Are you interested in an International Exchange?
How Student Exchange Programs work
In a nutshell, the BIODAQUA Student Exchange Programme allows students of all partner institutions to attend one of the partner universities for up one term while remaining registered at their home university. Students continue paying tuition and student fees to their home university.
When you apply to the BIODAQUA Exchange Programme, your application is first assessed for eligibility by the home university. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can then apply directly to the host institution. You can find details concerning the partner universities and the courses on offer on this website.
1. What exactly are the BIODAQUA Student Exchange Programmes?
Student Exchange Programmes allow students of all BIODAQUA partner institutions to attend one of the partner universities for 3 - 6 months while remaining registered at the home university. Students continue paying tuition and student fees to the home university and remain eligible for any awards, scholarships and financial aid.
2. Can anyone go?
To be eligible, you need to consult the Student Exchange Office: for instance, in one partner university you need to have achieved the following grades:
EXAMPLE
70% average (for 2nd year, 3rd year or graduate students) in the September 2002 to April 2003 academic year. You need a 75% average if you are in your first year of university-level studies to be registered full-time in a undergraduate or graduate degree programme.
Your nomination to exchange will stand only if you are accepted as a transfer student if you are in good standing with respect to the university student code of conduct.
3. Can I go at any point in my degree?
Undergraduate Student
You can study on exchange in your second or third year. Most students go in year 3.
Graduate Student
With the approval of your graduate supervisor, you can go on exchange to most partner universities. Graduate students usually go after their first year of study.
4. Where can I go?
Canadian students can go ONLY to European partner institutions.
European students can go ONLY to Canadian partner institutions.
Europe
Greece: Agricultural University of Athens (European Coordinator)
Belgium: University of Gent
Ireland: University of Cork
Italy: University of Ancona
Greece: Institute of Marine Biology of Crete
Ireland: AQUATT, Dublin
Canada
Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrew's, New Brunswick (Coordinator)
University of New Brunswick
St.Mary's University, Nova Scotia
Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia
University of Guelph, Ontario
Mount Allison University New Brunswick
Fisheries and Oceans, New Brunswick
5. How do I apply?
Students should apply to the BIODAQUA representative in their home university in the first instance.
Look at the contacts page to find out whom to contact.
6. How do I decide which partner university options are best for me?
Provided that your home university recognises your study abroad as an acceptable contribution towards your degree, then you have several options to choose from. Please examine these options carefully and consult your local project representative.
Here's how to get the information you need to identify which options will work well for you: Check out the Student Exchange Programmes possibilities in your home university. There should be information about all of our partner universities as well as links directly to the partner university sites. Pay specific attention to the academic programme and language of instruction information for each partner university.
Talk to your instructors, academic advisors or international programme office staff in your faculty, and the SEP team.
7. Can I afford to go on exchange?
As an exchange student, you continue the procedures which are in place at your home university, not those of the partner university (i.e., if you are a Canadian student, you will continue to pay the tuition fees at your home university, and if you are a European student, you will follow the European procedures). However, you are responsible for all other costs associated with studying at the partner university (eg. travel, books, housing, food). Your International Office will inform you about student exchange stipends for which you are eligible. These stipends are not meant to cover all your costs as an exchange student, but follow the SOCRATES pattern of helping to top up the extra costs involved. You may also be eligible for student loans, so it is advisable to check carefully all options with your International Office.
Work It Out
As part of your exchange application, you should complete a budget worksheet for each of your partner university options. This will help you determine the financial cost of your proposed exchange. The amount of money required for exchange varies greatly from country to country and also from student to student, depending on the lifestyle that you adopt while on exchange. You must also check out and make arrangements for medical and other forms of insurance. This is particularly important for European students visiting Canada.
8. Where do I live while on exchange?
Most partner universities will provide you with access to both on-campus or off-campus accommodation. You are responsible for all costs associated with housing at the partner university. You can also choose to live off-campus. Most partner universities will assist you in finding off-campus accommodation.
9. Do I have to speak the language of instruction fluently?
This depends on the partner university and what you are studying. As part of the application process, your language skills may be assessed if you wish to visit a non-English speaking school as one of your options and intend to take courses in a language other than English. You may also receive some online instruction in the basics of the language spoken in your chosen exchange country.
10. Once I'm gone, am I on my own?
The BIODAQUA Representative and the International exchange staff are in contact with students on exchange. The partner universities also have an International Office with staff to help you on your exchange visit.
11. Do I get credit for all the courses I do on exchange?
It is anticipated that you will receive exchange credit for all course and project work successfully completed at the partner university. Start with your proposed study plans to ensure that you are identifying partner universities that offer sufficient relevant academic courses to meet your home university degree requirements. It is your own responsibility to ensure that the courses you take at the partner university meet your home university degree requirements. If you are accepted as an exchange student, you will probably be asked to get permission from your faculty to have your exchange studies considered for credit towards your degree. Remember courses offered by any university may change and you may need to adjust your academic program accordingly.
The actual transfer of exchange credit happens when you return to your home university. Your faculty has final authority over how courses taken at the partner university will be credited towards your degree.
12. Can I finish my degree while away?
No. You must return to the home university for at least one term after your exchange
13. Does everyone who applies get selected?
No. The selection of students for an exchange opportunity is a competitive one. Applications are assessed by faculties or departments.
