Schulich School of Business

Exchange FAQs

As a BBA/iBBA student, you may apply to go on exchange for your third or fourth year. As an MBA/IMBA student, you may apply to go on exchange for your third or fourth term.

Where can I go on exchange?

Under your program level (undergraduate or graduate) you will find a list of Partner Schools with whom Schulich has exchange agreements. Destinations are available in the Americas, Africa (grad only), Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Am I guaranteed to be matched to my preferred destination?

Although there are enough spots to send all applicants on exchange, The Schulich exchange committee cannot always fulfill the students’ request for a specific destination. As such, the committee strives to please all students by gathering as much information as possible about the needs and wants of each student. With this information, the committee is in a better position to match students to great locations.

Is there a way for us to make connections and build relationships with students from our exchange school before we arrive?

It may be possible for you to make connections with students at your future exchange school if the exchange office at the partner school provides students with that option in the form of a buddy program. However, the best way for you to get to know other students from you exchange school is to meet the exchange students who are currently studying here at Schulich.

Is there a way to get in touch with the exchange students from the host school who are currently attending Schulich? If so, how?

Yes, you can get in touch with exchange students who are currently studying at Schulich. The best way to do this is to contact the Open Arms Committee (OAC). The OAC is a student-run organization that is responsible for helping exchange students with their transition to Canada and into the Schulich community.

I am enrolled in a program at Schulich but will be physically out of the country if I go on exchange. Does this impact my permanent residency or citizenship application?

Being away on exchange may delay your entitlement to citizenship, which requires that the applicant be resident in Canada for at least three years within the four years prior to applying for citizenship. For more details on the Citizenship & Immigration Canada calculation formula, please visit the following link: http://services3.cic.gc.ca/rescalc/resCalcStartNew.do?&lang=en

Is knowing the local language a requirement in order to be matched to a destination where English is not the official language but where classes are taught in English?

A student will still be considered for a destination even if they do not know the official language of the country. Since students can take a full course load in English at most of our partner schools, students who do not know the language are not immediately penalized.

It is beneficial for students to know the basics of the official language of the country as it will be an asset while living in that particular country for four to six months. However, students are not required to know the local language if courses are offered in English at the partner university.

Is preference given to students who studied the language of the host country? If the student is really passionate about going to a particular country where he/she does not know the main language, how likely is he/she to get approved by Schulich?

Preference is normally given to students who have studied the language of the host country. That being said, for most languages, we have several partner schools that will allow students to improve their proficiency in a particular language. Therefore, when a student chooses a school, he/she will need to identify rationale in addition to language proficiency since there will most likely be several schools that can satisfy this desire.

I have heard it is easier to get matched to schools that are less popular; is that true?

It is true that if there are fewer applicants to a school, your odds of being matched to that school are greater. However, we encourage students to identify schools, cities and countries that will provide a great fit with their academic, professional and personal goals regardless of popularity of a school.

Which partner schools are the best?

The Schulich School of Business has created agreements with leading business schools around the world. Some may appear in rankings, others may not. However, in our opinion the best schools are the ones that will meet your needs and provide you with the best fit academically, professionally and personally.

Where do I pay my fees during my exchange term?

All Schulich students on exchange pay regular full-time Schulich tuition fees to York University as they would for any other regular academic term.

Are there scholarships available for students going on exchange?

Since students continue to be registered at an Ontario university during the Study Abroad term, they are still eligible to apply for loans, financial support and scholarships, including OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program). Students are also eligible for the Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarship (OIEOS) offered by York International. You can visit the York International Web site for more details.

Are there bursaries available for students going on exchange?

Undergraduate and Graduate students are eligible for the Travel Bursary. This Bursary allows students to be reimbursed for full or partial cost of their airfare to and from their destination. Students may apply for this Bursary at the completion of their exchange term. Further information is provided at the Pre-departure Session.

An Exchange Bursary is available to graduate students going on exchange. Students should apply for the Exchange Bursary prior to departure. The Exchange Bursary is awarded during the exchange semester.


In the event that a student is denied a visa, or applied for one too late, what options does one have?

If a student is not able to obtain a visa before departure, alternate arrangements will be made. In most cases, the International Relations Office will defer the exchange term to the following year.

Students are encouraged to find out the requirements to apply for a visa for their host countries right after they have been matched.

If you get approved to attend a host school but decide you would prefer another school (that still has vacancies) afterwards, is it possible to change?

If you decide that you do not want to attend the school you have been matched to, you should simply decline your offer. However, that does not allow you to pick from other schools. In a few individual cases, students have been accommodated for switching schools due to extenuating circumstances. However, we do not entertain students shopping around after they have been matched to a school.

Do you find that similar students (e.g. personalities, interests) are applying to similar schools - that is, do you think partner schools have personalities that you can match to students?

Students look for schools that they believe matches their personality, their needs and their professional and academic goals. Through the exchange assessment, our committee learns that some students’ desires would not best match a school that they have chosen as a potential destination. We do take this into consideration and try to match students to schools where they will be able to get the most out of their time abroad.

If I am not sure what courses I want to take because the host school has not finalized all of its courses or the scheduling, when is the latest time I can make my study plan? Can I change it once I get there?

In general, your course selection will happen a few months before your departure. Because schools release their course offerings at different times throughout the year, it could make it difficult to choose courses. For the most part, all schools have an add/drop period when students are allowed to change their schedules. The key point is to notify the Schulich International Exchange Coordinator of any amendments to your study plan for approval.

This information will be explained at the Schulich pre-departure session and upon arrival at your host school.

What if I want to return to Canada before the end of the exchange examination period?

Students going on exchange during the Winter semester must plan to be available at the host school for the entire examination period. Exchange schools are not required to give you alternate assessments. If the term dates of a particular school conflict with other commitments, it is your responsibility to choose exchange schools that will not interfere with your plans.

If you have additional questions that are not covered in this FAQ, contact the International Program Coordinator at your respective level.