1. Student Exchanges and Study Abroad
An Opportunity of a Lifetime!
November 6, 2014

2. Student Exchange and Study Abroad
McGill Engineering Student Centre
Student Affairs Office
Career Centre
Peer Tutoring Services
Frank Dawson Adams Building
Room 22
Teresa Seminara, Student Advisor
Christin Blohm-Pape, Student Advisor
Melissa Kinney, Student Affairs Coordinator

3. Anna Cybulsky Alexandra Goubanova
EPFL
Anna Cybulsky Alexandra Goubanova

4. Jessica Makucka- NUS

5. Henrik Johannes- Berlin

6. Jessica Batty- Sheffield

7. Natalie Winger Nadia Chouinard
DAAD – RISE
Natalie Winger Nadia Chouinard

8. How do I select a University?
Review the Faculty of Engineering’s Preferred Partners list (see website)
Do some personal research on the different schools
Student Experience Reports are available at the Engineering Student Centre (MESC).
Determine the language of instruction.
Work with your Departmental advisor to determine the term which works best for your curriculum.
Plan your courses as if you were going to register at McGill during that term.
Review the Course Equivalency (MESC) database to determine if your course selections have been previously evaluated.
If courses have been evaluated and approved in the past you will still need to meet with your departmental advisor to review and approve your final course selection.

9. How do I select a University?
Country
Host Institution
Website (for course lists)
# Weeks/Term
University Agreement
Australia
University of Queensland (UQ)
13 weeks
General (U21)
University of Sydney
General
University of Adelaide *
12 weeks
Canada
University of British Columbia (UBC)
University of Toronto
Chile
Universidad de Chile
15 weeks
Mining & Materials Engineering
Denmark
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)
AES, Engineering, Science
Egypt
American University in Cairo (AUC)
General (current travel warnings in place)
France
Ecole Centrale Marseille
Engineering
Germany
Technische Universitat Berlin (TUB)
14 weeks
Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM)
Engineering (CREPUQ Partner)
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Polytechnic (HK PolyU)
University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong
Ireland
Trinity College Dublin *
Singapore
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Nanyang Technological University *
Sweden
Lund University
2 x 7 weeks
Switzerland
Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL)
United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh
11 weeks
General (U21) Full year only except Mgmt
USA
University of Miami
16 weeks
University of Alaska (Fairbanks)

10. Accreditation Units (AUs)
AU = [# lecture hours × # semester weeks]+ [(# lab+tutorial hours ÷2 ) × # semester weeks]
Start looking at exchange courses and their AU count early!
Meet with your Departmental course approver (available on exchange website)
As a general guideline only:
Many departmental courses are approximately 45.5 AU
Complementary Studies (Impact & HSSML) are 39 AU
Engineering Preferred Partner list recommends partners based on similar AU counts.

11. Am I eligible? A 3.00 CGPA is required (including Fall 2014 grades).
Students must be registered full time in a degree program within the Faculty of Engineering.
At least one year of completed studies within the Faculty of Engineering is required.
Attendance at least one information session prior to applying.

12. What kind of Student Exchange opportunities exist?
Engineering Preferred Partners List (
Bilateral Exchange: agreement between McGill and one partner institution that has been reviewed and approved by McGill (

13. Which Universities participate?
It is recommended that students select schools from the Engineering Preferred Partners List as the Faculty has already vetted several courses within the Engineering program and established parallel in course AUs.
Alternatively, students may also select schools from the Bilateral Exchange listing as the University is familiar with the programs, the courses and good established links with International Officers is in place.
Note that the student exchange option at non-partner Universities is not permitted in the Faculty of Engineering.

14. Will I obtain transfer credits?
All Engineering students must select their courses and obtain approval prior to leaving on Exchange.
Some Departments/Schools have course restrictions, therefore it is extremely important to check before beginning the process of selecting courses.
A list of previously approved courses is available for many Bilateral Partner institutions/Preferred Partners List. A copy of this document is available for review at MESC.
Departmental/School Advisors must approve course selection.
The MESC has final approval of the request for transfer credit.
Departmental Contacts for course approvals are listed online at
All courses taken at the host institution will be reflected on the McGill transcript
including failed courses.

15. Transfer Credit Policy
Exchange courses are not pass/fail but rather credit/non-credit.
Transfer Credit Policy for Exchange Courses
Once we receive and review official transcripts from your host institution, the appropriate McGill transfer credits can be viewed on your unofficial transcript in Minerva. Students who participate in a formal university exchange shall be eligible to transfer earned credits back to McGill if the grade earned in each course is equal to or higher than the grade / CGPA required to graduate from the host university. The policy shall apply to both elective and required course credits. For more detail please see the ECalendar or contact the McGill Engineering Student Centre.
When in doubt as to whether your grades are eligible for transfer credit, please contact MESC. Do not rely on the minimum passing grade at the host institution.

16. Important Date/Deadline
Faculty of Engineering Application Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2015
Non refundable application fee = $150.00
NOTE: Only completed applications will be reviewed. No extensions will be permitted due to the competiveness of the program.

17. How do I apply for an Exchange?
Access the application form on Minerva.
Complete the Statement of purpose outlining the reasons for requesting an Exchange.
List the courses that you are proposing to take (these will need to be confirmed at a later date). Please do not ask your department to pre-approve each course until your application has been accepted.
Provide Proof of Proficiency in the language of the host institution.
Obtain Faculty Approval from the Student Affairs Office, Engineering Student Centre, Room 22, FDA.
For more information on how to apply, please visit:

18. When will I be notified of the decision on my application?
Decisions are made by about early to mid-March
An notification will advise you to accept or decline your nomination

19. Is financial assistance available?
To offset some study abroad costs, you may be eligible for financial assistance:
Students are eligible to apply for government student assistance.
Students may also apply to the Scholarships and Student Aid Office for further assistance.
Holders of renewable scholarships and awards may retain their awards. Renewal of entrance awards will be contingent on performance at the Host Institution.

20. Are there scholarships available?
Universitas 21(U21) Awards
( )
Mobility Awards ( )
Killam Awards (Awards for study in the U.S.A) (
Antje Graupe Pryor International Awards ($7500/term) are awarded to Engineering students in Computer, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical and Mining who plan to study in universities in the European Union. Further preference will be given to students who attend the Technical University of Berlin.

21. Student Experience Reports
MANDATORY – Due when you return: Engineering Exchange Student Experience Reports Binder
McGill Engineering students* share their personal exchange experiences abroad. 
Student name (optional):
Exchange destination:
Date and length of exchange:
Please provide feedback on your experience that you feel would be useful to the Faculty and to future students. Do not hesitate to be candid in your assessment.
Visa and health Insurance
Cost of living
Location of institution & housing (including suggestions on effective ways to find housing on site)
Academic program (selection of courses, workload, etc.)
Any particularities or peculiarities of your destination
Suggestions of items to bring
Personal and academic benefits from participating in the program
Other comments, suggestions, etc. (is there anything you wish you had known in advance?!)
(Optional)
I agree to be contacted by students interested in participating in this program. I can be reached at the following address:

22. Questions?!