Outgoing exchange students
The University of Waterloo offers over 150 exchange opportunities world-wide, allowing Waterloo students to spend one or two terms abroad at an accredited partner institution and receive academic credits for their studies abroad.
Why study abroad?
Going abroad is a life-changing experience! Studying abroad provides an opportunity to travel, explore other cultures first-hand, learn a new language, develop your skills and experience in a way that a traditional classroom setting may not provide, and make friends around the world.
How it works
When on exchange, you will pay tuition fees to the University of Waterloo, equivalent to 2.5 credits per term, rather than to the exchange university. The courses taken during the exchange can be credited towards your Waterloo degree (subject to academic approval). Generally, successful completion of courses abroad means a minimum grade of 60% or C/C+ in the course by our standards (your faculty exchange representative can confirm what grade is required for your specific academic program). All acceptable grades received from international courses will appear only as "credits" on your Waterloo transcript. The transfer credits will be assessed upon successful completion of your exchange (generally 2 to 4 months following the end of your term abroad).
Depending on the destination/host institution, you may go on exchange for a duration of one term to one year (equivalent to two terms at Waterloo since most universities abroad do not operate on a trimester system like Waterloo). You may confirm the applicable duration by host institution on the country-specific links.
In order to be eligible for an exchange, your overall average/grade point average (GPA) should be at least 70% (some programs require higher averages) and you should have completed a minimum of two years of university studies.
Although you normally go on exchange in your third year, you should begin preparing for this experience as soon as you arrive at Waterloo. Speak to your academic advisor about creating your academic plan beginning in first year and consider taking appropriate language and culture courses if you are interested in an exchange to a non-English-speaking country.
Global Experience Certificate
As a University of Waterloo student you are encouraged to become a global citizen, expand your horizons, learn from direct experience, and make a difference in the world. Achieve these goals by completing the requirements for the Global Experience Certificate (GEC). A University of Waterloo exchange qualifies for the "International Experience" component of the GEC. For questions about the GEC, please contact the GEC Coordinator.