Exchange Students
Tessa Hogg in Nyhavn, Copenhagen
Exchange to University of Copenhagen Denmark
"My semester exchange at Copenhagen University was a fantastic experience. The city is beautiful, the people friendly and the University itself is the ideal mix of history and cutting edge technology and architecture. All you need in Copenhagen is a bicycle, an open mind and a will to meet people!”
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Information for Outgoing Exchange Students
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study at a university in another country? Are you looking forward to completing your degree so that you can take off and explore the world? Are you keen to experience a culture not your own? If you have ever asked these questions of yourself, an exchange programme may be just what you’re looking for!
New Exchanges
The following exciting new exchange destinations are now open for applications for 2013!
- Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China
- Aalto University - School of Economics, Finland
Please see below for more information on the exchange programme and our new or current partner institutions.
What is a student exchange programme?
A student exchange programme permits you to study for one semester or up to one year at a university overseas. There are many advantages to studying part of a degree overseas:
- Experience a different culture,
- Make new friends and see new places,
- Take courses not available at Canterbury,
- Enhance your future career prospects.
What does it mean to be an exchange student?
The key part of being an exchange student is that you are still enrolled here at Canterbury. You pay your normal Canterbury tuition fees and best of all, you do not pay tuition fees at the partner university! If you are eligible for a student loan/allowance here at Canterbury, you will continue to be eligible while on exchange. You are responsible for all of your own living expenses although there are travel grants available to help pay for airfares. You will be graduating with a Canterbury degree, not with a degree from the partner university. Subject to approval from the relevant UC departments and deans, courses successfully completed at the partner university are credited to your Canterbury degree.
Where can you go on exchange?
We have over 50 partner universities around the world, so you’re bound to find a destination that’s right for you. Many of the programmes are open to most faculties and to undergraduate as well as postgraduate students. However, some of these programmes are limited to a particular faculty or a department, and some programmes may require knowledge of a language other than English.
How do I get more information?
If you are interested in going on exchange in 2013, the first step is to attend an Exchange Seminar. Exchange seminars are held weekly throughout Semester 1 in 2012. Please note that all seminars are the same and you only need to attend one of them.You can see the seminar dates and times in the table below.
If you wish to find out more about the exchange programme, you are required to attend the Exchange Seminar in the first instance. If you cannot attend a seminar and need more information, please contact Anna Foster at anna.foster@canterbury.ac.nz or Percy Chan at percy.chan@canterbury.ac.nz.
Important:
Pleases check this website before you attend a seminar in case of changes to the schedule.
| Date | Time |
Venue |
|
| 9 May (Wednesday) | General Exchange Seminar |
12pm |
KA04 |
Commerce Exchange Information Evening |
6 pm |
KH3 |
|
| 17 May (Thursday) - CANCELLED | 12pm |
KA04 |
|
| 23 May (Wednesday) | 12pm |
KA04 |
|
| 31 May (Thursday) | 1pm |
KA04 |
|
How do I Apply?
University of Canterbury students must in the first instance apply to Canterbury to take part in an exchange programme. The application form (PDF, 64 kb) can be downloaded here.
If you are an Engineering student, you must also submit an Engineering course plan and the course descriptions of the courses you wish to take at the partner university on exchange. Please see the Engineering course plan form (Word, 110KB) for further details.
Important:
Applications must be submitted to the Helpdesk in Student Services Centre. Applications must be submitted by the deadlines indicated below.
The University of Canterbury is looking for applicants who will be good ambassadors of the university and have a clear sense of purpose for going on the exchange. Applicants should have a good academic record, usually at least a B average, although students with marginally lower grades may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants for the exchange will be interviewed and selected for the exchange. Normally there is a limit to the number of students who may be selected for any particular exchange. Once a student has been selected for a particular exchange the student will be directed to apply to the partner university for admission as a non-degree exchange student.
Student Exchange Deadlines
Exchanges for 2012
Exchanges for 2012 are now closed.
Exchanges for 2013
Information Seminars for students interested in going on exchange in 2013 are held weekly throughout Semester 1 2012. You are required to attend an Exchange Seminar before you apply. Please note that all seminars are the same and you only need to attend one of them.
Applications for 2013 undergraduate exchanges must be submitted to the Helpdesk in the Student Services Centre by the following dates.
You are welcome to submit your application before the deadlines below. But please note that applications will not be assessed until after the following deadlines.
University of California – 31 May 2012
University of Washington – 31 May 2012
All others – 1 July 2012
You should apply by the above deadlines if you want to go on exchange at any time in 2013 (i.e for either Semester 1 2013 or Semester 2 2013).
University of British Columbia and University of Alberta (Canada)
Students interested in the University of British Columbia and University of Alberta for 2013, please note that the earliest you could now start at UBC or Alberta would be September 2013 (you will need to apply by Canterbury’s 2012 application deadline). September start (Semester 2 Canterbury time) is recommended for both universities.
Pompeu Fabra University (Spain)
The exchange programme for Pompeu Fabra University is now open for 2013. January start (Semester 1 Canterbury time) is recommended for this university. You will need to apply by Canterbury’s 2012 application deadline.
University of Nottingham (UK)
Students applying to Nottingham to study in Nottingham’s departments of Business, English, Architecture and Culture/Film/Media (Communications Studies) can now only apply for Semester 2 2013. Semester 1 2013 exchanges in these areas at Nottingham are already closed.
All Exchange Applications
All applications must be submitted to the University of Canterbury Student Services Centre. You cannot apply to the partner university without first being selected by Canterbury. Postgraduate students please check with International Relationships Office regarding recommended deadlines and the availability of postgraduate exchanges at any given university before commencing your application.
Please note that while every effort will be made to accommodate your choice of university, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to nominate you for your first choice university and you will need to select at least two back-up options. The availability of exchange destinations may change from year to year and the University of Canterbury reserves the right to amend the list of partner universities or deadlines at any time. Please check this website for updates.
Planning your study
- It is your responsibility to ensure that the partner university you are applying for will be a viable exchange for you in terms of the courses and credit you need for your UC degree. Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with your remaining UC degree requirements (the Student Advisors in the relevant Colleges here at UC can assist you with a degree plan showing your remaining UC degree requirements). It is also your responsibility to ensure you have checked the partner university webpage for any required pre-requisites, course restrictions or limitations in your area of study.
- Some subjects may be closed or limited for exchange students and this will vary between universities. Usually this information can be found on the webpages specifically dedicated to exchange students on the partner university website. If you are going on exchange to a university which has limitations on courses in your subject area, you do need to be prepared that you may not be able to take the courses you hope to and may have to return to UC after your exchange for a longer period to complete your degree.
- A reminder also that UC cannot guarantee the availability of specific courses at the exchange partner university and that you need to plan to be as flexible as possible with course selection on exchange. If you are doing a UC degree which requires you to take compulsory courses and you plan to take any compulsory courses on exchange, it’s particularly important that you are aware of the possible implications of this for your degree. You also can’t usually take more than a standard course load on exchange (equivalent of 60 UC points per semester).
Engineering Students
Please note that the usual time for Engineering students to go on exchange is during the 2nd Professional Year. It is not possible to go on exchange during the 1st Professional Year. Engineering students must look carefully at courses offered at the partner university to ensure they are likely to meet UC requirements and must discuss their proposed programme of exchange courses in detail with the relevant Professional Year coordinator here at Canterbury before applying.
Important:
Engineering applications will NOT be considered unless a course plan agreed to by the relevant UC Engineering department is included. You must also submit an Engineering course plan and the course descriptions of the courses you wish to take at the partner university on exchange. Please see the Engineering course plan form (Word, 110KB) for further details.
Chemical and Process Engineering students wishing to go on exchange can only do a whole year exchange which fits within UC’s academic year (single semester exchanges or cross year exchanges are not possible for ENCH students due to the whole year courses required at Canterbury).
Civil Engineering students MUST discuss your course plans well in advance with the relevant Professional Year co-ordinator. Additional documents for the exchange application are required. Please contact the International Relationships Office for further information on this.
Travel and Medical Insurance
All domestic and international students in New Zealand who are travelling off-shore as part of their study programme require appropriate and current medical and travel insurance. The insurance must meet the University of Canterbury's minimum requirements and be valid for the entire period off-shore. Refer to the Insurance Requirement for Outgoing Exchange Students (PDF, 109KB) for more information.
For further information please contact:
Anna Foster
International Mobility Co-ordinator
Phone: (03) 364 7947
Email: anna.foster@canterbury.ac.nz
Percy Chan
International Mobility Co-ordinator
Phone: (03) 364 2987 ext 4864
Email: percy.chan@canterbury.ac.nz