Course Restrictions

While Western attempts to accommodate as many requests for courses as possible, certain programs at Western have limited enrolment. There are courses in the following departments below may have limited availability for exchange students.

Courses listed as a “Senior Research Thesis/Project”, “Directed Readings”, or similar, are not available to visiting exchange students. Visiting exchange students are also generally not permitted to enrol in Experiential Learning, Field courses, or Faculty-Led Study Abroad programs (please note these courses have additional fees associated with them).

Courses at the affiliate colleges (Brescia, King’s and Huron) are heavily restricted and we do not encourage visiting exchange students to enrol in these courses. Please see “Other Faculties/Schools” for more information. Courses in the following areas of study are exclusively offered at the affiliates: Food & Nutrition, Leadership Studies, Global Studies, Chinese Language, East Asian Studies, Jewish Studies, Theology/Religious Studies, Thanatology, Social Work, Disability Studies, Jewish Studies, Social Justice & Peace Studies, and Childhood & Social Institutions. If you are pursuing a degree in the aforementioned fields, we recommend you see if your home university has an agreement with one of our affiliate colleges.

Visiting exchange students are not permitted to enrol in any courses offered by the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Ivey Business School, the School of Graduate and Post-doctoral Studies, or professional programs in Health Studies or the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Open Courses – courses that are available to all visiting exchange students, regardless of prerequisites. Please note that even if a course is listed as ‘Open’, you are not guaranteed enrolment in this course. Courses are subject to final approval by the department and class sizes.

Priority Courses – courses that are closed to visiting exchange students until priority is lifted in mid to late summer.

Restricted Courses – courses that are unavailable to all visiting exchange students, regardless of background.

Arts and Humanities

Classical Studies

Open Courses

  • Generally, CLASSICS 1000-2999 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment.
  • A background in Classical Studies/Latin/Greek is typically required for enrolment in all courses listed 3000-4999. Please see individual course prerequisites.

English

Open Courses

  • ENGLISH 1000-2099 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment
  • All other English courses require the equivalent of a 1.0 UWO first year credit in English or Literature Studies (one full year course, or two term courses).

Priority Courses

  • All English courses 2100 level or above have priorities placed on them. However, special considerations or permission may be given at discretion of the department if the student is an English or Literature Studies Major at their home institution. 4000 level seminar courses are designed for students in their final year of an honours English degree.

Restricted Courses

  • 4999E

Film Studies

Open Courses

  • Generally, FILM 1000-2199 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment.
  • All other Film Studies courses require an academic background in film or related field of study.

Priority Courses

  • 3368F/G – Film Production

French

  • All students wishing to take French courses at Western University must complete a French Language Placement Test to determine which courses they are eligible to enrol in.
  • Visiting students wishing to take French Linguistics and Literature courses listed at the 3000 and 4000-level should contact french@uwo.ca to determine if they will be able to enrol. These courses require previous academic background in French Linguistics and Literature.

Languages and Cultures

Courses 1000-2199 in Comparative Literature and Culture, Digital Humanities, and Intercultural Communications have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment. Courses in Japanese, Persian, and Portuguese are also open for enrolment and are designed for students with no to little previous knowledge of the respective language.

There are Language Placement Tests required for enrolment in the following languages courses offered at Western University, to determine which course level would be the best fit:

  • Arabic
  • German
  • Italian
  • Spanish

Philosophy

  • Generally, courses listed 1000-2999 have no prerequisites and are open to enrolment.
  • All other courses require an academic background in Philosophy or other field which will be listed as a prerequisite.

Restricted Courses

  • PHILOSOP 2320F/G – Philosophy for Integrated Science
  • 4900 and above are not available to visiting exchange students

Theatre Studies

  • Theatre Studies is flexible with prerequisites but generally, an academic background in an Arts and Humanities, Communications, or Social Science field is preferred.

Special Note

  • 3900G – Destination Theatre is available for students who will be at Western during the Winter term, but this program involves a summer study abroad component, and students will be expected to cover these additional costs.

Visual Arts

Open Courses

  • AH 1642A/B
  • AH 1648A/B
  • SA 1601
  • SA 2504Y
  • SA 2508A/B - Explorations 1: Image Explorations
  • SA 2510A/B - Explorations 2: Drawing Explorations
  • SA 2560A/B - Explorations 3: Making Art with Accessible Technology

Priority Courses

  • MCS 3610F/G
  • MCS 3660B
  • AH 2600F/G - if had 1st year Art History equivalent prerequisite, would be available
  • AH 2632 F/G -if had 1st year Art History equivalent prerequisite, would be available
  • AH 2636 F/G -if had 1st year Art History equivalent prerequisite, would be available
  • AH 2676 F/G -if had 1st year Art History equivalent prerequisite, would be available
  • AH 4640F/G
  • AH 4650F/G
  • AH 4660F/G
  • SA 2610A/B
  • SA 2620A/B
  • SA 2630A/B
  • SA 2652A/B
  • SA 2660A/B
  • SA 2662A/B
  • SA 3611 - Drawing requires previous Studio Art experience
  • SA 3633
  • SA 3653
  • SA 3660A
  • SA 3662A/B

Restricted Courses

  • MCS 3660A/B
  • MCS 2605E
  • MCS 4605E
  • AH 3660F/G
  • AH 3694F/G
  • SA 1605
  • SA 2602A/B
  • SA 3602A/B
  • SA 3623
  • SA 4603
  • SA 4605

Women’s Studies

Open Courses

  • WOMENST 1000-2199 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment. These include:
  • WS1020E - Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies
  • WS1021F/G - Introduction to Sexuality Studies
  • WS1022F/G- Gender, Justice, Change
  • WS1023F/G - Gay Life and Culture in the 21st Century: Beyond Adam and Steve
  • WS1024F/G - Introduction to Equity, Diversity and Human Rights
  • WS2160A/B - Intimate Relations: Sex, Gender, and Love
  • WS2161A/B - Women and Popular Culture: From Garbo to Gaga
  • WS2162A/B - The Body
  • WS2164A/B - Gender and Fashion

Women’s Studies courses 2200-4999 require an academic background in Women’s Studies, Feminist Studies, Gender Studies, or another related field.

Writing Studies

Open Courses

  • Writing 1000F/G; 1031F/G; 2101F/G; 2111F/G; 2131F/G; 2520A/B; 2530A/B; and Speech 2001 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment by VES, subject to availability. Although there are no prerequisites for the first five courses, Writing Studies would like to approve entry to these particular entry-level courses as the courses are tailored to various streams in our modules and programs.  

Faculty-Specific Courses

  • Writing 1030F/G and 2130F/G are restricted to students registered in Western Nursing and Engineering respectively, and would ordinarily not be open for enrolment by VES.  If VES students are from Nursing or Engineering programs, they can, with approval, be considered for these Faculty-specific courses.

Senior Courses ‘Open’ To VES with Permission

  • Senior (2200+) Writing courses ‘open’, subject to availability, to VES with permission* from Writing Studies:
  • Writing 2202F/G; Writing 2209F/G; Writing 2210F/G; Writing 2214F/G; Writing 2215F/G; Writing 2223F/G; Writing 2225F/G; Writing 3224F/G; and any others from time to time (e.g. Special Topics) scheduled with no listed priority constraint.
  • *Permission would require at least some demonstration of a background in Writing Studies.

Priority Courses

  • Enrolment in all other Writing courses listed 2200-4998 is restricted to students with prerequisites and who are registered in Writing Studies programs or modules until the Registrar’s date for lifting priorities in July. After that date, enrolment would be open to VES with permission from Writing Studies, subject to availability, as above.

Restricted Courses

  • Writing 3300F/G
  • Writing 4999E

Engineering

  • Enrolment in 3000 or 4000-level project courses (examples include, but are not limited to, ECE 3399, MSE 3399, SE 3350, ECE 4415, ECE 4416, SE 4450 and MSE 4499) is not permitted for exchange students.

Biomedical Engineering (BME)

  • Enrolment in BME courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (CBE)

  • Enrolment in CBE courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  • Enrolment in CEE courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

  • Enrolment in ECE courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Engineering Science (ES)

  • Enrolment in ES courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Green Process Engineering (GPE)

  • Enrolment in GPE courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME)

  • Enrolment in MME courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.
Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE)
  • Enrolment in MSE courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Software Engineering (SE)

  • Enrolment in SE courses will be based upon student’s prerequisites and educational background in a related engineering field.

Health Sciences

Health Studies

Open Courses

  • HS 1001A/B
  • HS 1002A/B
  • HS 2110
  • HS 2300A/B

You can find information about prerequisites, antirequisites, restrictions, and priorities in Western’s Master Timetable. Each request from a student is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, based on the student’s academic background and prerequisite courses. Generally, 4000 level courses are restricted, but special permission may be given, based on course availability and the student’s background.

Kinesiology

Open Courses

  • 2000A/B – Physical Activity and Health à only available to non-Kinesiology students

Activity/Movement Courses

  • Students are permitted to take up to 0.5 credits per semester of activity/movement based courses numbered 2900-2999.

Restricted Courses

  • Anatomy 2221- Functional Human Anatomy – students wishing to take an Anatomy course could consider Kinesiology 2222a/b and/or Kinesiology 3222
  • Kinesiology 3335 – Leadership in Physical Activity
  • Kinesiology 3336A/B – Practical Aspects in Athletic Injuries – students wishing to take an Injuries course could consider Kinesiology 2236b
  • Kinesiology 3412A/B – Exercise & Chronic Disease
  • Kinesiology 3413A/B – Exercise, Impairment & Aging
  • Kinesiology 3402A/B – Introduction to Professional Kinesiology
  • Kinesiology 4443E – Senior Bioscience Research Project
  • Kinesiology 4444E – BA Senior Research Project
  • Kinesiology 4560A/B – Advanced Topics in Musculoskeletal Rehab
  • Kinesiology 4585 – Athletic Injuries Practicum
  • Kinesiology 4590 – Professional Kinesiology Placement
  • Kinesiology 4995F/G- Practicum
  • Kinesiology 4996F/G- Practicum

Nursing

  • No courses offered in Nursing are available to visiting exchange students.

Faculty of Information and Media Studies

Media, Information, and Technoculture , Media and the Public Interest, and Digital Communications

Priority Courses

  • All MIT courses that are not restricted are subject to priority.
  • All DIGICOMM courses are subject to priority.

Restricted Courses

  • MIT 2000F/G
  • MIT 2025A/B
  • MIT 2100F/G
  • MIT 2200F/G
  • MIT 2500A/B
  • MIT 3000-4999 all restricted*

*Special consideration may be attained for visiting exchange students studying Media, Communications, or another related field at their home institution. Please get in touch with our office if that is your case.

Please note that Media, Information, and Technoculture, and Media and the Public Interest courses are both coded as “MIT”.

Music

Music

Open Courses

  • 1102A/B – Listening to Music
  • 2104A/B – Foundations in Singing
  • 2700A/B – Post WWII Popular Music
  • 2701A/B – Musical Theatre
  • 2702A/B – Introduction to Jazz
  • 2708 & 2709A/B – Special Topics
  • 3860B – Special Topics in Music Education (cross-listed with ENGLISH 2190G): The Creativity of Madness
  • Music 1629A/B requires background knowledge in music theory.

Restricted Courses

  • Music 1639U 

Most of the Faculty of Music’s offerings are restricted to Music students. Please contact us at goabroad@uwo.ca if you are completing a degree in Music at your home institution and require high-level courses for enrolment.

Dance

Open Courses

  • 2172A/B – Special Topics in Dance
  • 2174A/B – Dance Basics

Priority Courses

  • 2270A/B – Dance Improvisation
  • 2275A/B – Intro to Modern Dance Tech

Medical Sciences

Courses in the following study fields require previous academic background in the field. Please refer to the Bachelor of Medical Science’s webpage for incoming exchange students for a complete list of courses with restrictions.

 

Science

Biology

      • Generally, a background in biology or a related field is required for all courses offered by this department. Please see the prerequisites for individual courses.

Biochemistry

Priority Courses

      • 3383F/G
      • 3392F/G

Restricted Courses

      • 2288A/B
      • 4455F/G
      • 4483E
      • 4999E
      • Chemical Biology 4500E is also restricted

Chemistry

      • Generally, a background in chemistry or a related field is required for all courses offered by this department. Please see the prerequisites for individual courses.

Computer Science

Open Courses

      • All 1000 level courses are open to visiting exchange students, except for 1027, which requires 1026 as a prerequisite. Please note antirequisites for each course carefully.
      • CS 2034A/B – Data Analytics: Principles and Tools
      • CS 2101A/B – Foundations of Programming for High Performance Computing
      • All other upper year CS courses require an academic background in computer science or a related field. The Department of Computer Science will carefully check student transcripts for prerequisite and antirequisite requirements.

Earth Sciences

      • Every application is evaluated individually to assess if the student has the minimum background to enrol in the requested course. In general, EARTHSCI 1000-level courses are accessible to most students. Our EARTHSCI 2000-level courses generally require completion of one course in each of Calculus, Chemistry, and in most cases, Physics. 3000 and 4000-level courses require pre-requisite earth science courses that must be evaluated carefully.

Environmental Science

Open Courses

      • ENVSCI 1021 has no prerequisites and is open for enrolment.
      • Environmental Science offers a very limited number of courses. Students completing a degree in Environmental Science take many courses from other departments towards their degree. Here you can see all the courses offered by other departments that can be taken towards an Environmental Science degree.

Priority Courses

      • 3300
      • 3350

Restricted Courses

      • 4970
      • 4999

Mathematics

      • A background in mathematics is required for all courses offered by this department. Please see the prerequisites for individual courses.
      • 4000 level courses in Mathematics are often cross-listed as graduate courses and are very small, so enrolment may be limited.

Physics and Astronomy

Open Courses

      • 2070 A/B – Understanding the Earth’s Atmosphere
      • Generally, a background in physics/astronomy/planetary studies or a related field is required for all other courses offered by this department. Please see the prerequisites for individual courses.

Restricted Courses

      • 2950Y – Year Two Seminar
      • 3950Y – Year Three Seminar
      • 4950Y – Year Four Seminar
      • 4999E – Honors Research

Statistical and Actuarial Sciences

Actuarial Science Courses

Priority Courses

      • AS 2553A

Restricted Courses

      • AS 1021A/B
      • AS 2427A/B
      • AS 3424A/B
      • AS 4426F/G
      • AS 4824A/B
      • All other actuarial science courses are open to visiting exchange students, subject to fulfilling the prerequisite courses.

Financial Modeling Courses

Priority Courses

      • FM 2555A
      • FM 2557B
      • All other financial modeling courses are open, subject to fulfilling the prerequisite courses.

Statistical Science Courses

Priority Courses

      • SS 2503A/B
      • SS 2857A
      • SS 2858B

Restricted Courses

      • SS 2864A/B
      • SS 3843A
      • SS 3869B
      • SS 4844B
      • SS 2141A
      • SS 2143B
      • SS 4960F/G

All other statistical science courses are open, subject to fulfilling the prerequisite courses.

Social Science

American Studies

Open Courses

      • AMS 2310F/G
      • AMS 3310F/G requires previous academic background in American history/politics/literature/related American studies field.

Anthropology

Open Courses

      • 1020
      • 1021A/B
      • 1022A/B
      • 1025F/G
      • 1026F/G
      • 1027A/B
      • 2100
      • 2101A/B
      • 2261F/G
      • 2263A/B
      • 2267A/B
      • 2275A/B

All other 2000, 3000, and 4000-level courses in Anthropology require an academic background in a related field. Enrolment in these upper year courses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Business Administration

Open

      • 1220E – Introduction to Business

Special Permission Required

      • 1299E or 2299E – Business for Engineers
      • 2257 – Accounting and Business Analysis
      • 2295F/G – Business Basics for Sciences

Restricted Courses

      • All 3000 and 4000 level courses offered through Ivey Business School are unavailable to visiting exchange students. Please see business courses offered through our Department of Management and Organizational Studies.

Commercial Aviation Management

      • Courses in Commercial Aviation Management are only open to students studying aviation or airport management at their home institution. These courses require an intermediate to advanced level of knowledge of the aviation industry. Please see the DAN Management and Organizational Studies information below.

Economics

      • All courses require background in mathematics or economics. Please see prerequisites for each course to determine if you are eligible to enrol. Eligibility is subject to the approval of the department.

Restricted Courses

  • ECON 2166A
  • ECON 2166B
  • ECON 2288F
  • ECON 3352A
  • ECON 3364G

Indigenous Studies

      • Typically, all courses offered in Indigenous Studies are available to students interested in studying the culture, history, and languages of the Indigenous People of Canada.

Geography

Open Courses

      • All Geography courses numbered 2000-2199 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment.
      • GEOG 3432A/B
      • The following courses require third- or fourth-year status at university, as well as equivalent prerequisites: GEOG 3414B, GEOG 3441G, GEOG 3443G, GEOG 3445F, GEOG 3461F, GEOG 3462G, GEOG 3463G.

Priority Courses

      • GEOG 3250A/B
      • GEOG 3431A/B
      • GEOG 3464F/G

Restricted Courses

      • Field camp courses, GEOG 3000Y and GEOG 3901B.

History

Open Courses

      • HISTORY 1000-2199 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment.

A background in history or a related field is required for enrolment for all other courses listed 2200-4999. (ie. If a student wishes to enrol in an American history courses, but has never taken another history courses, background in American politics or literature may be considered an appropriate prerequisite.) Enrolment is at the discretion of the department.

Priority Courses

      • HISTORY 3722F/G and 3720F/G are popular among Western history students so enrolment will only be considered after the priority deadline lifts.

Linguistics

Open Courses

      • ANTHRO 1027A/B – Introduction to Linguistics
      • ANTHRO 2151A/B – Language, Gender, and Sexuality
      • ANTHRO 2152A/B – Languages in Canada
      • A background in linguistics is required for all other courses offered by the Department of Linguistics.

Restricted Courses

      • LINGUIST 4247F/G
      • LINGUIST 4248F/G

DAN Management and Organizational Studies

      • All courses in MOS are open to students who meet the prerequisite requirements. Please see the individual courses for their prerequisites.

Restricted Courses

      • MOS 4410A/B – Strategic Management

Political Science

Open Courses

      • POLSCI 1000-2199 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment.
      • 2203F/G
      • 2211E
      • 2244E
      • 2246E

A background in Political Science is required for enrolment in all other courses listed 2200-3999.

Priority Courses

      • 4000 level courses have priority given to Western students. Incoming students will need to wait until priority is lifted to see if space is available. 4000 level courses are popular and required for PS programs at Western, so enrolment is very limited and may not be granted.

Restricted Courses

      • IR 2702E
      • IR 4702E
      • PPE 2200F/G

Psychology

Open Courses

      • PSYCH 1000-2099 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment. Any level above this requires an academic background in Psychology.

Priority Courses

      • PSYCH 3000-4999 typically have priority given to Western students. Incoming students will need to wait until priority is lifted to see if space is available.

Sociology

Open Courses

      • SOCIOLO 1000-2199 have no prerequisites and are open for enrolment.

Priority Courses

      • 2205A/B
      • 2206A/B
      • 2240E
      • 2270A/B
      • 2271A/B
      • All 3000 and 4000 level Sociology courses have priority given to Western students and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Criminology courses are very popular for students in Sociology, so availability of these courses may be limited.

Transitional Justice

Open Courses

      • TJ 2001F/G has no prerequisites and is open for enrolment.
      • TJ 3001F/G requires a prerequisite in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction studies or special permission form the instructor.

Other Faculties/Schools

Brescia University College

Please consider all main campus options prior to exploring courses with class section 530-539. Brescia coordinates and maintains their own exchange agreements – please check with your institution if there is an agreement, if Brescia would be a better placement for you. Programs offered exclusively through Brescia include Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Leadership and Social Change.

Faculty of Education

Visiting exchange students are not permitted to enrol in any education courses.

Faculty of Law

Visiting exchange students are not permitted to enrol in any law courses. The Faculty of Law coordinates and maintains their own exchange agreements – please check with your institution if there is an agreement, if the Faculty of Law would be a better placement for you.

Huron University College

Please consider all main campus options prior to exploring courses with class section 550-559. Huron coordinates and maintains their own exchange agreements – please check with your institution if there is an agreement, if Huron would be a better placement for you. Programs offered exclusively through Huron include: Global Studies, Chinese Language, East Asian Studies, Jewish Studies, Theology, and Leadership Studies.

King’s University College

Please consider all main campus options prior to exploring courses with class section 570-579. King’s coordinates and maintains their own exchange agreements – please check with your institution if there is an agreement, if King’s would be a better placement for you. Programs offered exclusively at King’s include: Thanatology, Social Work, Disability Studies, Jewish Studies, Social Justice and Peace Studies, Childhood and Social Institutions, and Religious Studies.

Ivey Business School

Visiting exchange students are not permitted to enrol in any courses at Ivey Business School. Ivey coordinates and maintains their own exchange agreements – please check with your institution if there is an agreement, if Ivey would be a better placement for you.

School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Western's exchange program operates at the undergraduate level only. Visiting undergraduate exchange students are not permitted to enrol in courses listed 9000-9999.

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Visiting exchange students are not permitted to enrol in any courses offered by Schulich’s professional programs. Please see the offerings under Faculty of Science for undergraduate Medical Science courses available.