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Incoming Exchange | 2027/28 Fact Sheet

Updated: July 28, 2026

This resource includes an overview of information for international exchange students who want to study at UCalgary. Contact your home university's exchange coordinator for nomination information, and to confirm there is an exchange agreement in place with UCalgary. If your home university is not listed on our program page, you can apply as a international visiting student. Please email our incoming exchange team for more information.

The following faculty departments are available to both undergraduate and graduate incoming exchange students.

Faculty of Arts

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Art History, Communications, Media and Film, Creative and Performing Arts, Economics, English Literature, Geography, History, Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures, Philosophy, Political Science (limited), Psychology (limited), Sociology

Haskayne School of Business

Limited courses for exchange students.
Graduate courses are closed to exchange students.

Kinesiology

Limited courses for incoming exchange students.

Law

Law 400-level, Law 503, 505, 507, 508, 509, and 510, Law 602 courses are not available
Additional requirements are mandatory for acceptance. Please contact the Incoming Exchange team for more information.

Schulich School of Engineering

Limited courses for incoming exchange students.

Science

Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science (limited), Earth, Energy and Environment, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Astronomy

Social Work

Additional requirements are mandatory for acceptance. Please contact the Incoming Exchange team for more information.

Werklund School of Education

200 and 300 level courses are available pending faculty approval. Graduate courses are also offered pending faculty approval.

Medicine
Nursing
Veterinary Medicine
Neuroscience
Haskayne MBA
Professional programs/certificates:
- Data Science
- Sustainable Energy Development
- Public Policy

Sunflower with mountains in the background.

Manal Ali

Language of Instruction

English is the official language of instruction at the University of Calgary.

ELP Requirements

English language proficiency is required and achieved by meeting one of the following criteria:

Admission requirements

GPA 2.7/4

Minimum completion of one year of undergraduate study, or one term of graduate studies.

Additional admission requirements

Law School: A transcript with 12 – 15 law courses completed
Social Work: Only available to institutions with a social work exchange partnership or upon faculty approval for 500 level study
Performing Arts: May require an audition or a portfolio
Graduate Studies: A graduate transcript must be submitted with a minimum of three graduate level courses completed

Nominations and applications open: December 1

*Please note: Winter 2027–28 deadlines are now earlier. If these dates are a challenge to meet at your institution, please reach out to us and we will do our best to find an alternative.

Fall and full-year exchanges

Fall term: Sept.– Dec.
Full-year: Sept. – Apr.

Mar. 30: Nomination deadline
Apr. 30: Student application deadline

Winter exchanges

Winter term: January – April

Aug. 15: Nomination deadline
Sept. 15: Student applications deadline

Law exchanges

Fall/Winter and Full Year

Priority nomination period: Dec. 1 – May 15
Priority application period: Dec. 1 – June 15

Winter

Nomination period: May 16 – Aug.15
Application period: June 15 – Sept. 15

*Please note: The priority application period has the most course availability.

100: supplementary study
200: students in 1st and/or 2nd year
300: students in 2nd and/or 3rd year
400: students in 3rd and/or 4th year
500: students in 4th year or higher
600/700: students in Graduate Studies (not available to undergraduate students)

UCalgary's education structure requires students to complete a four or five-year bachelor's degree before they can attend a master's program. Please keep this in mind and compare it to the structure at your home university. For example, many universities in Europe have a three-year bachelor program, so if you are an M1 student, you may find UCalgary's advanced undergraduate courses (400 or 500-levels) a better fit.

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On-Campus Housing

Fall Term and Full Year applications: Open upon exchange application

Winter Term applications: May 1

On-Campus Residence is available on a first come basis and placement is not guaranteed. Students are encouraged to apply early for the best availability.

Application for On-Campus Housing

Off-Campus Housing

Some exchange students choose to find off-campus housing alternatives. The University has a few resources to help students navigate their search, but all off-campus housing is arranged independently by the exchange student.

Off-Campus Housing Information

This section contains more detailed information you should know before you come on exchange at UCalgary. If you still have more questions, you can always contact us.

Open House and Orientation

You are strongly encouraged to attend the start of term orientation and open house events to learn more about available services and supports.

Exchange welcome

A welcome event for new exchange students is hosted each term as a casual opportunity to meet and connect with one another.

Fall term dates

Fall Term classes commence: Wednesday, September 1
Fall Term classes end: Tuesday, December 7
Fall Term final examination period: Friday, December 10 – Tuesday, December 21

2027/28 Academic Calendar

Winter term dates

Winter Term classes commence: Monday, January 10
Winter Term classes end: Friday, April 7
Winter Term final examination period: Tuesday, April 11 – Tuesday, April 25

2027/28 Academic Calendar

Partner universities nominate students through our Incoming Exchange Nomination Form.

2026/2027 nominations close September 25, 2026

2027/2028 nominations open December 1, 2026

Upon home university nomination, students will receive a personalized UCalgary Incoming Exchange Application link.

The following supporting documents must be submitted as part of the application process:

An electronic copy of the student’s Official Transcript uploaded to the student’s Student Centre (unofficial transcripts are not accepted)
Proof of English Language Proficiency (if required) submitted by email
Faculty of Law applications must also include a letter of intent and two academic References.

UPASS public transit pass

Mandatory for undergraduate students
Optional for graduate students

Campus recreation and athletics

Mandatory for undergraduate and graduate students

Graduate students only

Academic services fee
Student experience support fee
Student health and wellness fee
Group insurance

Extra fees

Books
Supplies
Lab fees
Etc.

Course load

All exchange students are required to maintain full-time status at UCalgary.

Undergraduate exchange students are required to register in at least three courses (9 units) minimum or five courses (15 units) maximum.
Graduate exchange students are required to register in at least two courses (6 units) minimum, with at least two or most courses at the graduate level.

Registering in courses

Exchange students need to directly register in any courses they wish to take while at UCalgary.

Course descriptions can be found in the UCalgary Course Catalogue.
Please note: not all courses are offered every term. You will need to be approved by the faculty before registering in any course with a prerequisite.
Plan your courses and follow the process for registration carefully. The registration guidelines for exchange students will have more information.