Apply to Study Abroad | Guelph Students
Planning for study abroad begins about a year before you leave. The timeline and application instructions below outline when to get started, the steps you’ll need to take, and what to expect along the way.
There is only one application period per year for the upcoming Summer, Fall and Winter semesters.
Application Steps
Make sure you meet the minimum requirements before you begin. Students from all undergraduate and graduate programs, who meet the minimum cumulative average of 68% are eligible to apply to study abroad.
Please note: Students who are registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and are interested in studying abroad should contact the Centre for International Programs at goabroad@uoguelph.ca and your SAS Advisor as early as possible. By reaching out early we can find the opportunity that is best suited to your study abroad interests and accessibility needs.
This is your first required step. All U of G students must complete a Study Abroad Information Session to unlock access to the online application.
- When: Sessions run from September to January.
- Format: Offered online and in person.
- Content: Overview of program options, deadlines, academic considerations, and finances.
- Special Sessions: Program-specific sessions are also offered for opportunities such as field schools.
Use the Program Search Tool to explore partner institutions where you can study abroad, and be sure to review the number of spots available at each university.
Australia and New Zealand are especially competitive because there are very few spots. Since placement decisions are based on cumulative average, we recommend applying to these destinations only if your average is at least 80%. To increase your chances of being placed, diversify your choices and include destinations beyond the most competitive universities.
When ranking your top five choices:
- Make sure to rank your choice in your order of preference
- Destinations with more available spots are generally less competitive.
- For competitive locations, students with the highest cumulative averages are placed first.
- If you do choose competitive destinations, rank them among your top choices and balance them with less competitive options for the rest.
Applications open in mid-December and close in late January (*typically the third Friday in January). Use this time to gather supporting documents, confirm which application(s) you must submit, receive your fall semester grades to include in your cumulative average, and finalize your rankings.
CIP's Online Application: All of U of G's study abroad programs will require you to complete our online application. This application will become available in mid-December. Students will receive an email from the CIP office once they have been added to and have access to the online application. This email will also include more detailed application instructions.
OUI Provincial Online Applications: Students interested in participating in the Ontario Universities International (OUI) programs are required to complete a OUI online application. Please submit all documents as PDFs to the application link:
- ORA and OBW Exchange Program Application
- Supporting Documents: Rank two schools you are interested in applying to and 4 courses/semester that you would want to take at those schools and a statement of motivation.
- ORA and OBW Summer Language Program Application
- Supporting Documents: Letter of motivation
- ORA and OBW Summer Research Application
- Supporting Documents: Nomination letter from a Guelph professor, Invitation from the host professor (a copy of the email approval is sufficient), and a letter of motivation.
Research Abroad Application: Students interested in participating in the research abroad program must also complete CIP's Research Application.
Log into the online application portal (unlocked once you’ve completed an Info Session) and submit your ranked choices with the required documents by the deadline.
- CIP Online Application
- Opens: Mid-December
- Deadline: Friday, January 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
- Submit through the online portal (unlocked after completing the Info Session).
- OUI Provincial Exchange and Summer Language Programs Application
- Deadline: Friday, January 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
- Deadline: Friday, January 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
- Research Abroad
- Some require an additional CIP Research Application, also due Friday, January 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
Students will receive a confirmation email once their application has been submitted properly. If you do not receive the confirmation email, contact cipadmin@uoguelph.ca.
After the deadline, the application portal closes while placements are reviewed in February. During this time:
- Explore scholarship and bursary opportunities.
- Create a budget for your time abroad.
- Watch your email for updates.
You will not be able to see/access your application once the deadline has passed. Don’t panic, CIP has it and is working to place students in our programs.
Placement decisions are released in early March on Acceptance Day. You’ll receive instructions in late February regarding Acceptance day.
- Deadline: Accept or decline your offer within one week in the online portal.
- CIP will host two drop in Q&A sessions during the week you have to accept or decline your offer to help answer any questions you may have.
Once placed, you’ll move on to preparing for your exchange. We will provide you with the following resources/information to support you through this process:
- Access to Exchange Resource SharePoint Site or Field School Resource SharePoint Site
- Pre-departure orientations
- Nomination to your host university
While abroad, you must remain registered at U of G and keep your course approvals up to date. After you return, your transcript is processed, credits are transferred, and you’ll complete a short post-exchange report.
Students studying abroad in the winter semester won’t begin the host nomination/application process until August-October. In the meantime, look through the Pre-Departure Study Abroad Resources. Check out the pre-departure timelines for your next steps.
Study Abroad Timelines
Application Timeline
| Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Complete the Study Abroad Information Session | Twice weekly: virtual & in-person (CourseLink option available) | ||||||
| 2. Application Opens* *you only get access once you complete the information session | Mid Dec | ||||||
| 3. Document released with available spots | Mid Dec | ||||||
| 4. Applications Due (most programs) | Last Fri. in Jan. | ||||||
| 5. Acceptance Day | Early Mar. | ||||||
| 6. Deadline to accept your offer** **One week after acceptance day | 1 week later | ||||||
Pre-Departure Timeline
Please note: Exact dates will vary based on your chosen program
| Summer Departures | Fall Departures | Winter Departures | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAA nominates student to partner university | March | April-May | August-September |
| Student completes the host university application | April | May-June | September-October |
| $85 Exchange admin fee due | April 15 | July 15 | September 15 |
| Apply for travel grants (This is the deadline for most travel grants. Exact dates can vary by grant) | March 15 | June 30 | June 30 |
| Attend mandatory Safe Travel Essentials Orientation | Late March | Late March | Late October |
| Exchange Program Course Selection (EPCS) form due | April 15 | June 1 | November 1 |
| Complete mandatory DepartSmart Orientation on CourseLink | April 15 | June 1 | November 1 |
| Purchase mandatory Guard.Me Travel Health Insurance | 3 weeks before departure | 3 weeks before departure | 3 weeks before departure |
| Attend the optional Traveller's Connection Night | Late March | Late March | Late November |
Re-Entry Timeline
Please note: Before leaving your host university, check to make sure they will send your transcript directly to cip@uoguelph.ca
| General Timeline | |
|---|---|
| Write exams at host university | End of your semester |
| Host university sends transcript directly to CIP | Approximately one month after exam finish at your host university |
| CIP sends exchange transcript to student and U of G Academic Advisor | One week after we receive it from the host university |
| Academic Advisor and student complete and sign the post-EPCS form | 2-4 weeks, depending on the Academic Advisor's schedule. Remember, both the student and the Academic Advisor must sign the form. |
| CIP signs off on post-EPCS and sends it to Academic Records | One week after we receive it. |
| Courses and credits appear on student's U of G transcript | 1-2 weeks after it is submitted to Academic Records by CIP. |
| Earn your re-entry badge by completing the modules on CourseLink | Reflect on your experience abroad and learn how to apply to job applications, interviews, and your personal life. |
Letter of Permission
If you would like to attend a specific university that Guelph does not have an exchange agreement with, you can do what is called a Letter of Permission (LOP). A Letter of Permission gives a student permission from the University of Guelph to take credits at another university and transfer the credits back to their degree at the University of Guelph.
On an LOP the student pays international student tuition and fees to the host institution (often 2-3x more than UG tuition) and is considered a student at the host university for the duration of the LOP. The student is responsible for applying to the host institution and assistance is not provided by the Centre for International Programs.
More information on an LOP is available through the Registrar's Office, and your Academic Advisor will be able to talk to you about Guelph's administrative process.