Go on Exchange

Are you ready to discover your passion and free yourself from the familiar? KPU Study Abroad provides students with the opportunity to visit new places, experience new cultures and learn new skills while earning KPU credits. You can combine study, travel and work towards finishing your degree while on exchange! (CLICK ON EACH "STEP" CIRCLE TO LEARN MORE).

 

 IN PERSON EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ARE NOW OPEN to Apply for! 
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY TO LEARN MORE OR CONTACT US AT INTERNATIONALPROGRAMS@KPU.CA

Step 1: Can I go on Exchange? Eligibility & Application Deadlines 

Deciding to go on exchange

Eligibility Requirement for all:

To go on exchange you must:

  • have completed 24 university credits by the time you go on exchange (15 of those credits must have been completed at KPU). 
  • have a minimum GPA of 2.5 
  • Return to KPU after your exchange for a minimum of 9 credits*

*May not apply to all students. Exceptions to this requirement may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible Semesters for Wilson School of Design Students: 

  1. Interior Design (IDSN) : Spring of 2nd year 4th semester or Fall of 3rd year 5th semester. 
  2. Product Design (DEPD) : Spring of 2nd year 4th semester, Fall of 3rd year 5th semester or Spring of 3rd year 6th semester.
  3. Graphic Design for Marketing (GDMA): Spring of 2nd year 4th semester & Fall of 3rd Year 5th semester.
  4. Fashion & Technology (FASN): Spring of 3rd year 6th semester. 
  5. Fashion Marketing: Summer 3rd semester or 5th semester. 

Meet the Application Deadline

SemesterApplication Deadline (Dates are subject to change) 
Fall   2024February 27, 2024
Spring 2025 June 15 2024 
Summer 2024February 27 See Summer School page for more details.  

All components of the application must be submitted for your application to be considered complete! Email a Study Abroad Coordinator for more information and to ask questions at internationalprograms@kpu.ca . We look forward to hearing from you!  

Learn More about Exchange

Learn more about exchange

Connect with KPU Study Abroad through email or social media

Step 2: Deciding Where to Go

Click here for a detailed search of our partner Universities: Outbound Exchange Destinations Home – KPU (moveonca.com) 

KPU International has active partnerships with over 40 institutions in Europe, Oceania, the Americas and Asia. We are committed to enhancing our international community and fostering cross-cultural experiences and learning opportunities. 

UMAP Partnerships and Opportunities: KPU is a member of UMAP (University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific). KPU students can apply to programs and exchange semesters to our UMAP partners though KPU. However, spaces are limited so it is recommended to not have all your top choices be through UMAP. Go here to see what UMAP partners are available for exchange https://usco2.umap.org and click here to understand a timeline for processing. Canadian students who apply and are accepted for a UMAP exchange are eligible for a UMAP scholarship.

Why Go on an Exchange?

There isn't just one reason why you should go; there are many! Check out the benefits you would get out of going on Exchange. 

Tips for Choosing your Exchange Destination

Check out KPU Study Abroad’s tips on how to decide where to go on Exchange.

Choose Where to Go

Oceania

AustraliaRockhamptonCentral Queensland University
AustraliaPerth, Mount Lawley, Joondalup, and BunburyEdith Cowan University
AustraliaMelbourneRoyal Melbourne Institute of Technology
AustraliaMelbourneSwinburne University of Technology
UMAP ConsortiumOceaniaConsortium that connects KPU students to 600 institutions via exchange semesters
FAQ List of destinations

Europe

AustriaViennaFHWien University of Applied Sciences Vienna
AustriaSt. PöltenNew Design University
BelgiumGhentGhent University
DenmarkHerning, Holstebro, Horsens, Randers, Silkeborg, Viborg, AarhusVIA University College
DenmarkAalborg, Hjørring, ThistedUniversity College of Northern Denmark (University College Nordjylland)*
EnglandLeedsLeeds Arts University
EnglandFarnham, Epsom, CanterburyUniversity for the Creative Arts
EnglandBurnley, Westlakes, CyprusUniversity of Central Lancashire
EnglandNottinghamNottingham Trent University
FinlandHelsinkiMetropolia University of Applied Sciences
FranceParis, Lyon, BordeauxINSEEC
FranceToulouseToulouse Business School
GermanyBerlinHTW Berlin
GermanyMunichUniversity of Applied Sciences Munich
GermanyGiessen, Friedberg, WetzlarUniversity of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen
GermanyRegensburgUniversity of Applied Sciences Regensburg
NetherlandsVlissingenHZ University of Applied Sciences
NetherlandsRotterdamRotterdam University of Applied Sciences
NetherlandsAmsterdamAmsterdam University of Applied Sciences
PolandWarsawSWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
ScotlandDundeeAbertay University
SpainBarcelonaElisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering
SpainBarcelonaToulouse Business School
SwitzerlandBasel, Brugg/Windisch, Muttenz and OltenUniversity of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland

Americas

BrazilSão PauloMackenzie Presbyterian University
BrazilBelo HorizontePontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais
BrazilPorto AlegrePontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
ColombiaCaliPontificia Universidad Javeriana - Cali
ColombiaBogotáPontificia Universidad Javeriana - Bogotá
Dominican RepublicSanto DomingoINTEC (Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo)
MexicoGuanajuatoUniversidad de Guanajuato
MexicoSan Pedro Garza GarcíaUniversidad de Monterrey
Mexico

Jalisco: Guadalajara, Lagos de Moreno, Puerto Vallarta

Michoacan: La Piedad, Zamora, Uruapan

Queretaro: Santiago de Querétaro

Guanajuato: León

Colima: Colima

Nayarit: Tepic

Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA)
PeruLimaUniversidad Peruana de Ciencias (UPC)
UruguayMontevideoUniversidad ORT Uruguay
UruguayMontevideoUniversidad Catolica de Uruguay
UMAP ConsortiumAmericasConsortium that connects KPU students to 600 institutions via exchange semesters
FAQList of destinations

Asia

Hong KongNorth PointHong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU)
JapanNagasakiNagasaki University of Foreign Studies
JapanNagoyaNagoya Gakuin University
JapanKyotoRyukoku University
JapanTokyoToyo University
South KoreaSeoulHankuk University of Foreign Studies
South KoreaSeoulKookmin University
TaiwanTaipeiShih Chien University
VietnamHo Chi MinhRoyal Melbourne Institute of Technology
UMAP Consortium AsiaConsortium that connects KPU students to 600 institutions via exchange semesters
FAQList of destinations

Step 3: Advising Appointment

1. Make an appointment on Advisor Connect  with your academic advisor to best understand what courses you need to graduate with your program and when is best to go abroad. You can also view details for your program on My Action Plan.

2. Attend a Study Abroad Advising Appointment to express your interest in studying abroad, get information, and ask questions to best plan and prepare your application. This is mandatory before the deadline of the application. 

For an outbound advising appointment: 

Go to Advisor Connect  
- Select "Study Abroad" and "Sarah Burn" (the Outbound Study Abroad Coordinator). 
- Select Location as "ONLINE". Your request will then be reviewed and an email confirmation with an MS Teams link will be provided. Sarah is available on Mondays and Tuesdays at Surrey Campus in the International Office for the online appointment to be changed to in-person.

Step 4: Submit an Outbound Exchange Application

Application Requirements

Exchange Program Selection 

  • All Applications must be completed in full and submitted by the deadline to be assessed and accepted. 
  • Students must pick a 1st AND 2nd choice institution as part of this application.
  • If there is competition for a term and destination, application will be ranked according to best fit (determined from the statement of interest and study plan), gpa, and reference letter.

Requirements 

If you are unable to meet the requirements for the exchange program, we might be able to figure something out to support you. Please book a Study Abroad Advising appointment with a Study Abroad Coordinator, through advisorconnect.kpu.ca or email internationalprograms@kpu.ca

Application Disclaimer

We recommend you work on your application using a computer rather than a mobile device as it may be difficult to upload the necessary files and complete your application on a mobile device. If you have any questions or issues please email internationalprograms@kpu.ca and speak with a Study Abroad Coordinator not IT as the MoveOn software is managed by our office. 

Application Checklist & Procedures

 Description
1. Advising Appointment

Attend a Study Abroad Advising Appointment to express your interest in studying abroad, get information, and ask questions. This is mandatory before the deadline of the application. 

For an outbound advising appointment: 

Go to Advisor Connect  
- Select "Study Abroad" and "Sarah Burn" (the Outbound Study Abroad Coordinator). 
- Select Location as "ONLINE". Your request will then be reviewed and an email confirmation with an MS Teams link will be provided. Sarah is available on Mondays and Tuesdays at Surrey Campus in the International Office for the online appointment to be changed to in-person.

1A. Decide where to go

Decide which KPU Partner Institution is your first preference, and which institution is your second preference. We have other partners in the Asia Pacific through UMAP. You can go here to find out more https://usco2.umap.org/ 

Tip: Look for a place that you would like to spend time in for a semester and offers courses and an experience that best aligns with your personal and professional interest. 

2. START THE MOVEON APPLICATION

Click here to start the MoveOn Study Abroad Outgoing Application. Please use your KPU email to register and read all the information in the application carefully to have a successful application.

The MoveOn application does save automatically as you go so you can return to where you last worked. 

3. Budget Worksheet

Complete this FileBudget Worksheet for Exchange.docx
Save it as a pdf and attach it to your MoveOn study abroad application. 

Use estimate numbers for this preliminary budget sheet, and any additional information should be put into the notes section to explain the amounts. Please put amounts that you are certain of and add in the notes information regarding money you hope to receive ie awards. 

Budgeting is an important step in planning your KPU Global Learning Experience. Each person's spending preferences will vary substantially, so it is important for you to work out a budget suited to your goals and needs. The amount of money required for exchange varies greatly from country to country and from student to student. For reference information on costs and money-saving tips, read personal reports written by other students and research the living costs in the cities where your first and second choice institutions are located. You can find more information here: /exchange/go-on-exchange/money/budget

4. Study Plan

You will need to be a full time student when on exchange abroad taking and paying KPU fees for about 12-15 credits when abroad. First, look up at least 8 courses you are interested in taking at the partner institutions you identified as your first and second choice. Courses for the given semester may not be posted at the partner institution, but you can refer back to their last year courses of the given semester. The number of courses will be reduced down when it comes closer to the start of the semester abroad and your course enrollment. 

Second, complete this PDF iconStudy Plan for Exchange - 2024-2025 or PDF iconStudy Plan for Exchange - WSD.COHORT - 2024-2025
Save it as a pdf and attach it to your MoveOn study abroad application. 

You are expected to visit an academic advisor (or chair if you are a Design student) within the Faculty/program you are enrolled prior to completing this form to determine what courses you have left to complete from your program. Academic advisors cannot tell you how the courses from exchange will transfer but you can use the information about your degree requirements to guide your decisions below. Please click here to book an appointment with an academic advisor.

  • You are not bound to your selections but you should become familiar with the academic program at your partner institution to ensure that your course choices will fit with your academic goals.
  • See our partner profile pages for academic information about your study plan options here.
  • As the course catalogue for your intended exchange term may not be published yet, please select your courses based on the most recent course listings available. 
  • e.g. If you're applying for a Spring semester exchange, try to find the previous year's courses at the partner institution that have an overlap with KPU's Spring Semester dates.
  • Email internationalprograms@kpu.ca if you are having difficulty finding courses at the partner institution available in English. 

Our office can help you go through the transfer credit evaluation process prior to your exchange, but each student is responsible for initiating the request first. We recommend you request evaluations as early as possible, to understand how your credits will be transferred before you depart.

*NOTE. It is important to understand that direct transfer credit for courses taken abroad may or may not occur. Courses could come back as elective credits for your program or not be approved for transfer. Therefore, it is best to search for a larger number of optional courses to take in the start through this study plan. 

5. Statement of Interest 

In 500-750 words, please answer the four questions below for your FileStatement of Interest for Exchange.docx
Save it as a pdf and attach it to your MoveOn study abroad application. 

1. Why you have chosen your first and second choice partner institutions for exchange?

2. Explain how this international experience links to your educational and career goals. How will the international experience contribute to your current academic program?

3. What personal qualities and past experience do you have that will help you be successful in your international experience?

4. What do you expect to learn from this international experience, and how will you apply these lessons upon your return to Canada?

Your statement of interest should include both your first and second choice institutions and should be between 500-750 words. Include details about how the institutions and destination countries fit in with your academic, professional, and personal goals. Also outline the skills and experiences you have that will allow you to adapt to change and new situations.

6. References Form(s)Have Faculty Reference Form completed by a professor at KPU. Kindly ask your professor to email the reference before the deadline to internationalprograms@kpu.ca*If you are aplying for scholarships please have 2 reference forms submitted. A second reference form could be from another faculty member or from a community volunteer/work supervisor.  
7. unofficial Transcript

You can access your unofficial transcript online for free, and upload a pdf to MoveOn for your application. Go here for a youtube tutorial on how to find and save your KPU transcript as a pdf.

To access your transcript online:

  1. Log into Online Self-Service
  2. From the Student menu, choose Records
  3. Choose Academic Transcript
  4. Set Transcript Level to "All Levels"; and Transcript Type to "Web Transcript"
  5. Click Submit
 8. PortfolioIf you are a Design or Fine Arts student, please be prepared to provide your portfolio as either a url weblink or pdf. 

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