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  2. Go Abroad
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  4. Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Courses at the host institution may not be available due to classes filling up, course cancellations, time conflicts, etc. Western University is not responsible for host institution course changes and cancellations. We recommend selecting several extra courses for pre-approval to provide flexibility. If you need to select new courses or want to enroll in courses that have not been approved by Western, it is your responsibility to send detailed course descriptions to the academic department contact(s) for review/approval.

All Exchange courses will be recorded as Pass/Fail on your Western University transcript.

Study Abroad (Letter of Permission) grades will appear as converted percentage grades.

If your internship/research is not for credit, you may still receive a transcript from your host institution, but it will not appear on your Western University transcript. If you would like to seek course credit for this experience, please discuss this opportunity and any possible arrangements with your faculty prior to the start of the program. Please note that tuition fees could be impacted or adjusted if seeking course credit. If you received approval for course credit from your faculty, please notify us as soon as possible by emailing goabroad@uwo.ca

At the end of your program, please check with the International Office at your host institution to ensure they plan to send a transcript to Western as follows:

Note: The grading scale at your host institution information is available in the Atlas program page.

Exchange students will be assessed full-time tuition by Western and will pay their tuition the same way as when studying here at Western. Exchange for a term or full-year will result in full-time tuition, and tuition for a short-term, summer exchange will be assessed on a per-course basis.

You may be assessed exchange fees (bus pass, health care coverage, gym membership, etc.) by your host institution. It is your responsibility to pay the tuition and fees by the specified deadline.

Study Abroad students will pay tuition to their host institution and not to Western. Check the host program’s website and acceptance letter for details related to your specific program fees.

Please note that, due to the differences in semester dates around the world, your grades may not be available in time to meet the published deadlines to graduate. There may be several weeks required after the end of your program to receive and process your transcript. Because of this, students who go abroad in the winter term are not eligible to graduate in June of that same year.

Please inform the International Learning team, as well as Accessible Education, within two weeks of receiving an offer to go on an international learning program so that we can explore the availability of these services and make appropriate arrangements, where possible. These services may include exam accommodations (e.g., extra time, print magnifier), digital or Braille textbooks, assistive technology, assistance in class, etc.

Review the International Experiences Considerations Checklist as a resource to help identify some issues that may need further investigating and planning. The considerations listed are not all encompassing; additional considerations may emerge.

Prior to your international learning program, Western and your host institution/organization will share necessary admission information. Also, during the program, your host institution may share information with Western about your progress in the program.

If you may require academic accommodation or accessibility services while abroad, please inform our office, as well as Accessible Education within two weeks of receiving an offer to an international learning program so that we can explore the availability of these services and make appropriate arrangements, where possible. These services may include exam accommodations (e.g., extra time, print magnifier), digital or Braille textbooks, assistive technology, assistance in class, etc. Review the International Experiences Considerations Checklist as a resource to help identify some issues that may need further investigating and planning. The considerations listed are not all-encompassing; additional considerations may emerge.
  • Nominations, applications, placement fees: International Learning Team at goabroad@uwo.ca.
  • Information about course equivalencies and transfer credit: Your academic counsellor/department advisors.
  • Program-specific fee policies, course selection, housing: The exchange office at your host institution.
  • General tips and advice from other students: International Learning Ambassadors at ila@uwo.ca.
  • Travel registry or pre-departure modules: Western's Safety Abroad team at safetyabroad@uwo.ca.