Outgoing Exchange: Learn About Exchange

The following eligibility requirements must be met at the time of your application.

Undergraduate Students:

• Students must hold a minimum 2nd year standing in a degree program
• Students must have completed at least one full academic year at Carleton University (4.0 credits at Carleton University)
• All students must have enough credits remaining in their degree to study full-time (minimum of 2.0 credits) at the partner institution
• Students must have a minimum overall Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 7.0 in completed courses
• Students are expected to maintain their good academic standing through to their departure on exchange
• For the Killam Fellowships Program, a minimum overall CGPA of 10.0 in completed courses is required
• Architecture students, a minimum overall CGPA of 8.0 and 10.0 studio GPA is required
• Engineering students must consult their academic advisor about eligibility
• Bachelor of International Business students must refer to the Sprott School of Business for eligibility requirements

Graduate Students:

• Graduate students must receive approval from their graduate department in order to be eligible for an exchange placement abroad. We recommend you consult with your Faculty Advisor to discuss the possibility of exchange

The Exchange Team does not offer academic advising. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you meet with your departmental advisor to discuss where you stand in your degree, and how the exchange will fit into your studies.

• Most students complete their exchange during their third year of study. If you are considering an exchange during your fourth year, you will have additional considerations to discuss with your advisor. NOTE: Going out on exchange in the last term of the final year of your program will definitely delay your graduation.
• Saving your electives for your exchange semester/year. This may make it easier for you to transfer courses back to Carleton. It is important to consider that you may not have access to specific required courses (e.g. major/specialization requirements) at a partner university.
• Taking summer courses. Some students complete summer courses at Carleton before or after their exchange to fulfill degree requirements they missed while abroad and to minimize the impact on their anticipated graduation date.

The partner institution list is a starting point only and the information listed is a general guideline. Students are responsible for thoroughly researching their partner institutions of interest. Some factors you may consider while doing your research are:

• You will need to rank three (3) institutions on your application in order of preference. While the ISSO makes every reasonable effort to place students in their first choice, due to the competitive nature of the Exchange Program we cannot make guarantees
• The language(s) of instruction: Many of Carleton’s exchange partners offer courses taught in English so learning another language is not a requirement to go on exchange. However, taking a language course as an elective before going abroad can be a fun way to help you feel more comfortable traveling in a country where English is not the first language. In addition, if you are proficient and comfortable enough to study in another language, you may find even more partner universities available to you.
  • We also recommend checking out the conversation groups offered by the Language Resource Room to help practice your skills.
  • You can also find information on Summer Language Programs on the International Student Services Office website.
• Academic Calendar: Not all partner institutions follow the same academic year as Carleton. It is very important to consider approximate start and end dates when planning for your exchange.
• Review Legend: Not all our exchange agreements are open to all students. Please review the legend on the partner institution list carefully for more information.
• Course Equivalencies: The Registrar’s Office maintains a Course Equivalencies Database which includes a list of courses that former exchange students have taken. This is not a complete or current list of all available courses at your host university, but you can use it as a guide to determine what kinds of courses you can take.

Exchange Information Sessions are 60 minutes in length and typically run from September to December every year. We strongly recommend that you attend an information session before applying for exchange.

The ISSO also hosts an Exchange Fair in the University Centre (4th floor) which takes place annually in early October. This is a great opportunity to learn about our partner universities and programs. You will also be able to meet with students who have been on exchange. Due to COVID-19, the Exchange Fair has been cancelled for the Fall 2022 term.

Check out our Stories from Exchange page to learn more about other students’ experiences. The Sprott blog also features stories from business students who have gone abroad and is another great resource.

Follow Ravens Student Life on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more information on exchange and other international opportunities.