken on exchange is Pass, Outstanding Pass, or Fail. For semester abroad, the usual grading system is used.
- If a student is interested in taking courses at an institution where an exchange agreement does not exist, you will require a Letter of Permission.
- Students must apply during their fourth semester to go on exchange in third year.
Going on an Exchange
Once you have been approved for an exchange program, read through the information below then book an appointment with your Program Counsellor to discuss the academic aspects of your exchange experience, including course selection and course approval (and the required paperwork) as well as processes that must be followed before, during and after exchange.
You will be required to complete two course selection forms before leaving for exchange. The first form is a pre-departure agreement for course selection; the second form is the post-exchange agreement for courses and grades.
Choosing Courses
Research your host institution to determine which of their courses are relevant to your University of Guelph degree. You must get approval via email from your University of Guelph Program Counsellor for the classes that you would like to take while on exchange. When finalizing your courses and seeking approval from your Program Counsellor it is important to include your major, the host course codes as well as what degree requirement you are hoping the host course will be used for according to your University of Guelph degree requirements in your email. Your Program Counsellor will act as the liaison for your course approvals, so be sure to maintain contact with them.
Research your host institution to identify what is a full course load at the host institution well before the deadline for course selection. To obtain credit as a fulltime student for the semester(s) that you are away, you must be enrolled as a fulltime student at the host institution. A student will receive credit for being a full time student at the University of Guelph only if they are considered to be full time students at the host institution. At the University of Guelph, a student is considered full time when they are taking 2.50 credits per semester. Although 2.00 credits is also within the range of full time at the University of Guelph, it is important for you to take the equivalent of 2.50 credits (a 100% full time course load) while on exchange to avoid falling behind in the completion of your degree requirements. It is important to understand the different credit systems because generally other institutions do not have the same credit system as the University of Guelph.
If you are interested in registering field courses such as your major’s field course or ENVS 4011 after your exchange, you should check carefully before leaving that you have all the prerequisites (including credit/class level) for the course. If you do not have these completed then prepare the approvals and the appropriate paperwork prior to you going on exchange.
While you are away, you will still be required to select and register for your University of Guelph courses for the semester after exchange. If you have difficulty with course selection, please contact your Program Counsellor for advice.
While You're on Exchange
As you complete your exchange experience, make sure that you collect and keep all course outlines and graded coursework to help with the course credit evaluation and transfer of credits at the University of Guelph. Stay in touch with your Program Counsellor via email regarding course changes, relevancy and approvals.
While you are on exchange, your Academic Evaluation will read “Free* 2000” for credits in progress. This is a place holding course code that signifies that you are “on exchange”. It also indicates the tuition and fees that you pay for the semester.
All exchange courses will be transferred to your University of Guelph transcript as “generic”. For example, if you take a course that is approved to be the equivalent to an unspecified third year environmental sciences course, it will show up on your transcript as ENVS 9301 [0.50]. This means that to ensure that you are completing your degree requirements, you will want to negotiate and have approved exchange courses before you “take” the course. (A lot of times, this means you are negotiating with your Program Counsellor “at a distance” via email).
When seeking approval for courses you want to take while abroad stay in touch with your University of Guelph Program Counsellor. The Program Counsellor will work as the liaison for your course approvals. Below is a list of whom is involved with course approvals.
Your Program Counsellor determines the approval of:
- Electives towards your degree (although they are electives, the content must be appropriate for a science student and at university level);
- Environmental Sciences core courses (the content must fit the nature of the specific requirement).
Your Faculty Advisor and Program Counsellor determine the approval of:
- Restricted Elective for your major (the content must relate to your major);
- “One of” Requirement for your major (the content must fit the nature of the requirement of your major);
- Required course (that is not a prerequisite) for your major (the content must meet the nature of specific requirement).
The Course Instructor, Major Advisor and Program Counsellor will discuss approval of:
- Required Course (that will also be used as a prerequisite) requires two different approvals. The instructor of the course for which your exchange course will be a prerequisite must determine whether it will be sufficient background for the course. Your Faculty Advisor and Program Counsellor must approve the course content as acceptable for the major’s requirement).
Before leaving on exchange, make sure that you have completed or are aware of any specific prerequisite courses that will be required for the courses you will be taking in the semester following exchange.
Post Graduate Programs
If you are planning to pursue post graduate programs after completing your undergraduate degree, you will be required to provide official transcripts from your exchange host institution. These will not be provided to you automatically so it may be useful to obtain these transcripts while you are on exchange in order to prevent confusion and delays in the future or at a minimum know how to formally request an official transcript from the host institution.
Returning from Exchange
Arrange a meeting with your Program Counsellor soon after you return to discuss course approvals and the transfer of credits. Course outlines and course work from your exchange studies will supply the content to help determine the University of Guelph credits you will receive. Grades for credits taken on exchange are evaluated as Pass (P), Outstanding Pass (OP) or Fail (F).
