Now that you’ve been nominated, it's up to you to maximize your learning opportunities. Here are the critical steps you must take.
Timeline
View this infographic to help you understand Summer Abroad's timeline
Step 1. Check travel requirements
- Check your passport and whether you need to apply for visas or permits for the host country
- Start your research for housing (if necessary)
- Note: Do not make travel arrangements until you have received official acceptance from the partner university
Learn more
Your passport
Make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after you plan to return to UBC. If is not, consider renewing your passport sooner rather than later.
Visas and residence permits
Depending on your citizenship, where you are going, and your length of stay, you may need a visa, study permit, or residence permit to travel to and stay in their host country for the duration of their program. Do some research now so that you are prepared and can start the process when you are notified/admitted by the partner university.
In most cases, you cannot apply for your visa until you have your letter of acceptance from your host university.
You may need to travel to another city to apply for or obtain your visa. For example, you may sometimes need to go in-person to a consulate in Ottawa or Toronto.
Visa fees can be significant. Please take these into consideration when budgeting.
If you are a UBC international student with a Canadian study permit, you should make sure your permit remains valid while you are away from Canada. For more information, please contact International Student Advising.
Go Global does not advise in detail on visas because rules and application processes change often and can vary greatly depending on students’ individual situation (e.g., citizenship or length of stay).
Housing
Availability of campus housing or residence varies between universities. Most host universities provide incoming students with information about finding local housing on- or off-campus. You can refer to partner pages to find more details.
Flights
You should make travel arrangements after you have been formally admitted to your host university and received a Letter of Acceptance. Please do not book flights until you receive a Letter of Acceptance from the partner university.
Step 2. Apply to your host university
- Obtain transcript from Go Global by logging into your online application
- Gather supporting documents
- Start your application
Learn more
Some time after Go Global has selected you and matched you to a summer abroad program, you must apply for admission directly with the partner university. Many summer programs open applications in the winter or early spring. Be ready to apply soon after you receive instructions on how to apply. Some schools have early application deadlines (~March).
Partner university application instructions
In the weeks or months after Go Global has notified you of which partner university you've been matched to, you will receive the details about completing the partner application. The partner application is what you will submit to your host university, which they will use to register you for the program. Pay attention to application deadlines as some can be as early as March.
Your host university may contact you directly with detailed application instructions.
Some partner universities request online applications, while others require paper applications. If paper copies are required, submit paper documents to Go Global, who will mail them to your host university on your behalf. Do not send any paper application materials directly to the partner.
UBC transcripts for your application
Most partners will require you to submit your official university transcripts.
Go Global will order your UBC transcripts for you and upload them to your online application under "Transcript & Partner Application". You must download it and include it with your application to your host university.
If you are a transfer student from another post-secondary institution, you will need to submit official transcripts from all of your previous institution(s).
Other supporting documents for your application
Every university has a different application process. While some may be as simple as completing one form, others may require additional documents such as:
- Academic reference letters
You should request these from a professor 3 weeks before you need them.
- Resume (or CV)
A basic resume is sufficient.
- Statement of interest or motivation
Include information about your intended areas of study, and reasons why you are looking forward to your exchange.
- Proof of language ability
- Photos
This may include headshots.
- Medical exams
- Proof of funds
An example may be a bank statement.
- Proof of medical insurance
If you are covered by the AMS/GSS Extended Health and Dental plan, you should request a letter from the Alma Mater Society (AMS).
- Study plans or learning agreements
- Housing or residence application
It is your responsibility to prepare all documents required for the partner university application.
Email your Go Global advisor if you have questions about preparing your partner university application.
If anything needs to be physically mailed to your host university, please submit these to Go Global, who will mail it on your behalf.
Letter of acceptance
After you submit your application to your partner university, your application will be reviewed and if you are admitted, you will receive a Letter of Acceptance (also called a “confirmation of enrolment” or “letter of admission”) from the partner university. This letter may be sent directly to you or to Go Global. You may need this letter for visa or permit applications to travel and stay in your host country.
If you have not received this letter two months before the start of your experience, contact Go Global.
Step 3. Register for courses and pay your fees
- Find out what to expect for course registration at your host university
- Who and when to pay your fees
- While abroad, consider UBC registration and tuition for the upcoming semester when you are back on campus
Learn more
Course registration at your host university
You will receive information from your host university before arrival about course registration.
The course registration process and timeline varies greatly between universities and can be quite different than at UBC. Course registration for many summer abroad programs are tied to application, meaning you also select courses when you apply to the school. Therefore, early application/course registration is strongly recommended. Many programs have an application deadline in March. Some even offer early bird pricing if you apply/register well before the deadline. In other cases, you may have a very small window of time to register for courses. Please check partner university websites regularly for most recent updates.
Course content and availability at your host university may change. Go Global cannot guarantee access to specific courses or whether available courses will meet your degree requirements.
See information on course transfer credits between your host university and UBC.
Paying your fees
Like the course registration process, payment timelines can vary greatly between universities and can be quite different from UBC. Depending on your nomination, you may be required to pay fees at the point of application, after you are admitted, and/or during the course registration process.
Students who are nominated for STUDY ABROAD pay tuition fees to the partner university and must follow their guidelines and dates.
Students who are nominated for SUMMER EXCHANGE pay tuition fees to UBC and must pay their fees on Workday Student by the posted deadline. Tuition fees are determined on a per-credit basis for Summer Exchange. For example, if you only register for one course that is equivalent to 3 UBC credits, you will only have to pay for those 3 credits. You will be asked to disclose how many UBC credits you are taking when you submit your study dates to us in the spring.
Regardless of which pathway you are matched to, the partner university may charge other fees, i.e. administration fee, housing fee, sociocultural excursion fee, etc which you will be reponsible for.
UBC course registration and tuition while abroad
While you are registered at the partner university, you will also be registered at UBC under a designated EXCH code that denotes you will be participating in an exchange or study abroad program. Registration in this EXCH code occurs after you have submitted your study dates to us in the spring.
Registration in EXCH will allow you to retain your eligibility for scholarships and loans while you are away and your status as a UBC student.
Step 4. Participate in Go Global pre-departure programming
Learn more
What is Pre-Departure
The Pre-Departure program is an integral part of your international learning experience, designed to help you in your personal, academic, and administrative preparation. It is designed to:
- Help you develop realistic goals and expectations of your experience
- Equip you with tools and mindsets that will help you while overseas
Pre-departure Policy
UBC is committed to preparing students for safe and successful international experiences. To achieve this, any student participating in a Go Global Program must complete the following:
- All UBC Student Safety Abroad requirements
- Go Global Program-specific pre-departure requirements, i.e. transfer credit workshop, safety abroad session
Failure to successfully complete these and any other requirements may result in withdrawal from the Go Global Program
Step 5: Plan finances
- Review the Go Global Fee and Fee-adjustment Policy
- UBC offers options to fund your experience. Browse scholarships available
- Check to see if the partner university offers any scholarships
Learn more
The Go Global Fee, an administrative fee of $423.25, is required for all applicants to Go Global programs. The fee is non-refundable.
However, it may be adjusted under the following circumstances. See our fee-adjustment policy
Scholarships for Summer Abroad
There are a number of International Learning Awards to support your participation in a Go Global Program.
You will automatically be considered for some of these awards, while others require an application. You can only receive one award or scholarship. For scholarships administered by Go Global that you need to apply to, log in to Go Global Gateway and select "Search Scholarships".
Some partner universities also administer their own scholarship for participants of the program. Please check individual partner/program pages for further details.
Step 6: Make travel arrangements
- Once you have received your acceptance letter, finalize all travel arrangements including your visa (if necessary), airline ticket and health insurance.
- If you have any questions about travel arrangements, contact a Go Global advisor.