International exchange
Discover your Edge on international exchange
Discover your Edge on international exchange
Discover your Edge on international exchange
Discover your Edge on international exchange
Learning abroad adds a global dimension to your education and life experience. It’s both exciting and a great learning experience, so consider participating in one of UVic’s many exchange programs!
What is exchange?
International exchange lets you take advantage of established relationships that UVic has with its partner universities, and makes it possible for you to study at one of those universities for 1 or 2 terms while paying your regular tuition fees to UVic and earning credit towards your degree at UVic.
On exchange you will be responsible for your travel and living expenses but not tuition fees for your host institution.
Exchange is truly an amazing experience and the testimonials from our students attest to that. So if you are interested, please find details on exchange here.
Where can I go?
UVic has more than 80 exchange partners in countries around the world. You can choose from one of these opportunities including five programs that our department recommends, some of which are exclusively available to Economics students.
- Bocconi University (Italy)
- City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
- Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain)
- University of Exeter (United Kingdom)
These five institutions provide excellent programs and have been popular with our students. As a result, some of their courses (including Economics courses) have been evaluated previously. Transfer credit history for each institution can be found when you click on the above links. Note that this history is a guide only and there is no guarantee that your courses will be evaluated in the same way, but they still provide information about possible course choices.
In some cases you can obtain transfer credit, specific or level, for UVic Economics courses, but it is much easier to transfer elective courses. Also, because exchange credits do not transfer with a grade, you cannot use them to satisfy any program requirement or prerequisite with a grade. For these reasons, we highly recommend that you leave room in your program to transfer electives as well as go on exchange in year 3 or 4.
Am I eligible?
In order to be eligible for the exchange program:
- You have studied at least one year at UVic.
- You are a full-time student.
- You are currently in good academic standing.
- You will have completed ECON 203, 204, 225, 245 and 246 before you leave on exchange. This means that for Economics students exchange normally takes place in year 3 or 4 of your studies.
- You will have declared your Major/Program before you leave on exchange.
The exchange program is open to both domestic and international students.
How do I apply?
There are two application deadlines each year:
- February 1st for exchanges in the First Term of the next Winter Session (September-December)
- August 1st for exchanges in the Second Term of the next Winter Session (January-April)
International Student Services administers UVic exchange programs, and students interested in going on an exchange apply through that office.
Our department normally offers an information session specifically for Economics students in early January of each year. Watch for announcements in the Economics student newsletter and on Facebook. Contact the Social Sciences International Officer for more information.
Is funding available?
Scholarships and travel awards may be available through UVic and external funding agencies. Each funding agency and award program sets its own criteria for eligibility.
Many awards require an academic reference. Start early! Talk to your professors about your international exchange and scholarship applications well in advance of the application deadlines.
TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS
UVic Global Engagement
Student International Activities Fund
www.uvic.ca/international world@uvic.ca
Irving K. Barber BC Scholarships Society
One World International Scholarship
www.ikbbc.ca world@uvic.ca
Premier’s International Scholarship
www.ikbbc.ca
DESTINATION-SPECIFIC AWARDS
Fulbright Canada
Killam Fellowships (United States)
www.fulbright.ca icsinfo@uvic.ca
University of Washington
Corbett Exchange Scholars Program (United States)
icsinfo@uvic.ca
British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association
BUTEX Scholarships (England, Scotland, and Wales)
www.butex.ac.uk
North America Wales Foundation
Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship (Wales)
Exchange Scholarship (Wales)
http://www.nawf.wales/scholarships
Snowdon Trust (United Kingdom)
Grants for student with physical or sensory disabilities
www.snowdontrust.org
UVic Global Engagement
Nimrod Hungarian Mobility Award (Hungary)
www.uvic.ca/international world@uvic.ca
UVic Humanities (also open to Social Sciences students)
Richard and Margaret Beck Student Travel Award (Iceland)
www.uvic.ca/registrar/safa
Asia Partners Travel Supplement (Asia-Pacific region including Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii)
www.uvic.ca/international world@uvic.ca
LANGUAGE STUDY AWARDS
UVic Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI)
Student Language Fellowship
www.uvic.ca/capi
UVic Department of French
Grace and Harry Hickman Scholarship
www.uvic.ca/registrar/safa
ESSAY PRIZES
UVic Libraries
David Harris Flaherty Scholarship
www.uvic.ca/registrar/safa
UVic Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI)
Student Essay Prize
www.uvic.ca/capi
BC Historical Federation
Kaye Lamb Award
www.bchistory.ca
GRANTS AND BURSARIES
Export Development Canada (EDC)
International Business Scholarships
www.edc.ca
UVic Student Awards and Financial Aid
Bursaries
In Course Scholarships
External Awards
www.uvic.ca/registrar/safa
Hear from other Economics exchange students:
The UVic exchange program provides a unique opportunity to experience new cultures and life as a student outside of Canada. Travelling to Copenhagen on exchange is one of the best decisions I have made as a student. The central location made flying to other countries extremely easy and allowed me to experience a wider range of cultures. From seeing the opera house in Vienna to hiking the Bernese alps in Switzerland, there was always something to do.
Taking economics courses at the University of Copenhagen allowed me to gain a unique perspective of how other countries view North America’s policy system and economies in ways that I had not seen before.
Michael,exchange to University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Exchange is all about the people. While studying abroad in Singapore I was so lucky to meet amazing people from all over the world and explore countries around South East Asia with them.
This photo was taken on a trip to Thailand where we visited beautiful temples, beaches and, my favourite, an elephant sanctuary. We spent an entire day there helping the local owners feed the elephants and wash them.
Amy,exchange to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Being in the heart of Asia at the National University of Singapore is an amazing experience.
From learning in world-class facilities, meeting extraordinary people from all around the world and traveling around Asia, there are many reasons to go on exchange
Maxwell,exchange to National University of Singapore
I decided to apply for the exchange program at the University of Victoria because I wanted a completely different experience from my daily life in Milan. I wasn't disappointed! Life on campus offers different things to do and Vancouver Island has some of the most beautiful natural sights I have ever seen.
The best part of this experience so far is the highly international environment I found at UVic: I have met all kinds of people and learned so much about different cultures and lifestyles and I feel this has enriched me as a person.
Chiara,exchange from Bocconi University, Italy
I would say the most valuable thing about exchange is creating connections across cultures and languages, and the amazing friendships that arise from it.
Jacob,exchange to Utrecht University, Netherlands
Exchange is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to live in another culture and country without the stress of working. Although you have to study, there is plenty of time to explore the area and travel. Go to clubs you are interested in or wouldn’t try back home. I’ve done kayaking and skiing over here which aren’t widely available in the UK. It’s a good chance to go beyond your comfort zone.
The biggest piece of advice I would give is to spend as little time on your own at the start as possible. The quicker you meet people, the more at home you feel and the better time you’ll have.
Matt,exchange from University of Leeds, UK