After You Apply
You've submitted your student exchange application but what happens next? After the application deadline has closed, we review all applications and will notify you about your exchange placement. You can then accept your offer and move forward with the nomination process and completing the application for the host institution.
We're here to support you, so feel free to contact Laurier International with any questions at exchange@wlu.ca.
Receiving Your Offer
We will notify all students who applied by the application deadline about their offer through Journey. You will be notified regardless of whether or not a placement is offered.
Students who submit late applications will receive their exchange placement notification approximately four weeks after the application was submitted.
Once you receive your exchange placement, you have one week to accept your placement through Journey. If you don’t accept the offer in the one-week window, we’ll assume you have rejected the offer and we may offer your space to another student.
After you accept your offer with Laurier International, we can start the nomination process. You will also need to complete an application for the host institution.
If you decide that you don't want to attend the host institution where you've been placed, you can:
- Decline your placement and consider other host institutions that still have space for exchange students.
- Apply to another institution by submitting another departmental approval form signed by your academic advisor. No other documentation is required.
If you are reapplying after declining your offer:
- There is no guarantee a spot will be available for you.
- You will only be considered for an exchange placement after all other applicants have been placed.
- Students who applied for exchange but were not placed in one of their top four choices are given priority ahead of students who reapply after declining.
If you don't receive an offer to one of your four selected host institutions, we'll provide you with a list of exchange spots still available. You can choose to be considered for one of these alternate exchange spots or you can also request to be put on waitlists (see below).
You may need to re-submit some documents (for example, the Departmental Approval form) to be considered for an alternate spot but you won't need to re-submit your entire application. Once you have been offered a placement, you will have one week to email Laurier International that you have accepted an alternate exchange spot.
Waitlists
Email exchange@wlu.ca and ask to be placed on a waitlist with your preferred institution(s).
You can be placed on the waitlist if:
- You have been offered a placement and choose to decline your spot.
- You did not receive a placement offer.
You cannot accept your offer and be on a waitlist at the same time.
If space becomes available:
- You'll be contacted by email.
- You'll have one week to submit a department approval form to Laurier International, signed by your Academic Advisor or Program Coordinator.
- A new department approval form is only required if your original application does not have signed department approval for the institution you're offered.
It is rare that a waitlist spot becomes available, but it can happen when a student declines their placement or withdraws from the exchange program.
Withdrawing from the Program
We understand that certain circumstances may require you to withdraw from participating in the student exchange program.
If you withdraw:
- The application fee is non-refundable.
- The placement fee is non-refundable.
If you are considering withdrawing:
- Do so as soon as possible to open your spot to another student because this spot is currently reserved just for you.
- The host institution will need to be notified because they are preparing for your arrival.
- There is no deadline to withdraw.
To withdraw, please email exchange@wlu.ca.
Need to consult with someone about your options? Book an appointment with the Student Abroad Advisor in Waterloo or the Coordinator, Global Engagement Programming in Brantford.