Go on Exchange

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   2026February 1, 2026
Spring 2027 June 1,2026
Summer 2026See 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. 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.

Image
WSD study Abroad destinations

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
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 (MPU)
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

ChinaGuangdongGuangdong University of Foreign Studies
Hong KongNorth PointHong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU)
JapanNagasakiNagasaki University of Foreign Studies
JapanNagoyaNagoya Gakuin University
JapanKyotoRyukoku University
JapanTokyoToyo University
South KoreaAnsanHanyang University (HYU) ERICA
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 "Nicole Shearer" (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. Nicole is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays 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.

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 contact the Study Abroad team, not IT as the MoveOn software is managed by our office. 

 

1. 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 us

*If you are applying 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.  

NOTE: WSD students would need permission from their chair to go abroad. Best if your program chair provides the reference or is at least aware of your interest to go abroad. 

2. 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 through a Learning Agreement process.

Second, complete this draft PDF icon Study Plan for Exchange - 2024-2025 or PDF icon Study 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. 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 and the transfer credit database for past approved courses.
  • 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.
  • Contact us if you are having difficulty finding courses at the partner institution. 

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, be equal to a course at KPU, 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 draft study plan. Course approval will be evaluated for nominated students through a learning agreement process before the start of the semester abroad.  

3. Statement of Interest

In 500-750 words, please answer the four questions below for your File Statement 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.

4. Budget Worksheet

Complete this File Budget 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

5. 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

6. Portfolio (Design or Fine Arts student)

If you are a Design or Fine Arts student, please be prepared to provide your portfolio as either a URL weblink or pdf.

 

Why should I go on exchange? 

Top Ten Reasons to Open Your World:

  1. Enhance your education
  2. Increase your employability
  3. Challenge yourself
  4. Travel to new places
  5. Broaden your understanding of the world
  6. Meet new people and make lasting friendships
  7. Live in another culture
  8. Learn or perfect a second (or a third, or a fourth) language
  9. Learn more about your own culture and how the world perceives Canada
  10. Build up your exciting story reservoir!
Do I have to have travel experience in order to go on exchange?
A: No, you do not. You do, however, have to have an open mind and be willing to face new cultural challenges.
What is UMAP?
UMAP is a consortium or network of partners in Asia Pacific. Through our agreement with UMAP you can go to any of the participating institutions on the list that is accepting students through UMAP. Go here to see where you can go.
If I am interested in going somewhere that is not on the list, is this possible?
Yes, students can arrange their own study abroad, but it is not recommended. Independent study abroad students planning on attending an institution outside of Canada must pay international student fees and are not generally eligible for student loans. If you want to arrange your own study abroad and be a paid “visiting student”, you must research the institution of choice to see if the institution accepts non-degree-seeking visiting students for a semester or year. You would then directly apply and would need to request a letter of permission from Kwantlen’s KPU’s registrar’s office outlining the courses to take abroad and how they will transfer back to Kwantlen KPU.
Can I still take courses in English while abroad?
Most of our partner institutions offer at least some instruction in English. Please see our partner page to determine the language of instruction at each institution.
Where do I live when I go on exchange?
Each partner institution is different. Some institutions have on-campus housing, others have homestay, and others will assist you in finding independent accommodations.
What program do I have to be in to go on exchange?
Exchange opportunities are offered across many programs. Please visit our partner pages to see the main faculties of programs offered at each institution.
Can I go on exchange more than once?
Yes, you can go on exchange to up to two different locations.
When can I go on exchange?

You can go on an exchange after you have completed 30 university credits, fifteen of which must be done at KPU. After your exchange, you must return to KPU for a minimum of 9 credits. Based on these requirements, most students go on exchange in the second semester of the second year, during the first or second semester of the third year or the first semester of the fourth year. Some programs have limitations on when you can go on exchange: 

Business: It is strongly recommended that students go on exchange in the second year.
Design: Consult your program chair to determine the most suitable semester for an exchange.
How long can I go on exchange for?
Most students go on exchange for one semester, but you can go for a full academic year depending on the institution.
What kind of support is offered by KPU International?
We support students through the KPU exchange application process, partner school application process, cultural preparation, transfer credit, and re-entry.
Are there risks involved in going on exchange?
There are always risks involved with overseas travel. Students will be exposed to a new environment with risks that may be different from the risks faced by those staying in Canada. Cultural differences and language barriers can be very challenging. Going on an exchange through KPU helps to reduce the risk as we offer pre-departure training to help prepare students appropriately for their experience. Despite the support offered by KPU, students need to take the appropriate precautions to have a safe and successful trip.
How much does it cost?
Students participating in an exchange pay tuition directly to KPU and not the partner institution in most cases. Students are required to take and pay for 9-15 credits for each semester on exchange.  Additional expenses that students must account for in their budget include airfare, housing, food, transportation inside the country, books/supplies, etc. You can always take a look at websites such as Numbeo to get a sense of how much things cost at the destination you're interested in.

 

Is there a fee to apply? 

There is no application fee to apply for an exchange. A $150 administrative fee is only charged if you withdraw before going abroad (unless there are extenuating circumstances). If you complete your exchange, the fee is waived. Most field school applications will require a deposit with the application. 

Am I bound to the courses I put down for my study plan? 

No. Your Study Plan is a draft. After acceptance, however, you’ll create a formal Learning Agreement based on it. That’s why it’s important to make your Study Plan detailed and realistic—it will inform your final course choices. 

Do you accept late applications? 

Sometimes. If spots are still available after the deadlines, late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis. To have the best chance of going to your preferred school, apply before the deadline. 

How do you place students in their exchange spots?

We review and score all applications, and sometimes hold interviews to get to know applicants better. Students with the highest scores are placed in their first-choice schools, and we continue down the list until all spots are filled . 

Is it very competitive to get a spot? 

It depends. Some schools and programs are more competitive than others. While a spot can’t be guaranteed, we do our best to place every student who applies and meets the minimum requirements. 

How many students can go to each school every year? 

Generally, there are 2-4 spots available at each partner school per academic year. 

If I am accepted to exchange but need to postpone my departure date, is this possible?

Usually, yes. If you want to defer to a later semester in the same academic year, it’s generally fine (depending on your program). If you want to postpone to the next academic year, it will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

If my circumstances change, is it possible to withdraw from the program? 

It is possible. You can withdraw in writing at any time. However, please keep in mind that the $150 administrative fee waiver will be voided, and applicants’ account will be charged, unless there is an extenuating circumstance. Additionally, you’ll want to think about how withdrawing may affect your program of study at KPU.

 

How does the partner institution application process work? 

The partner institution will provide guidance and instructions on how to apply. It is imperative that you meet the partner’s application deadline. 

Can I be rejected by the partner institution?

It is highly unlikely. Once KPU nominates you, partner schools will accept our students under the student exchange agreements we have in place. In rare cases, a rejection could happen due to late applications, limited space in a program or course, or an incomplete/weak application. Rejections are communicated early. 

How do I register for classes while I’m on an exchange?

Each partner has a different registration process. You will be informed of this process after you have been accepted to the partner institution. 

What happens if there is an emergency while I am away on an exchange? 

You’ll learn about emergency procedures during your pre-departure session. If something happens while you’re abroad, your first point of contact is local authorities, followed by the Canadian government. 

Do I get credit for all the courses I take while on exchange? 

Credits from courses you pass on exchange will transfer back to KPU, as long as they’re included in your Learning Agreement. The Learning Agreement is a document you create before departure that secures pre-approval from KPU faculty members. It lists the courses you plan to take abroad and how they’ll transfer back to KPU. If you fail a course or take classes not listed in your Learning Agreement, those credits will not transfer. 

Can you tell me how my courses will transfer back to KPU? 

Your Learning Agreement—created before you go—will show exactly how your courses abroad transfer back to KPU. You can also check our transfer credit database to see how courses have transferred in the past.

Connect with KPU Study Abroad

FacebookTwitterInstagramYoutube