Now that you’ve been nominated by Go Global to go on exchange, it's up to you to maximize your learning opportunities. There are some critical steps for you to complete.
You are the agent of your own experience
Sometime after Go Global has selected you for exchange and matched you to a partner university, you must apply for admission to the partner university.
In the weeks or months after Go Global has notified you of which partner university you've been matched to, you will receive the details about completing the “partner application.” This is the application you will submit to your host university which they will use to register you for your exchange.
You will be able to reference your application instructions on your Gateway application under "Transcript & Partner Application" in the "Post-Acceptance" section.
Your host university may also contact you directly with detailed application instructions. Let Go Global know if these instructions differ greatly from the instructions we sent you.
Some partner universities request online applications, while others require paper applications. Do not send any paper application materials directly to the partner. If paper copies are required, submit paper documents to Go Global and we will mail them to your host university on your behalf.
If your application was done completely online, then please email Go Global to confirm that you successfully submitted your application.
Most partners will require you to submit your official university transcripts.
Go Global will order your UBC transcripts for you and upload them to your Gateway application under "Transcript & Partner Application." You will download it and include it with your application to your host university.
If you are a transfer student from another post-secondary institution, you will need to submit official transcripts from all of your previous institution(s).
Every university has a different application process. While some may be as simple as completing one form, others may require additional documents such as
It is the student’s responsibility to prepare all documents required for the partner university application.
Speak to your Go Global advisor if you have questions about preparing your partner university application.
After you submit your application to your partner university, you will receive a letter of acceptance (also called a “confirmation of enrolment” or “letter of admission”) from the partner university. This letter may be sent directly to you or to Go Global. You may need this letter for visa or permit applications for travel and stay in your host country.
If you have not received this letter two months before the start of your exchange, contact Go Global.
An exciting and challenging part of the next several weeks or months will be planning your travel and preparing yourself for life in your destination.
Students are responsible for their own travel planning. This includes booking flights, applying for relevant visas/permits for your host country, and finding housing.
Flights:
Passports, visas, and study or residence permits:
Housing:
Availability of campus housing/residence varies between universities. Most host universities provide incoming students with information about finding local housing on- or off-campus.
UBC is committed to preparing students for safe and successful international experiences. In order to achieve this, any student participating in a Go Global Program must complete the following:
Failure to successfully complete these and any other requirements may result in withdrawal from the Go Global Program.
Course registration at your host university:
Students will receive information from their host university before arrival about course registration. The course registration process and timeline varies greatly between universities and can be quite different than at UBC. For example, at some universities there may not be an add/drop period like at UBC, or course registration may only happen when you arrive. In other cases, for example, you may have a very small window of time to register for courses.
Note that course content and availability at your host university may change; Go Global cannot guarantee access to specific courses or whether available courses will meet your degree requirements.
Make sure to understand the exchange Transfer Credit Process.
UBC registration while abroad:
Every student participating in a Go Global program will be registered in the appropriate section of an EXCH course by Go Global. Registration in this course serves as indication on your SSC record that you are participating in an exchange program.
Registration in EXCH will allow you to retain your UBC status and eligibility for scholarships and loans while you are away. Tuition fees are assessed based on 15 credits per term for EXCH for Winter Sessions (unless you have a letter from the Centre for Accessibility that recommends a reduced course load) and on a per-credit basis for Summer Sessions.
If you are in a study abroad program at a partner university and paying fees there, the EXCH course will not generate UBC tuition fees. Go Global will contact you with more information on the EXCH registration process before your departure.
In most cases, exchange students will be assessed fees at UBC and will pay tuition for 15 credits per term. A small number of partnerships require that you pay comparable tuition directly to the partner university.
The Go Global Fee (of $415.00) is an administrative fee required for all applicants to Go Global programs. The fee is non-refundable. However, it may be adjusted under the following circumstances:
Not matched:
You are eligible to have your Go Global fee adjusted from $415.00 to $93.25 (i.e. reduced by $321.75) if:
Withdrawals:
To withdraw from your Go Global exchange or summer abroad program, you must contact Go Global by email to request withdrawal. You will then be asked to complete a short withdrawal form.
Students who withdraw from Go Global by the relevant deadline below, will have their Go Global fee adjusted from $415.00 to $321.75 (i.e. reduced by $93.25).
Please consult with your Go Global advisor if you have any questions.
There are a number of International Learning Awards to support your participation in a Go Global Program. You will automatically be considered for some of these awards, while others require an application. It is important to note that students can only receive one exchange-related award or scholarship. Please review the available international learning awards and scholarships.
Go Global will notify you which application-based scholarships you are eligible for. For scholarships administered by Go Global that you need to apply to, log in to Go Global Gateway CWL and select "Search Scholarships."
All university awards and scholarships pay directly towards students’ tuition and fees. But if you owe less than the amount of your award or scholarship, you will receive a cheque for the remaining amount. Similarly, if you pay your tuition and fees in advance, you will get a cheque for the full amount of your scholarship.
Since you may not be able to pick up your cheque in person, you must do one of the following:
Going on Exchange is an exciting endeavor and it’s worth every moment of additional preparation. As an Exchange student, you will have special requirements to complete your loan application and to receive your loan.
Drop-in advising hours (UBC Vancouver)
Monday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Tuesday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Thursday: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
You might not need to see an advisor. General questions about Go Global Exchange can be answered at the Go Global Main Office in the UBC Life Building (Vancouver) or by emailing go.global@ubc.ca.
Group advising for Outbound Exchange
Outbound Exchange students are strongly encouraged to attend a Group Advising session before meeting with an advisor. Group Advising for Outbound Exchange students takes place weekly (excludes statutory holidays and office closures):
Wednesday: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Room 1501 (Multipurpose Room) in the Life Building
Telephone: 604 822 0942
Fax: 604 822 9885
