Resources for Nominated Exchange Students
These resources are a quick reference for the basic information and contacts you need for all stages of your exchange. Nominated students are enrolled in a pre-departure program which provides complete information for preparing for an exchange.
Exchange Programming
| Exchange 101 | A comprehensive Canvas program that all nominated exchange students are required to complete in advance of their program. Some of the topics include: general logistics, exchange credit, safety, financial and health preparations, and cultural/academic transition. |
| SFU Exchange Pre-Departure Session |
A session held in March (for Summer and Fall exchanges), or October (for Spring exchanges) to prepare you for your exchange. Also an opportunity to meet with students who are going on exchange to the same country as you, and in some cases, SFU students who have recently returned from their exchange, and students from your host country who are on exchange at SFU. |
Academic Info
| Exchange Credit Applications | You can begin your exchange credit application as soon as you have finalized which courses you will be taking (and do not anticipate any changes/drops) and you have collected the required course documentation. The exchange credit ratio will determine the value of your courses (please refer to your SFU partner profile page). You must complete an exchange credit application (which includes submitting a course syllabus and other required documents, as applicable) for each course you will be taking, if you intend to transfer the credits back to SFU. |
Travel Health
| Travel Health Insurance | Instructions and information on using the SFSS plan (StudentCare) for your exchange can be found here. You are not required to use this plan, but must ensure that you have adequate extended travel health coverage for the duration of your exchange. If you require proof of your travel health insurance coverage please contact your travel health insurance provider directly to request this and provide any necessary documents to prove you are an exchange student. If you are covered by the SFSS Health and Dental plan, individual questions and requests can be submitted via Contact Form or visit the SFSS office for more information. |
| SFU Health and Counselling Services | Prepare for your health before travelling and note that some countries require certain vaccinations before entry. Travel health consultations are available for a reduced fee for SFU students at SFU Health and Counselling Services. Click here for how to contact Health and Counselling Services and more information. |
| My Student Support Program (My SSP) | My SSP is a free service available to all SFU students, including while you are abroad. With My SSP, all graduate and undergraduate students will have access to immediate or ongoing, confidential support - accessible from anywhere in the world by phone or through the downloadable app. Worldwide, immediate options are available 24/7 in multiple languages. |
Emergency Contacts and Travel Tips
| International SOS | International SOS is one of your first points of contact in the event of an emergency abroad. ISOS provides medical, security and logistical expertise to help safeguard SFU’s international travellers before and while abroad. They provide medical, security and general travel advice, such as information on the standard of health care, how to pay for medical care, the availability of medications, safety of the blood supply, embassy/visa information, dialing code information, cultural etiquette and financial and voltage/plug information. Membership information will be provided in the Exchange 101 Canvas program and hard copy cards will be available at your Pre-departure Orientation. |
| Canadian Consular Services | Includes country profiles, travel warnings, online registration service, and more. If you are a non-Canadian citizen, we recommend looking at whether similar resouces are provided by your country of citizenship. |
| Immigration | ISS cannot assist with the immigration process to foreign countries. For inquiries, please contact your host institution or host country's consular services directly. International students at SFU should contact SFU's International Student Advisors to discuss their exchange as it pertains to their status in Canada. |
| Global Affairs Canada: Country Insights | More than just the do's and dont's of every country. Find answers to your intercultural questions from a Canadian and a local point of view (e.g. conversation, dress, religion, ethnicity, gender, etc.). |