To which country or University can I go? What documents do I need before going?
Can I apply to a scholarship? Check out our FAQ!
Depending on your learning abroad opportunity, you may have different visa requirements – work permit, study permit or none at all (if applicable). Generally, the host institution will send you exact details on visa procedures after you have been approved by U of T. Find out more about your learning abroad opportunity by clicking on “Learn More”.
In terms of academics or your program of study, you will likely continue your studies as normal. Depending on your learning abroad opportunity, you may have to reach your college registrar (graduate unit for graduate students). Kindly note that some students returning for a long term travel can feel fairly stressed out after returning home. There is help available in such a case. You may find it helpful to visit the International Transition Advisors at U of T or contact the U of T Health and Wellness Centre.
Each learning abroad opportunity has a different application procedure, thus, the travel procedures may also differ. Generally, students apply to their applicable learning abroad opportunity and await the results. If they are approved to travel, they will then follow the necessary steps to achieve a travel/work visa, get in contact with the host institution for their learning abroad opportunity and travel according to their sessional dates. Check out our Prepare page for further information.
Based on your learning abroad opportunity and the country of your travel, there may be several safety issues. A student travelling at any U of T sanctioned travel has to attend a mandatory safety abroad session. This session orients students to the safety protocols in case of an unexpected event and helps students plan their travels better. To find out more about safety issues, visit the Safety Abroad page.
Each learning abroad opportunity has a different application procedure and different fees. Some have an application or programs fee, while others don’t. Find an experience of your interest and click the “Learn More” button to find out the details of your learning abroad opportunity.
Language requirements vary for each learning opportunity. Generally, there are ample learning abroad opportunities for only English speakers. To find out about the language requirements, check out the experience page.
International students at U of T are eligible for several learning abroad opportunities, including the Student Exchange Program and the Summer Abroad Programs. Each opportunity lists out its eligibility criteria. Unless otherwise specified, learning abroad opportunities are open to all students at the U of T, and some are open to alumni as well.
There are some internships and work opportunities available to students, and they have a specific eligibility criteria. Explore the Learning Abroad website!
Depending on the experience, you may have little or no impact on your academics. If you are earning credits from your learning abroad opportunity, you may find it helpful to contact the transfer credit office (for students in faculty of Arts and Science only) or your college registrar (graduate level students contact their graduate unit), prior to your travel to pre-approve your credits and upon completion of your learning abroad opportunity. Kindly note that it is your responsibility to make sure that the credits you take abroad can be transferred to U of T.
You surely can! Whenever possible, we recommend that you get your courses pre-approved. Planning for graduation while abroad can be tricky! If you are on a learning abroad opportunity in your last term at the U of T and you are earning credits towards your degree, you may have to extend your graduation, as your credits may not transfer in time. If you are not earning credits during your learning abroad opportunity, you will be able to graduate on time, provided that your learning abroad opportunity ends before your graduation.
Eligibility and grade requirements vary for each learning abroad opportunity. An all-round student with above average grades and an interest in extra-curricular activities is an ideal candidate for most of the learning abroad opportunities.
You may apply for as many bursaries as you are eligible for, in the term that you are planning your learning abroad opportunity. Kindly note that most bursaries and awards prioritize students who have not received the same awards in the past.
Requests to meet returning students can be made with the respective learning abroad opportunity. A good opportunity to meet returning students is to attend the various promotional events run by the offices governing each learning abroad opportunity. For instance, the CIE hosts an annual student exchange fair where students from across the campus who have been on an exchange program meet other students who are interested in going on exchange. Such events happen throughout the year in different divisions. Visit our Contact page and reach out to us!
Based on the length of your learning abroad opportunity, you can go abroad for as little as a few days to a full-academic year. Additionally, you can do multiple learning abroad opportunities throughout your time at U of T. Find out more about your opportunity and the length of your program by clicking the “learn more” button next to your opportunity.
If you are a domestic student and have not opted out of the UTSU Insurance, you are eligible for University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) travel insurance. This is automatically available for all International students. For more information about travel insurance, check out the UTSU website.
Housing availability varies from program to program. If you are attending another institution in your learning abroad opportunity, there is a high chance of student housing availability for that institution. If you have a research opportunity, housing may be arranged as part of your agreement. For more information click the “learn more” button next to the opportunity you are interested in.
Generally speaking, the cost of living in another country is comparable to students living on-campus at the U of T. Some institutions in Europe will be more expensive, however, institutions in Asia and South America will be comparatively less expensive. U of T offers a variety of scholarships and bursaries through the CIE and various other offices. For more information, visit the Funding page.
Courses taken abroad that are equivalent to your subject post requirement can be transferred towards your POSt. Kindly note that some degree requirements limit the number of transfer credits except for the credits earned over a student exchange program. Check your degree requirements to verify the number of transfer credits allowed.
Yes! You may transfer credits to your degree and/or your POSt (if applicable). To check out the list of pre-approved credits, check out the U of T Transfer Explorer. If your course does not appear in the U of T Transfer Explorer, it means you simply have to manually get the credits approved.
Each program has a different eligibility criteria, which may/may not include a minimum number of completed credits. If you meet the eligibility criteria for your learning abroad opportunity (click “learn more” next to your preferred program for more details), you may apply to go abroad! However, the best time is generally when you do not have academic commitments that must be completed at U of T, for example, going on a student exchange program in your last term at the U of T is not recommended as you may not receive your credits in time for you to graduate!
Most learning abroad opportunities offer funding options for select students. The eligibility requirements may differ for each program and there may be additional funding options available at your faculty. Find out more information on our Funding page.
Kudos for completing your application for a Learning Abroad Opportunity!
While the application procedures vary from program to program, you would generally have to wait 4-6 weeks for your application result. Now is a good time to look at the nitty gritty details of your program, such as, the transfer credit processes, gathering the necessary funds, applying for any applicable funding options, visa applications etc. Visit our Prepare page to know more! After you receive the results of your application, you would then be required to attend a Safety Abroad Workshop and other workshops that may pertain to your program.
The Learning Abroad Website lists out the various international opportunities available to students. As soon as you have an understanding of the international opportunity you are interested in, click the “Learn More” button for the details attached to your international opportunity. The process and deadlines vary by program.
The University of Toronto offers a wide range of opportunities for students from all faculties. Whether you like to travel with your fellow classmates – the Summer Abroad program and the International Course Modules, or you enjoy the thrills of a solo travel experience – the Outbound Exchange program and the Research Abroad, the U of T offers it all! Explore the Learning Abroad website!
Students who have previously taken courses that cover the same topics that are covered in a prerequisite may apply to the relevant department for exemption.
Exchange students typically take 3-5 courses per semester. Each single-term course equals 0.5 credits, so the typical course load is 1.5-2.5 credits per semester.
Your home institution assesses and determines how your U of T credits will be transferred back. Each single-term course at the University of Toronto equates to 0.5 credits, which is the equivalent of 6ECTS.
No, graduate students cannot take any undergraduate courses as the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is a separate faculty. Also, graduate exchange students are expected to take all or most of their courses within their host department and it is unlikely that they will be able to take courses outside of their host department.
There are two terms available for exchange each year: Fall and Winter. Contact your institution’s exchange office to determine whether you will be nominated for one semester or a full year exchange.
Fall: September to December
Winter: January to April
Full Year: September to April
There are only a few scholarships that are available to inbound exchange students. Some require an application while others do not. Please visit our scholarship page for full details.
If you are in Life Sciences or any scientific discipline which is not related to engineering, you must be nominated to the Faculty of Arts & Science.
Our office does not decide the campus at which you will be completing your exchange. As your home institution nominates you to one of the three campuses, you will need to work with your home institution to determine which of our three campuses is most suitable for you. Please note that certain programs, such as those of the Faculties of Applied Science & Engineering and Law, are only offered on one campus. Once you are nominated, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to switch campuses after the application deadlines.
No, only students who are attending one of our partner institutions can apply for an exchange at U of T.
You have been nominated to a specific faculty by your institution. Once nominated you will need to fill out your application with the materials required by the particular faculty you have been nominated to. See your institution’s webpage for details.
See FAQ above for links to faculty calendars.
Yes, graduate applicants should provide descriptions of all post-secondary courses they will complete before coming to U of T, including the courses they completed during their undergraduate studies.
Some faculties require additional documents. Please check the faculty-specific requirements on your institution’s webpage to determine if additional documents are needed.
- All students must submit a transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended. If you have attended multiple institutions you will need to combine the transcripts into one document.
- A description of courses taken. See student application guide above for details.
All documents must be labeled “Last Name, First Name – Name of Document” (e.g. Smith, John – transcript).
The only accepted document formats are .doc and .pdf. “Secure” PDF files and documents requiring passwords to access will not be accepted.
Please include the name of the course and the code number (see FAQ above for faculty-specific links).
e.g.) PSY100H – Introduction to Psychology
Visit the calendar for the faculty you have been nominated to. Not every course is offered every term. The course listing for next year will be available on your faculty’s timetable this summer.
For each student, you will need to upload (labeled “Last Name, First Name – Document Type”):
- Class Rank Letter
- Confirmation of Graduation
- English test scores
- Reference Letters
- Transcript of all postsecondary studies
Please refer to your institution’s webpage on our website to determine which faculties your institution has partnerships with and what the requirements of each faculty are.
Only .pdf and .docx are accepted file types. Do not upload “secure” PDF files or documents that require a password.
All documents must be labeled in the following format: “Last Name, First Name – name of Document” (e.g., Smith, John – Transcript)
Graduate exchange students must be nominated to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) regardless of their majors at their home institutions. This includes students majoring in architecture, social work, education, etc. They should not be nominated to the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Faculty of Social Work and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).
- Go to: https://studentmobility.utoronto.ca
- Click “Forgot your Password?” and enter your email address.
- The password reset email will be sent from: no-reply-sep@studentlife.utoronto.ca.
