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Student Exchange Program FAQs
Protecting the health, safety and well-being of Laurier’s students, faculty, staff, and the broader community has been the core principle driving decision making at the university since the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic. All directives have been created through that lens, and in consultation with Public Health and in adherence to guidance from government.
Considering the significant impacts of the Omicron variant, the university has – along with several other Ontario universities – made decisions that impact both inbound and outbound exchanges for the Winter term. Students enrolled in exchange programs should reference the following list of Frequently Asked Questions, as well as the emails received from Laurier International.
We appreciate that this is disappointing, and that you have been provided with a great deal of information and decisions you must make no later than Jan. 3, 2022. If you cannot find answers to your questions here, please contact us at exchange@wlu.ca.
Winter 2022 Outbound Student Exchange
Updated: Jan. 18, 2022.
Yes. Given the significant concerns with the Omicron variant, the university needed to act to address the new health and safety risks associated with this rapidly spreading variant. This included a decision to curtail international student exchanges.
The outbound exchange program will be cancelled for students whose exchange term begins in January. Partner institutions will be informed that the students are de-registered from exchange and their placements should no longer be held and course registrations should be canceled.
Yes. Sudents may withdraw or defer their exchange program at any time. Students who have deferred their exchange will be prioritized for placements at host institutions for 2022/23. Further information on deferring your exchange will be available in January.
Students registered for exchanges with start dates after Jan. 31, 2022, will have their status reassessed during the first week of January. Reassessment will be based on the health and safety situation in host countries. If studying abroad is still not considered to be a safe option at this time, Laurier will cancel the exchange program.
The circumstances with the Omicron variant are changing rapidly. Many universities did not offer an international exchange program in 2021/22 because of the uncertainties with the pandemic. Those universities that did offer exchanges are assessing the risks prior to making a decision.
Yes, if remote learning at the host institution is an option, the exchange may be able to continue. Laurier International is working with students and partner institutions to investigate whether or not a remote start to exchanges is feasible; however, decisions on remote learning at host institutions may not be made until after students need to decide whether to stay registered in their Laurier winter 2022 courses.
Students will need to make a decision to stay in or drop their Laurier winter term 2022 courses no later than Jan. 10, 2022. Students in receipt of OSAP will see a delay in the processing and receipt of OSAP if they delay their decision beyond Jan. 3.
The safety planning and completion of the risk assessment documents were important. However, Laurier shares responsibility with our students to ensure that international exchanges can be undertaken safely. Circumstances have rapidly changed since those documents were completed. Given the significant concerns internationally with the Omicron variant, the university needed to act to address the new health and safety risks associated with this rapidly spreading variant.
We are aware that some students have had financial impacts related to the Winter 2022 exchange cancellation. Until January 13, 2022 you will have the opportunity to apply for a bursary titled: “Laurier International Exchange Awards”. Students who have incurred financial losses may apply for assistance through this bursary opportunity. Please go to LORIS and complete the profile by detailing losses you may have incurred related to accommodation, meals, medical insurance, etc.
Please review Laurier's Off-Campus Housing resources.
Students from other countries who were planning to come to Canada to attend Laurier on exchange have been directed not to travel to Canada at this time. They will have the option to remain in their home countries and participate in remote studies at Laurier in January, travelling to Canada to participate in-person only at such time as restrictions related to non-essential travel are lifted.
Unfortunately, the only option that provides any certainty is to withdraw from exchange by January 13, 2022 and remain registered in Laurier classes. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic, the university cannot make any assurances at this time regarding advisability or safety of travel. We recognize that this uncertainty is not ideal. Students with departures in February, March or April may choose to wait and see if they can travel. However, we must underscore the fact that this does not guarantee that you will be permitted to go on exchange, nor does it protect you from potential financial and academic losses that may be a result of this choice.
Decisions regarding withdrawal must be made by January 13, 2022 and are final. There are implications to registration, tuition and OSAP that preclude the university from allowing any further extensions.
Please Note: This refers to withdrawal from the Winter 2022 exchange term. If you wish to defer your exchange and go in 2022-23, please contact Laurier International at exchange@wlu.ca .
Yes, if you decide to continue with exchange for Winter 2022, then exchange is cancelled by Laurier or your host institution, or if you withdraw then your Laurier exchange registration will be voided to the last day to drop without financial penalty. You would receive 100% of tuition and fees back.
This scenario would have the following impacts:
- Registration and Student Account: Withdrawal from exchange will be backdated to the last day to drop without financial penalty. The last day to register for the Winter term is January 17, 2022. If you wish to add Winter Laurier courses after this date, you would be required to submit a petition (late add of a course).
- Student Awards: Students who have been granted a bursary or award for the Winter term will not have the funds removed from their student account in the event their exchange is cancelled or they withdraw. For questions about the impact on in-course scholarships or President’s Gold Scholarship, please contact the Student Awards Office at studentawards@wlu.ca
- Financial Aid: Cancellation or withdrawal from exchange could impact your OSAP funding and account. For questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@wlu.ca.
The university has a responsibility to ensure that all academic activities can be undertaken in a safe manner. The university cannot absolve itself of that duty, even if a student wants it to. Before the pandemic, outbound exchanges have been cancelled at times when travel or conditions in the host community were deemed unsafe due to a variety of factors. As a sanctioned, for-credit activity, the university must ensure that exchanges – like all other academic activities – can be undertaken in a safe manner. The university cannot absolve itself of its responsibilities, regardless of waivers being signed, etc.
It is not the case that Laurier is the only school to cancel exchanges. Research into what other post-secondary institutions across Canada are doing for Winter 2022 reveals that the majority of schools have fully cancelled outbound exchanges. A minority of schools surveyed are allowing outbound exchanges, but most are deciding on a case-by-case basis whether individuals may proceed. Laurier determined travel in January was not safe or advisable and is reconsidering possible travel for after January.
Other universities that moved to cancel exchange between December 15 and 22 include Guelph, Western, Toronto, Lakehead, Ottawa, and Carleton.
This is not accurate. Inbound exchange students at Laurier for Winter 2022 have been advised to not come to Laurier at this time. If they choose to do so, they may study remotely from their home countries at this time and travel to Canada at such time as the university returns to in-person learning. This information is available here: https://students.wlu.ca/academics/global-engagement-and-exchanges/assets/resources/outbound-exchange-faqs.html?ref=academics%2Fglobal-engagement-and-exchanges%2Fassets%2Fresources%2Foutbound-exchanges-faqs.html
Since the beginning of the global pandemic the university has based all decisions on consultations with epidemiological experts, the best available data and modelling, and in in keeping with public health guidance and government directives. We take our responsibility for the safety of our students very seriously, and all decisions are made with that principle at their heart.
The university has a responsibility to ensure that all academic activities can be undertaken in a safe manner. Even before the pandemic, outbound exchanges have been cancelled at times when travel or conditions in the host community were deemed unsafe due to a variety of factors.
The decision-making process is a complicated one, based on a constellation of inputs including public health, government, travel advisories, medical and epidemiological experts. Unfortunately, the situation with COVID-19 is complex and changes daily, and there is no single metric upon which we can make our decisions. As a local example, until recently here in Ontario, daily case counts provided useful information for our decision-making. Now, with the emergence of Omicron and the curtailing of access to PCR tests, that data is no longer as valuable, and we must look to other statistics to try and inform our decisions.
More information on how decisions are made at the institutional level related to the pandemic can be found here: https://www.wlu.ca/coronavirus/recovery/scaling-framework.html
New applications for 2022-2023 exchanges are due on January 27, 2022. After this date, Laurier International will review all of the requests for students who wish to go on exchange in 2022-23, and distribute available spaces in the following order:
- Students who have deferred their exchange from Fall 2021 or Winter 2022 (will remain in their chosen institution for 2022-23)
- Students submitting new applications for 2022-23
All students will receive an email on February 25, 2022 with their exchange application result. See: https://students.wlu.ca/academics/global-engagement-and-exchanges/assets/resources/receiving-and-accepting-your-exchange-offer.html#receiving
If you paid a $100 placement fee in Spring 2020 (2 years ago) or paid $110 in November or December 2021 and are now withdrawing from exchange, you are able to get a refund. If you are withdrawing from exchange completely (not deferring exchange to another year), you can request a refund for your placement fee, by filling out this refund request form . Refunds are processed in batches.
Winter 2022 Inbound Student Exchange
Updated: Dec. 21, 2021.
Effective Dec. 20, 2021 Laurier has decided that inbound international students may participate in exchange remotely by staying enrolled in their virtual Laurier courses until they are provided permission to travel to Laurier. Laurier does not support inbound student travel to Canada for exchange until it is determined to be safe for travel.
If Laurier decides in January, based on public health restrictions, to extend the period during which classes remain remote delivery, incoming exchange students will not be supported by Laurier to travel to Canada during the period of that extension.
Wilfrid Laurier University’s winter term will begin as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. Instructional activities will be delivered remotely beginning Tuesday, Jan. 4 and will resume in person on Monday, Jan. 31, provided public health direction allows.
Laurier International will do its best to help you to register in online and remote courses.
We anticipate that there may be some challenges with some courses, such as time zone differences and the times courses are offered. Other unanticipated challenges may arise as the semester proceeds. If you are willing to overcome these challenges, you can still have a very rewarding experience!
You will also have the opportunity to network with Laurier students, broaden your course offerings and engage in our virtual extra-curricular activities.
Remote courses at Laurier may be delivered synchronoulsy or asynchronously.
Synchronous courses are delivered remotely on a specific day and time, and students are expected to be online during this time for the class.
Asynchronous courses are delivered online and students work through them independently. You don't need to be online for the class on a specific day and time.
For more information, you can watch our video on course delivery from fall 2021 or read more about in-person, remote and onine courses.
You will find out whether your remote course is synchronous or asynchronous when classes being in September. For this reason, it's best to assume that your courses are synchronous and to build your schedule accordingly.
At Wilfrid Laurier University the health, safety and wellbeing of all our students is our priority and guides our decision-making. The recent COVID-19 global surge and Omicron variant has led to elevated travel advisories and concerns. Laurier announced on December 16th that all in-person courses at the university will be remote for the month of January with the plan to transition to in-person classes as of Monday, January 31st. Effective December 20th, 2021 Laurier has decided that inbound international students may participate in exchange remotely by staying enrolled in their virtual Laurier courses until they are provided permission to travel to Laurier. Laurier does not support inbound student travel to Canada for exchange until it is determined to be safe for travel.
If Laurier decides in January, based on public health restrictions, to extend the period during which classes remain remote delivery, incoming exchange students will not be supported by Laurier to travel to Canada during the period of that extension.
For the most up-to-date instructions please follow the advice from the COVID-19 Pandemic Safe Travel, Arrival and Quarantine (STAQ) Program.
Study Permit Information for Inbound Exchange Students
Updated: May 17, 2021
Please review this Study Permits and Covid-19 information.
Our FAQ page for international students answers many questions related to study permits and how the process has been impacted by COVID-19. You can also review the Government of Canada information on applying for your study permit, as well as the study permit application guide.
When you apply and are approved for a study permit you will also be approved for a visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) at the same time. You don't need to apply separately for a visa or eTA.
If you have further questions related to study permits, please email laurierinternational@wlu.ca.
For your study permit application, you will be asked to submit a Letter of Acceptance. If you have already submitted your online application to study at Laurier, you can find this letter in your acceptance email from us, which will have the subject line: Congratulations! You have been accepted to study at Wilfrid Laurier University!
The letter you will upload is page 2 of the attachment.
Letters of Acceptance are sent out to all accepted exchange students within two weeks of the application deadline. Review our deadlines for incoming exchange students for more information.
Laurier's International Student Support team has a list of frequently asked questions related to study permits, health insurance and more, to help answer these questions.