Semester Exchange

Interested in going on exchange? Then your first step should be to learn the basics of how exchange works: 

• Attend an Exchange Info Session for your faculty
• Check out your faculty website on exchange
• Set-up an appointment and confirm your eligibility with your faculty exchange coordinator

You should also:

• Attend Global Learning Week during the fall semester
• Review our Why Should You Go Abroad? page and our FAQ

Your next step should be to find out what host institutions (i.e. university you will go to) are available for exchange in your program. Start by checking out our searchable database of exchange opportunities:

If you have several options open to you, make a list of your top three destinations. When choosing a host institution, start by looking at the following pages:

• Things to consider when choosing an exchange destination
• Financing Your Participation
• Identity and Access Abroad

• The 2025-2026 Outgoing Student Exchange Application (external link, opens in new window)  is now open. Applications will be closed on January 31, 2025. 
• When you apply, check out your passport situation. Now would be a good time to obtain a passport (external link, opens in new window)  or renew your passport (external link, opens in new window)  (your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to return to Canada - if it will expire before then, make sure to renew it!) 
• Apply - Read and follow the instructions for your faculty!

As part of your online application for exchange, you will need to submit the following documents: 

• Academic and Non-Academic Reference Contact Information: The name and contact of one academic reference (must be a professor) and one non-academic reference. Make sure to let them know that you will be putting down their name as a reference. Please see below the reference requirements for your program:
  
  • The Creative School students are not required to submit references.
    
  • Urban and Regional Planning students must submit a comprehensive reference letter.
    
  • Others: students will not need to submit a letter - just their contact information.
• Letter of Motivation: A one-page (max) letter outlining why you want to go on exchange - i.e. what are your personal, professional and academic goals in going on exchange to your selected host institutions, and how will participating in exchange help you achieve those goals?
  
• Faculty Specific Supporting Documents: Each faculty may have additional requirements (for example, portfolio, CV, letter of references, etc). Check with your faculty exchange coordinator.

The 2024-2025 Outgoing Student Exchange Application Form (external link, opens in new window)  is now closed! If you have questions or concerns about applying for the 2025 - 2026 application cycle, please reach out to your Faculty's Exchange Coordinator.

In the exchange application form, you will be prompted to upload the required documentation specific to your academic program and faculty.

Students who submit their applications on time will be contacted for an interview by their exchange coordinator. 

While the format of the interview is different for each faculty, the basic goal of these interviews is the same: to evaluate how ready you are to go on exchange as a candidate. Interviews will look at the thought and research you’ve put into selecting your exchange destination and your academic preparedness for exchange. 

You should contact your faculty exchange coordinator for more details about your faculty interview process. Make sure to prepare for your interview to give yourself the best chance of being accepted.

Decide which OUI exchange destination (France or Germany) you will apply to and select your top three OUI host institutions for that destination. 

Ensure that you are eligible to participate by reviewing the eligibility guidelines found on each country program’s website. You also must meet the TMU criteria of a minimum CGPA of 2.5 or higher with a clear academic standing.

On each of the country specific program websites you will find a list of participating universities. It is your responsibility to research their academic offerings and determine what universities may be suitable for you. You should discuss this opportunity with your program’s academic advisor and/or exchange coordinator to assess overall fit based on academic requirements specific to your program and the term/year you wish to study abroad.

Students applying to the OUI program and scholarship must complete the regular TMU Student Exchange Application and submit a PDF of the OUI Exchange Application form as part of their TMU application. Read the details below carefully for complete instructions.

Each country (France and Germany) program has a distinct online application. Carefully review the application guidelines of the applicable OUI programs linked below. 

• Ontario/Baden-Württemberg (OBW) Programs, Germany (includes Universität Stuttgart): Apply - OBW (external link) 
  
• Ontario/Rhône-Alpes (ORA) Programs, France: Apply - ORA (external link)  (also review full ORA exchange program details (external link) )

Once you complete and submit the online OUI application, you will receive by email an automatically generated PDF file showing all the information you have provided. A copy of the OUI application file and required supporting documents must be uploaded to your 2024-2025 TMU Outgoing Student Exchange Application (external link)  on the "References & Supporting Documents" page. The 2024-2025 TMU Outgoing Student Exchange Application Form (external link)  is now closed. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2024. 

For questions or concerns regarding the OUI application requirements, please email global.learning@torontomu.ca.

A formal exchange takes place when a signed exchange agreement exists between institutions. This allows selected students to go on an ‘exchange’ between Toronto Metropolitan University and a partner/host university. 

You will remain registered at Toronto Metropolitan University for the duration of your exchange and will pay full-time tuition to Toronto Metropolitan University. The courses you take at your host university will be transferred back to Toronto Metropolitan University and will count towards your degree requirements.

To participate in an exchange you must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for your faculty. Contact your faculty exchange coordinator for more information.

Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 with a clear academic standing and remain so until their departure date.

Yes! International students at Toronto Metropolitan University can go on exchange as long as you meet the general eligibility requirements (see Can I participate in an exchange F.A.Q) to participate. Just remember that while you are away you will still be paying full-time tuition to Toronto Metropolitan University.

Attending a university that does not have an official exchange with Toronto Metropolitan University is usually referred to as “Study Abroad.” This means that you will need to apply to the institution directly. You will pay international student fees to that university.

Credit for overseas studies is granted on your Toronto Metropolitan University transcript only if you meet the Letter of Permission (LOP) requirements (opens in new window) . You must complete an LOP application for the courses you wish to take while studying abroad prior to departure.

Check out the exchange partner universities available to your program using our searchable exchange database:

Depending on your program, you can go on exchanges for either one term or for an entire academic year. Some programs limit exchange to the winter semester. 

Universities around the world can have very different semester schedules. Make sure to check the semester dates for the universities you are thinking of going to ensure that you are able to return on time for the following semester. You also want to consider if a university's semester schedule will impact your ability to work during the summer or winter breaks.

With proper academic planning, you will receive transfer credits for the courses you took while abroad that will count towards your degree here at Toronto Metropolitan University, allowing you to graduate on-time and according to plan. The earlier you start planning for exchange the better! It’s never too early to talk to your faculty exchange coordinator and academic program advisor about going on exchange. Give yourself as much time as possible to plan your course selection to allow for an exchange.

You will need to discuss your degree requirements with your academic advisor upon acceptance to the Exchange Program to ensure that you are selecting transferable courses. All exchange students are expected to enroll in a full-time course load, as determined by the host university and Toronto Metropolitan University (typically three to five courses, depending on the university).

Courses you take while on exchange at your host institutions will be recorded on your transcript on a “Pass/Fail” basis. This means your final grades at your host institution will not be transferred back and your Toronto Metropolitan University GPA will not be affected.

However, while your exchange grades will not appear on your Toronto Metropolitan University transcript, many graduate schools require that you submit a copy of your exchange transcript. This means your exchange grades can be considered when applying for graduate programs. If you plan on attending Graduate school, it’s important that you maintain good grades and academic standing while on exchange. You may wish to request extra copies of your transcript from your host university for your graduate program application purposes as well.

Cost can vary widely based on your exchange destination and length of your exchange. However, with smart financial planning, exchange can be surprisingly affordable! Tuition fees are paid to Toronto Metropolitan University (i.e. you get to skip expensive international student fees), making it one of the most affordable ways to live and study abroad. You will be responsible for all other exchange-related costs, including airfare, textbooks, accommodation and health insurance - but again, with proper planning the cost of exchange can be at the same level, if not cheaper, than living in Toronto.

Check out our Financing Your Participation section for more information and tips on financial planning for exchange.

Planning at least one year prior to departure is ideal. January 31st is usually the deadline to go on exchange for the following academic year. i.e. if you want to go on exchange in the Winter of your third year, you need to apply by January of your second year.

Most students start preparing their exchange applications towards the end of their first year/ start of their second year. This gives you time to talk to your faculty exchange program coordinator, research the best program to fit your needs, and do some course planning so that you have enough flexibility to take courses abroad.

For Ontario students, you can receive OSAP while you are on exchange. Check with Student Financial Assistance before applying for more details. Note that the difference in semester start and end dates at host institutions can sometimes result in a change in student loan amounts.

For out-of-province students, you should check with your provincial student loan organization to verify if you can continue to receive loans and bursaries while abroad. Many provincial programs will continue to provide funding for students in exchange programs. Student Financial Assistance may be able to provide you with more information.

Share your stories! Tell us about your adventures and challenges, or even just your everyday observations through our Instagram (external link)  

Housing options differ from host university to host university. Some universities offer guaranteed on-campus housing to exchange students. Some of them ask that you search for housing on your own. You should look at the websites for inbound exchange students at the host universities you’re interested in applying to to see what their housing options are.

Whether you live on-campus or off-campus however, you will need to cover the cost of housing yourself. Make sure to research housing costs for the cities of the host institutions you’re interested in as rent be a significant portion of your expenses.

The majority of our exchange partners offer programs in English, including in many countries where English is not the primary language spoken. If you do speak another language well enough to study in it, living abroad and studying in that language can dramatically increase your fluency and skill level.