Your guide to staying well on exchange

Studying abroad requires a lot of planning – the schools to choose, where you’ll live, and which courses to take. But have you considered how you’ll how you’ll manage your mental, physical and emotional health while you’re away?  

Keep these topics in mind during each stage of your planning process. Don't forget to use our Travel Goose to keep track of next steps, or to connect with a Global Learning Coordinator as needed.

Before match

Safety on exchange

Safety

All travel comes with some level of risk. Decide the risks you’re comfortable with. Review the Student travel safety guidance to learn more about supports and pre-departure training   

Language

  • Research how fluent citizens of the country are in your preferred language and ask yourself what your comfort level is if fluency is low.  

  • For example, you may be going to a school where your courses are taught in English, but the main language spoken in the country is different. 

  • Search the university’s website or ask its coordinator which languages are spoken by administrators, professors and students on campus.  

  • There may also be times where you will need to communicate with doctors, pharmacists or other support systems off campus, and this could be challenging if you are not fluent in the spoken language.

Time zone

Think about the time difference and how you'll stay in touch with your support system (friends, family, other loved ones or members of your social circles) while you’re abroad. 

Terrain and accessibility

Access to physically accessible spaces looks different depending on where you go. Consider your needs and research the accessibility of your host campus on Waterloo Passport under the Wellness Planning section.

For instance, if you have challenges with mobility, you might ask yourself: 

  • Are there a lot of cobblestone streets 
  • Is there access to elevators or ramps 
  • Is there transportation on/ near campus or will I have to walk everywhere? 

Culture

Healthcare

  • Review the information on Waterloo’s safety provider Anvil to find out more about health care in your potential host countries. 

  • Review your medical history and consider any current or ongoing conditions you have with a healthcare practitioner, and research if you can get the required treatments (e.g. regular counselling appointments) in your host country. 

  • Make sure you have adequate health and travel insurance for your needs. Your host school will require you to have your own health insurance or to buy from a pre-approved provider. Confirm if you have coverage through WUSA/ GSA, your parents or guardians, spouse etc. 

Medication

Medication

Check government websites you plan to travel to understand: 

  • What medication you’re allowed to travel with 

  • How much you can bring with you 

  • Whether or not you’ll be able to refill a prescription in your host country 

  • What documentation (if any) you need to travel with the medication. Review this example of a  Government of Canada website .  

After match

Travel documents - study visa or residence permit

  • Consider the validity of your passport. Your Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date of your trip.
    • Some embassies will require you to send your original Passport to accompany your visa application. Visit the website of your host country's Embassy or Consulate to learn more.
  • If you are an international student, there may be additional requirements/requirements you must adhere to. Visit your host country’s immigration website for guidance.
  • Whether or not you’ll need a study visa or residence permit depends on your citizenship, where you’re going, and how long you’ll be abroad. Your host school coordinator will provide you with some information about this process.  
  • The level of support that you receive will depend on which country you’re going to. In some cases, you’ll need to navigate the visa application process on your own.
    • Tip: Get an idea of the process and timeline by searching under the immigration section of your host country's official government website.

Academic considerations
  • The structure and style of teaching and assessment (e.g. exams) varies widely around the world.  For example, it is not uncommon for some courses in the UK to have a final exam worth 100% of your grade. Decide if this is something you're comfortable with.  
  • Understand how course transfer and enrolment works.
  • Reflect on the student support resources you need, like note taking or longer test times, and determine if this is offered at the host school. 
  • Verify any disability-based academic accommodations 
    • Tip: If you’re currently registered with AccessAbility Services (AAS) at Waterloo, you can request a Verification of Academic Accommodations Letter to be sent to yourself or the host institution. After providing the letter, AAS does not have a direct contact with your host institution and can’t guarantee accommodation. The Wellness Resources for Exchange Students guide is a good start to learn about available supports at host schools.   
    • Tip: If you’re not currently registered with AAS but you have a known or suspected disability, you can apply for academic accommodations. If your academic accommodation eligibility is established, you can request a verification letter. 
    • Tip: If you haven’t already, consider applying for the Bursary for Students with Disabilities to help cover the cost of your exchange term 

Understand required course loads

Understand required course loads

  • Undergraduate students must take the minimum course load at their host university, which varies. It is typically three courses.  
  • Undergraduate students are usually required to pay for 2.5 units worth of tuition during their exchange term regardless of how many courses they take.  
  • If you have an academic accommodation that includes a Reduced Course Load and tuition discount, you may be able to take and pay for less than 2.5 units during your exchange. 
  • Not all host schools are able to accommodate a reduced course load. Reach out to the Global Learning team to learn more. 

Housing

Housing may look different compared to Waterloo, and some partner schools don't offer campus housing. Review the Where will I live  section on Waterloo Passport to gain a general idea of what housing options are available to you.  

  • Consider what amenities or requirements you have for your living space, including: 
    • Access to elevators or ramps, or other physical space tools 
      • Room dimensions 
    • Bathroom arrangements 
    • Sleeping arrangements 
    • Noise of the accommodations or the surrounding area 
    • Proximity to campus (if off campus) 
    • Access to a fridge for medication 
    • Assistive technology 

Food

  • If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, consider whether you will be more comfortable staying in a residence room with a cafeteria and meal plan, or living in a suite-style dormitory or apartment so that you can buy and prepare your own meals.  

  • Check Waterloo Passport under the Where will I live? section for resources. Remember, you’ll be living there for several months, so you’ll want to make sure that you’ll have easy access to the foods you need. 

  • If you have food allergies, carry your medication close to you.  

  • If you feel comfortable, disclose your allergies to a friend while on exchange.  

  • Be prepared to ask what ingredients are in your food when ordering at restaurants or eating street food. You may need to learn some of the local language to do this.

Lifestyle considerations

Lifestyle considerations

  • Complete the IC4E program so you’re prepared for the intercultural challenges and opportunities you'll experience during exchange.  

  • Plan how you'll find community and stay active. While UWaterloo offers access to gyms and hundreds of clubs on campus, this may not be the case abroad. You may have to find these off campus in your new city. 

  • Remember that you’re a new student to your host university. Find out if there are  orientation programs and/or buddy programs to help you adjust.  

Preparing to travel

Your documents
  • Ensure you’ve received all required travel documents 
  • Keep digital and physical copies of your passport, visa, travel insurance, and any other critical documents. 
  • Think about your needs during travel. If travel or time changes are difficult for you to manage or airports are overwhelming – how can you plan for success. E.g. breaking up your travel over several days, or arriving a few days early to recover from jetlag and the difficulties that come up with travel before classes. 

Create contingency plans

Create contingency plans

While it is impossible to prepare for every scenario, you can start to plan as best you can. 

  • If you have travel anxiety or a disability that makes travel difficult for you, consider what you need to feel comfortable travelling abroad and create plans, like:
    • What if I get lost at the airport? – I can pre-download a map 
    • What if I get sick abroad? – I can buy health insurance and find out which health facility to visit in advance 
    • How can I get from the airport to my host school? – I can call a taxi at the airport and print out the address I need to go to. I can also contact my host school to see if they have any transportation options 

Create an emergency plan

Make a list of who to contact in an emergency including: 

  • Supports at your host school 
  • Local emergency numbers, close hospitals or medical clinics 
  • Supports at Waterloo 
  • Local embassy 
  • Family or friends 
  • Partners 
  • Online or in person social/other communities 
  • Faith communities 
  • The nearest health clinic, hospital and/or pharmacy 

Book an appointment with your healthcare provider
  • During your appointment, consider asking:  
    • What suggestions do you have to stay healthy while abroad? 
    • How much of my medication can you prescribe me before I leave? 
    • Can you provide me with documentation for travelling with medication? 
    • Can you provide me with a letter describing my medical conditions and treatment plan 
    • Are there medications I would need to take abroad (e.g., anti-malarial medication) that could interact with my current medication? 
    • How can I adjust my medication regimen to a different time zone? 
    • Can we keep in touch while I’m abroad, and if so, how? (Phone call, Zoom, e-mail?) If not, do you have recommendations for my care? 
  • Ask how many days of your prescription a pharmacist can supply. Ensure the country you are travelling to allows you to have that amount. 
  • Find out if your medication is legal in the country you're visiting or passing and discuss alternatives as needed.

Prepare your medications and documentation

  • Find a pharmacy near your new home and find out if you can refill your prescription there.  
  • Bring copies of all your prescriptions with you. 
  • Leave a copy of these prescriptions at home with someone you trust in case you lose your documents or require a refill.  
  • Pack an official letter from your physician for any controlled substance and bring it in your carry on.   
  • Keep your medicine in their original containers, ensure labels are easily readable, and that the name on the label matches what is on your passport. 

Prepare your tech

If you have devices that need to be charged (e.g. cellphone, batteries), make sure you have power adapters that will work in your host country.