Frequently Asked Questions
Q2. What are the requirements to apply to go on exchange?
Q3. Do I have to have travel experience in order to go on exchange?
Q4. Where can I go on exchange?
Q5. If I am interested in going somewhere that is not on the list, is this possible?
Q6. Can I still take courses in English?
Q7. Where do I live when I go on exchange?
Q8. What program do I have to be in to go on exchange?
Q9. Can I go on exchange to more than one university?
Q10. When can I go on exchange?
Q11. How long can I go on exchange for?
Q12. What kind of support is offered by the International Liaison office?
Q13. Are there risks involved in going on exchange?
Q14. How much does it cost?
Q15. Am I still eligible for student loans, scholarships, bursaries, and awards?
Q16. Are there any funding opportunities specifically related to exchange?
Q17. Is there a fee to apply?
Q18. How do I apply?
Q19. What does the application consist of?
Q20. Could I not be accepted to go on exchange based on how much money I have as shown in the budget worksheet?
Q21. Am I bound to the courses I put down for my study plan?
Q22. When is the application deadline?
Q23. Do you accept late applications?
Q24. How do you place students in their exchange spots?
Q25. Is it very competitive to get a spot?
Q26. How many students can go to each school every year?
Q27. If I am accepted to exchange but need to postpone my departure date, is this possible?
Q28. If my circumstances change, is it possible to withdraw from the program?
Q29. What happens after I’ve been accepted to go on exchange?
Q30. How does the partner institution application process work?
Q31. Can I be rejected by the partner institution?
Q32. How do I register in classes while I’m on exchange?
Q33. What happens if there is an emergency while I am away on exchange?
Q34. Do I get credit for all the courses I take while on exchange?
Q35. Can you tell me how my courses will transfer back to Kwantlen?
General Questions
Q1. Why should I go on exchange?
Top Ten Reasons to Open Your World
- Enhance your education
- Increase your employability
- Challenge yourself
- Travel to new places
- Broaden your understanding of the world
- Meet new people and make lasting friendships
- Live another culture
- Learn or perfect a second (or a third, or a fourth) language
- Learn more about your own culture and how the world perceives Canada
- Build up your exciting story reservoir!
Q2. What are the requirements to apply to go on exchange?
To go on exchange you must:
- have completed 30 university credits by the time you wish to go on exchange. 15 of those credits must have been completed at Kwantlen
- have a GPA of 2.67
- be willing to return to Kwantlen after your exchange for a minimum of 9 credits
Q3. Do I have to have travel experience in order to go on exchange?
A: No you do not. You do, however, have to have an open mind and be willing to face new cultural challenges.
Q4. Where can I go on exchange?
A: All over the world. For a list of partner schools please visit our partner school page.
Q5. If I am interested in going somewhere that is not on the list, is this possible?
A: Yes, students can arrange their own study abroad. They must research their institution of choice to see if the institution accepts non-degree seeking students for a semester or year. The student must then apply directly to their institution of choice. The student should request a letter of permission from Kwantlen’s registrar’s office outlining the courses they wish to take and how they will transfer back to Kwantlen. Independent study abroad students planning on attending an institution outside of Canada must pay international student fees and are not generally eligible for student loans.
Q6. Can I still take courses in English?
A: Most of our partner institutions offer at least some instruction in English. Please see our partner pages to determine the language of instruction at each institution.
Q7. Where do I live when I go on exchange?
A: Each partner institution is different. Some institutions have on campus housing, others have homestay, and others will assist you in finding independent accommodations.
Q8. What program do I have to be in to go on exchange?
A: Exchange opportunities are offered across many programs. Please visit our partner pages to see which programs are offered at each institution.
Q9. Can I go on exchange to more than one university?
A: Yes, you can go on exchange to up to two different locations.
Q10. When can I go on exchange?
A: You can go on exchange after you have completed 30 university credits, fifteen of which must be done at Kwantlen. After your exchange you must return to Kwantlen for a minimum of 9 credits. Based on these requirements, most students go on exchange in the second semester of second year, during the first or second semester of third year or during the first semester of fourth year. Some programs have limitations on when you can go on exchange:
- Business: strongly recommended that students go on exchange in second year
- Fashion: second semester of third year
- GDMA: third year
- IDSN: second semester of second year or first semester of third year
Q11. How long can I go on exchange for?
A: Most students go on exchange for one semester but you can go for a full academic year depending on the institution.
Q12. What kind of support is offered by the International Liaison Office?
The ILO supports its students through the Kwantlen application process, partner school application process, cultural preparation, transfer credit, and re-entry.
Q13. Are there risks involved in going on exchange?
A: There are always risks involved with overseas travel. Students will be exposed to a new environment with risks that may be different to the risks faced by those staying in Canada. Cultural differences and language barriers can be very challenging for students. Going on exchange through Kwantlen helps to reduce the risk as we offer pre-departure training to help prepare students appropriately for their experience. Despite the support offered by Kwantlen, students need to take the appropriate precautions in order to have a safe and successful trip.
Costs
Q14. How much does it cost?
A: The cost depends on the cost of living in the country that you are going to and what type of spender you are. Please visit our Money Matters page for more info on budgeting.
Q15. Am I still eligible for student loans, scholarships, bursaries, and awards?
A: Exchange students remain eligible to apply for student loans, scholarships, bursaries, and awards.
Q16. Are there any funding opportunities specifically related to exchange?
A: Yes, there are some specific scholarships available for exchange. Please visit our Money Matters page for more info.
Application Questions
Q17. Is there a fee to apply?
There is no application fee to apply for exchange. Most field school applications will require a deposit with the applicaion.
Q18. How do I apply?
A: You can apply by downloading the application form from www.kwantlen.ca/exchange
Q19. What does the application consist of?
A: The application consists of a general personal information sheet, personal statement, budget worksheet, study plan and two reference forms.
Q20. Could I not be accepted to go on exchange based on how much money I have as shown in the budget worksheet?
A: The budget worksheet is judged by how much research you’ve done into your country of choice, not by how much money you have.
Q21. Am I bound to the courses I put down for my study plan?
A: No. It is however very important to consider what courses you will be able to take at the partner institution in order to make sure you know that they fit into your program.
Q22. When is the application deadline?
A: January 31st for the following fall, spring, and summer terms
Q23. Do you accept late applications?
A: If there are additional exchange spots available after the January 31 allocation, late applications may be considered on a case by case basis depending on space availability and lead time required for a successful exchange. To have the highest chance of getting a spot at the school of your choice, you should apply during the January application period.
Q24. How do you place students in their exchange spots?
A: Applications are scored and then ranked. The highest ranked students will get their first choice placement. We continue down the list until all places have been filled.
Q25. Is it very competitive to get a spot?
A: Some schools and programs are more competitive than others. Even though a spot for each student is not guaranteed, we do our best to make sure that everyone who applies and meets the minimum qualifications gets a spot.
Q26. How many students can go to each school every year?
A: Generally there are four semester spots available at each partner school per academic year.
Q27. If I am accepted to exchange but need to postpone my departure date, is this possible?
A: If you would like to postpone your exchange to a semester that falls within the same academic year, there are generally no problems depending on your program. If you wish to postpone your exchange to the following academic year, the situation is analyzed on a case by case basis.
Q28. If my circumstances change, is it possible to withdraw from the program?
A: Students may withdraw from the program in writing at any time. Before withdrawing students should considering the impact of their withdrawal on their current program of study.
Exchange Process Questions
Q29. What happens after I’ve been accepted to go on exchange?
A: You will attend a pre-departure session which will cover how you need to apply to the partner institution, transfer credit, cultural adjustment, insurance, passports, and visas.
Q30. How does the partner institution application process work?
A: After being accepted to the exchange program by Kwantlen, all students must apply to their partner institution. Each institution has a different application process. You will be informed of this process at your pre-departure session.
Q31. Can I be rejected by the partner institution?
A: In general, students are accepted by the partner institution without any problems. In very rare circumstances Kwantlen applicants can be rejected by the partner institution. Rejection can be based on timeliness of the application, space in the desired program, and quality of the application.
Q32. How do I register in classes while I’m on exchange?
A: Each partner has a different registration process. You will be informed of this process after you have been accepted to the partner institution.
Q33. What happens if there is an emergency while I am away on exchange?
A: Students are informed of emergency procedures during their pre-departure session. A students first point of contact will be local authorities and the Canadian government.
Q34. Do I get credit for all the courses I take while on exchange?
A: Credit taken on exchange transfer back to Kwantlen. We cannot however guarantee that the credit applies to your degree. It is the students responsibility to ensure that they are meeting their degree requirements.
Q35. Can you tell me how my courses will transfer back to Kwantlen?
A: Before you leave for exchange, we will prepare a letter of permission for you that outlines how your credit will transfer back to Kwantlen.
