Incoming Exchange Students

Once you've been accepted to study at Laurier on exchange, we'll email you with your Offer Letter and a Letter of Acceptance (LOA). The email subject will be 'Congratulations! You have been accepted to study at Wilfrid Laurier University!' and will be sent to the email address that was included in your nomination form.

You'll use your LOA in your application for a study permit or visa.

Once you're accepted to Laurier, you'll be able to set up your myLaurier student email address. You'll need your nine-digit student ID number to set up your email. You can find your student ID on your offer letter and Letter of Acceptance.

All future emails will be sent to your myLaurier email account, so it's essential to set it up as soon as you're accepted and regularly check it. As well, any emails you send to Laurier will need to be sent from your myLaurier email account.

Once your myLaurier email is set up, you can access it at outlook.office.com.

Students studying at Laurier for less than 6 months on exchange are not required to have a study permit.

There are some benefits to having a study permit while you’re in Canada, mainly the ability to work while you’re studying full time. You can read about the details and reasons for having a study permit here.

Course registration for exchange students is a manual process. Your course selections will be reviewed and approved by a Laurier Academic Advisor and then will be manually added to your student record. 

Through consultation with your home institution's Academic Advisor, you are responsible for ensuring:

• You have the pre-requisite and language requirements for each course you are requesting;
• Each course will be transferable; and
• Each course meets your home institution's academic requirements. 

You will receive an email from incomingexchange@wlu.ca with further instructions and the link to submit your course requests.  

At Laurier, your OneCard is your multipurpose photo identification card. It's one of the most important pieces of identification you'll have while at Laurier, and you'll use it as your library card, transit pass, keycard to access certain buildings, and so much more.

To make sure your OneCard is ready for you when you arrive at Laurier, submit your photo in advance then pick it up when you get here.

If you have an accommodation requirement, a disability or an Education Inclusion Plan (EIP) with your home institution, you can register with Laurier's Accessible Learning Centre (ALC). Be sure to register as soon as possible so the ALC can put supports in place before you arrive on campus.

Once registered, you'll be able to communicate with a consultant to begin accommodation planning and to become familiar with the programs offered by the ALC. 

You can learn more about alternative format requests, note-taking accommodations, learning strategist support, tutoring accommodations and exam accommodations through GOAL: A Golden Hawk's Orientation to Accessible Learning.

After exploring the website, you can contact accessible_learning@wlu.ca if you have any other questions or concerns. Tell them you are an exchange student and which term you will be studying at Laurier. 

You have the option of on-campus or off-campus housing while studying at Laurier. Our Department of Residence manages on-campus housing.

To help accommodate the growing number of exchange students coming to Laurier, a limited number of residence spaces are reserved for exchange students. These accommodations are single rooms in apartment-style residences. Learn more about these options and how to apply.

Most exchange students choose to live off campus and resources are available to help you find a place to live.

University Health Insurance Plan

All international students studying at universities in Canada are required to have health insurance. You will be automatically enroled in the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) for the duration of the time you'll be at Laurier. UHIP fees will automatically appear on your student account in LORIS and on your student fees invoice.

UHIP enrolment is mandatory for exchange students. It is approximately $60 CDN per month and the cost for the full term (approximately $240 CDN for four months) is added to your student account.

The cost for UHIP will be added to your student account, which you can access through LORIS. 

Undergrads - Student VIP

Undergraduate students are registered a supplemental health insurance plan called Student VIP. This additional insurance includes limited coverage of prescription drugs, vision, dental, travel and accidents. 

If you do have equivalent coverage, you can opt out of this plan. The deadline to opt out is in the first month of each term. You can find the opt-out process on the Student VIP website.

Graduate Students - Studentcare

Graduate students are registered in a supplemental health insurance called Studentcare. This additional insurance includes limited coverage of prescription drugs, vision, dental, travel and accidents.

If you do have equiveland coverage you can opt out. Students arriving in the winter term are not automatically enrolled and have to opt-in during the change of coverage period in January. 

You can view your student fees and student invoice through the Laurier Online Registration and Information System, or LORIS. You will need to set up your myLaurier student email account to be able to log in to LORIS.

Student fees are due on the first day of each term. The start of the term is often a busy time, so we recommend paying your student fees as soon as they are available to you. You can pay your fees using the CIBC International Student Pay portal.

It is your responsibility to book your flights and make your own travel arrangements to get from the airport to Laurier.

Once you arrive in Canada, there are several ways you can travel to our campuses, including airport transit, bus and train. 

Attend our orientation week events for incoming exchange students to meet other exchange students and get to know Laurier International staff. 

Our Exchange Student Welcome event includes a guest lecture, mini-workshop on adapting to life at Laurier, dinner, and a chance to connect with other exchange students studying at Laurier!

Laurier's academic year runs from September to April each year, with limited courses offered during the spring and summer months (exchange students cannot study at Laurier during these months). Dates and deadlines for the academic year are outlined in our academic calendars for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Academic calendars are available in April for the upcoming academic year. You can use the dates and deadlines in the calendars to help plan your term, including when you should travel. It is recommended that you don't make any travel plans during exam periods.

Once the academic term begins, you'll be able to add and drop courses. You can find the deadlines for adding and dropping courses in the academic calendars.

There is a specific process that you'll need to follow to add and/or drop courses. We'll email information about this process to you; watch for an email with the subject "Adding and Dropping Courses.' 

Exchange students often remark that studying at Laurier involves many more ongoing assignments, and lots of group work, compared with their home institution. These academic cultural differences can extend to many facets of your experience, from student life to the classroom environment.

If you have questions or are uncertain about anything, we encourage you to meet with one of our staff or student volunteers. You can also further explore cultural differences by completing the Intercultural Certificate, a free program open to all exchange students.

The Laurier Student Success team offers various services, support, workshops and options to help you stay academically on track.

Laurier has one of the most active students' unions in Canada with more than 250 student-led clubs and associations that you can join. As well, every September there's a Get Involved Fair where you can visit booths to learn more about different clubs and associations.

You can also join a faculty association, which bring together your academic and social experience. 

If you're looking for ways to be active and get involved, you can:

• Join a team in our award-winning intramurals program.
• Use our state-of-the-art fitness facilities.
• Get involved with a club sport.

You can also cheer on Laurier's varsity teams at sporting events throughout the year.

International at Home programming is a great way for you to share your experiences as an exchange student, expand your intercultural knowledge and meet other students.

You can get involved in language and culture-sharing programs, complete the Intercultural Certificate or get involved with student leadership groups. 

We also regularly invite our exchange students to participate in information sessions and fairs, where you can share more about your home institution and the student experience to Laurier students who are considering studying abroad.

Before your arrival, you will be paired with senior students who volunteer their time to help support exchange students through their transition to Laurier and Canada. These students are members of the Global Engagement Student Ambassador (GESA) team and you will have a chance to meet them in person at events or during their office hours at Laurier International.

GESAs are great resources as you prepare to come to Laurier as well as during your time here. They can help you navigate student life on campus, recommend ways to get involved, tell you more about the off-campus community and more. 

Laurier International offers plenty of support for international students, from assistance with your study permit to understanding Canadian culture to getting involved on campus and in the community. Don't hesitate to contact International Student Support staff if you have any questions or need any help.

Global Engagement staff are also available to help you with your courses, including getting you registered and helping with dropping and adding courses. They also regularly host events and activities for exchange students to help you connect with the Laurier community and get involved with other students.

All exchange students have access to the services, programs and support offered by the Student Wellness Centre, where you can access physical, mental and emotional wellness services to help make sure you feel your best. The costs of most services are covered by your UHIP insurance or by student fees.

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CSEDI) provides support, education and spaces for students that focuses on building community and engaging in equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

You can explore the programs and services offered by CSEDI, or connect with them by emailing diversity@wlu.ca.

One official transcript will be automatically sent to your home institution once your exchange period has ended. For fall term students, the official transcripts will be mailed by mid-February and for winter term students, the official transcripts will be mailed by mid-June. 

We will not release the transcript to your home institution if you have outstanding debts to Laurier. 

Additional transcripts can be ordered, for a fee, from Service Laurier.

Even after you've finished your exchange term at Laurier, you're still a Golden Hawk! We hope that you'll share your experience with other students at your home institution, and by tagging us on any of your social media posts. 

We also love receiving and sharing photos from your time at Laurier. If you have any amazing photos you'd like to share, and are okay with us using them in promotional and marketing material, you can send them to us at incomingexchange@wlu.ca.