Study Abroad FAQs

You should apply for an exchange one academic year in advance. For example, if you plan to go on exchange in your third year, you should apply in your second year.

University-wide exchange applications open on November 1 and close at 9:00 a.m. (Atlantic time) on January 15. Departmental exchange programs may have different application dates and deadlines.

No. All applications will be reviewed as part of a single process after the January 15 submission deadline. The submission date does not factor into the review and ranking process. However, late applications will not be accepted.

Applications are reviewed and ranked based on your current CGPA and the quality of your written answers. These include a Summary of Interest (max 400 words) and a series of short answer questions about each of your exchange selections. The Summary of Interest should address the question: "What makes you a good candidate for an exchange/study abroad program?" Additionally, for each of your top 3 exchange selections, you must write up to 250 words explaining why you chose that institution and how an exchange term there contributes to your academic program here.

Decisions regarding exchange nominations are typically made within 5-7 weeks after the application deadline.

No, there is no application fee. However, if your application is successful and you receive an exchange offer, you will have to pay a non-refundable study abroad fee ($100 CAD) in order to accept it.

• First, students’ applications are reviewed, scored, and ranked. 
• Next, a master list of all applicants is formed. 
• Applicants on the master list are then matched in sequence with one of the exchanges on their preferred list. 
• If their first-choice exchange no longer has any available exchange places, they will be matched with their second-choice exchange. 
• If their second-choice exchange no longer has any available exchange places, they will be matched with their third-choice exchange. 
• If their third-choice exchange no longer has any available exchange places, they will not be matched and will be given an opportunity to re-apply for an exchange at the end of the original matching process. In this scenario, applicants who re-apply will have a new opportunity to select up to three preferred exchanges from a list of exchanges that still have available exchange places.

Students who are successfully matched with an exchange during the matching process will receive an exchange offer. The offer is for one exchange institution only. The student has the option to accept the offer or decline the offer. The offer cannot be substituted for another exchange. To accept the offer, the student must respond in writing and pay the $100 non-refundable Study Abroad Fee by the stated deadlines. It is a two-step process. The student must complete both steps to fully and formally accept the exchange offer. If a student misses one or both steps, the exchange offer will be rescinded and the exchange place will be released.

Yes, but only after you have accepted your exchange offer from Dalhousie. At that point, the International Centre will contact you with more information about next steps in the process. The first step is for Dalhousie to contact the host university to formally nominate you as an exchange student. Next, you will receive information on when and how to apply to the host university. Even though Dalhousie nominates you, you still have to formally apply to and be accepted by the host university as a visiting exchange student. Make sure to check the host university’s application deadline, which is often several months before the semester begins.

You can go on exchange in your second, third, or fourth year. However, you must have completed at least 15 credit hours at Dalhousie/King’s prior to applying, and you must return to Dal/King’s for at least one semester before graduating.

Yes, it is possible to go on exchange for 2 consecutive semesters at the same institution. In fact, some programs at some exchange partners naturally lend themselves to a full year of study. However, in an effort to give as many students as possible the opportunity for an exchange experience, most students will be offered a single semester exchange. 

It depends. Some exchange institutions may have a higher GPA requirement, so this may make applying to these particular institutions more competitive. Also, some exchange institutions may have fewer available exchange places (e.g. 1-2/year). If these particular institutions happen to receive many applications, then the selection process will naturally become more competitive. With these things in mind, you should select and order your preferred exchange destinations carefully, taking into consideration the GPA requirement, available exchange places, popularity of certain destinations, etc. It’s always a good idea to include on your list at least one exchange destination with a high number of available exchange places. 

Not at all. Many exchange partners in countries where other languages are spoken offer courses taught in English. The number of courses taught in English varies among institutions, so make sure to check the list of available courses carefully. Each year, many Dal students go on exchange to countries where they don’t speak the local languages, and they have a great experience while taking courses in English. Keep always in mind this is a cultural experience too, so if you can take some language classes before traveling to your host destination, your experience will be more enriching.

As a Dalhousie exchange student, you are responsible for paying your regular full-time tuition and relevant fees to Dalhousie by the standard payment deadlines. You will pay any/all other fees (e.g. housing) to the host university. If you do not enrol in a full-time course load at the host university, you will still be charged full-time tuition by Dalhousie. If you enrol in a Dalhousie course while on exchange, you will be charged additional tuition and student fees for that course. Your full-time tuition payment cannot be used to take exchange courses and Dalhousie courses at the same time. There are separate tuition payments for each.

Yes. However, please note that courses taken on exchange transfer back on a Pass/Fail basis. Courses with a “Pass” grade are GPA neutral and will not affect your scholarship. Courses with a “Fail” grade will count as 0.0 towards your Dalhousie GPA and could affect your scholarship. This may vary for King’s students.

When selecting your top 3 exchange choices as part of the application process, ensure that the universities offer courses in your field of study. It's also important to speak with an academic advisor to determine which courses you need to graduate. Determine if some of those courses can be taken while on exchange or whether they must be taken at Dal. Do a Degree Audit. In most cases, students can take courses abroad that transfer back to Dal, while others may choose to take mostly electives.

It depends on how many courses are required for full-time enrolment at the host university. It also depends on the transfer credit value of those courses. As an exchange student, you are required to be enrolled at the host university on a full-time basis. At some universities, full-time may consist of only three courses that are worth the equivalent of 5 transfer credits each. At other universities, full-time may consist of 7-8 courses that are worth the equivalent of 2 transfer credits each. You should pay careful attention to this when researching which courses to take and how many courses to take. The number of courses should meet the minimum requirements for full-time enrolment at the host university. The number of transfer credits should be roughly equivalent to 15 credits here at Dal.

Before leaving for an exchange, students must submit a Learning Agreement (for most university-wide exchanges and some departmental exchanges) or a Letter of Permission (for some departmental exchanges), which outlines the courses they will take abroad and their transfer credit equivalency at Dal. The Learning Agreement and Letter of Permission give you advance certainty of the transfer credit value of the courses that you will be taking on exchange. Check the Academic Support page for more information about both documents, including where to find the forms, how to complete the forms, and where/when to submit the forms. Work with an academic advisor to complete the form.

Grades received while on exchange are calculated on a Pass/Fail basis when transferred back to Dal. If you pass, the courses will appear on your Dal transcript as "PASS" and will not affect your CGPA, but if you fail a course, it will be counted as a “0.0” in the calculation of your Dal CGPA.

No, Dalhousie does not arrange housing. However, the host university will usually provide you with a list of on-campus and off-campus housing options. In the case of off-campus housing options, the host university may direct you to third-party partners/services.

You can connect with students featured on our @Dalstudyabroad Instagram account, where dozens of students share their experiences abroad. Feel free to reach out to any of them directly. You can also attend the annual Study Abroad Fair to speak with visiting exchange students and Dal/King’s students who have returned from exchange.