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Exchange

Exchange

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Exchange

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The World Awaits!

International exchange programs at Western give you the opportunity to study at more than 100 different institutions in over 35 countries around the world.

Benefits of Going on Exchange

  • Gain global perspective
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Expand your knowledge
  • Immerse yourself in a different culture
  • Build intercultural awareness
  • Meet friends from around the world

Program Details

  • Pay regular tuition to Western, not international fees
  • Available bursaries and scholarships
  • Remain OSAP eligible while on exchange
  • Receive guidance from International Learning staff
  • Partner universities assist with accommodations, settling in, and any questions during your stay
  • Courses are transferred back to your Western degree through the Course Approval process with the assistance of academic departments and Academic Advisors

Who Can Apply?

  • Open to all undergraduate students at main campus and affiliated colleges. Please note that FIMS students are eligible to go on exchange after completion of Year 2
  • Undergraduate students usually apply for exchange in second year and take part in third year, though some may go on exchange in fourth year.
  • Short-term summer exchange programs are available to students starting in first year. Students are required to have completed a minimum of 1 term prior to applying for exchange.
  • Students are selected based on academic achievement and their suitability as an ambassador for Western.
  • Successful applicants have an overall average of 70% or above and are in good academic standing
  • Check the specific program eligibility online in Atlas
Browse Programs in Atlas

Before You Apply

Before you can pack your bags, you’ll have to decide what kind of international experience you want to have, and which program is right for you. This guide will help you to ask the important questions and make sure you pick the program that’s best for you.
  • Search available programs via Atlas, Western’s International Learning portal
  • You can narrow down your search by selecting various filters, such as destination, term, type, subject area, language of instruction
  • Under “Type” in the right-hand side of the search box, select “Exchange” then “Apply Search”
  • Review details and eligibility requirements for your program of interest
  • Application fees* and placement fees* apply (* Fees are non-refundable)

Watch our video on Searching for Programs in Atlas

 

  • Come to an information session (held regularly throughout the academic year) to learn more about the application process and your program options
  • Visit our office during drop-in hours to speak with our International Learning Coordinators or Global Learning Ambassadors (trained student leaders who have participated in a Western international learning experience). 

Apply Online

To begin an application for a program, visit Atlas to select your desired program

Before starting your application, read the entire program page to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. Once you are ready to start an application, click the "Login to Apply" link at the bottom of the program page. Complete and submit your application

An application fee* will be charged to your student account (* Fees are non-refundable)

Please note: do not login unless you are proceeding with an application

Please note that you may apply for only one program per term. Additional destinations or program options can be listed in the Program Selection section of the application under the "Optional Program/Destination" dialogue box. Please do not submit multiple applications.

There are general application questions you should be prepared to respond to when completing your online application in Atlas, such as:

  1. Why do you wish to be considered for the program (academic and personal reasons)?
  2. List any extra-curricular, volunteer and work activities that you have been involved in over the course of your University career.
  3. What have you done to prepare yourself to live in a culture different from your own? How do you think you will cope with the differences?
  4. Discuss a stressful experience in your past and how you dealt with it.

 

Many partner institutions and organizations require a separate application in addition to the one required by Western International. This secondary application may be available at the time of the application in Atlas or may be provided to you at a later date

Some programs may require supporting documents. Submit any supporting document by the application deadline


Watch our video on Submitting an Application in Atlas
  • Application deadlines vary by program, generally between late Fall and early Winter terms. Check specific program details in Atlas

After You Apply

  • Western International will review and evaluate your application and update your application status in Atlas
  • Your application status will remain in "Application Submitted" until the program coordinator evaluates your application. You will be notified via email whether your application has been approved or not
  • In some cases, you may receive a conditional approval. The program coordinator will contact you to let you know what additional information is required to move your application to "Approved"
  • After receiving your program offer via email, you must accept or decline your offer within the specified time indicated in your offer email. Students who do not respond by the deadline are subject to automatic withdrawal
  • Once your application is successful and you accept your placement in the exchange program, a placement fee* will be charged to your student account (*Fees are non-refundable)
  • A Course Approval Form will need to be completed 6-8 weeks prior to your departure. You will receive further information about the course approval process after you have accepted your offer for the respective program
  • Before departing for your international experience, you are required to complete the pre-departure and safety abroad requirements
  • Grades from your exchange will be recorded as "Pass/Fail" on your Western University transcript . Please keep in mind that students who later apply to graduate or professional programs will normally be required to provide a transcript from the host university, and their grades from exchange will be assessed at the discretion of the program that they are applying to.
*Please note Ivey Business School and Western Law offer their own exchange programs for Ivey and Law students

Frequently Asked Questions

Attend one of our information sessions and ask returning students about their experiences. You can also research the universities and countries that you would like to visit.
We generally encourage students to go on exchange in their third year, but students are also eligible to go in their second year.
Students who participate in an exchange in their final year of study may not graduate until the Fall convocation. Due to timing differences in academic years at universities around the world, your grades may not be available in time to meet published deadlines to graduate. Please note that these circumstances are beyond the control of the Western International and Western University, and as such, neither party can be held liable for these occurrences. In addition, students applying to a professional school such as Law, Medicine and Dentistry, after spending their third year abroad should note that a final transcript may not be available in time to meet the application deadline for these programs. Western University cannot be held responsible for these circumstances
Graduate students are eligible to study at some of our partner universities. You will need your supervisor's approval to apply. Please contact an International Learning Coordinator for more information at goabroad@uwo.ca
No, you can choose to go for one term only. When selecting the term you would like to apply for, please note the start and end dates of the academic year at the host institution.
Yes, some of our partners offer summer programs.
Most of our exchange students live in on-campus residences at our partner universities. If the host institution does not own residences, their International Exchange Office helps incoming exchange students find off-campus housing. 
The overall cost of an exchange will vary significantly depending on your spending habits and the country and city in which you study. The good news is that you will pay your regular tuition to Western and not international fees. Exchange participants are responsible for the cost of airfare, travel documents, applicable vaccinations, supplementary health insurance, accommodation, and other incidental expenses. Participants are required to arrange their own travel/immigration documents, plane tickets, health insurance, and vaccinations. Please note that there are scholarships available to exchange students to help cover some of the cost.
Yes, there are scholarships available help support your exchange experience. For more information, please visit our Scholarship & Funding page.

Yes, but you must prepare all documentation before your departure.

No, going on exchange will not affect your eligibility.

Evaluations are completed by country, and therefore some students might be contacted before others. However, all students who applied by the December and January deadlines will be contacted via email by the end of February.

Term dates vary greatly from country to country. Visit Atlas and click on the university you are interested in to view approximate dates. 

Most of our partner universities offer courses in English.

Part of the exchange experience is learning to adapt to a different academic system. For some, this might mean having fewer class hours and more independent work. Classes may be structured differently compared to Western or there could be fewer assignments and more exams. When asked if they found class more difficult, most of our returning students respond "no.” We encourage you to seek advice from our returning students.
You must be a full-time student while on exchange. The number of required courses varies depending on the institution you are attending. Each university has a different grading system so you will need to be aware of the overall number of credits you need to take, rather than the number of courses. Visit Atlas and click on the university you are interested in to view credit requirements.

Grades from your exchange will be recorded as "Pass/Fail" on your Western University transcript . Please keep in mind that students who later apply to graduate or professional programs will normally be required to provide a transcript from the host university, and their grades from exchange will be assessed at the discretion of the program that they are applying to.

The committee will begin assessments once the deadline has passed. Your complete application will be assessed based on your academic suitability and ability to be a positive Western ambassador. The committee will select candidates based on the online application, letters of reference and transcript. We will contact you as soon as we have the results of your application. This is typically by the end of February for first round applicants.

1. Confirm your acceptance in writing.

2. Complete a Course Approvals Form and have an academic advisor/department counsellor from your department approve the courses you plan to take abroad. If you do not complete and submit a Course Approvals Form, you will not receive credit for the courses you complete while abroad.

3. Fill out an application form for your host institution. We will send you instructions. Be advised that approval from the host university can take several weeks. You are not officially accepted until your host university has approved your application and sent you an official offer letter. Denial by the host university is very rare. 

4. Before you leave, you must attend Pre-Departure Sessions which typically run throughout the month of March and October. You can also choose to complete these pre-departure sessions in OWL. You can search for pre-departure in the list of Joinable Sites. Failure to attend one of the sessions may result in the cancellation of your exchange.

5. It is also your responsibility to conduct research on your own (via the Internet, travel agencies, foreign consulates, etc.) to ensure that you are knowledgeable about your host institution and country.