Outbound exchange program
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Informational Videos | Go Global Partner Schools | Featured Partners | Faculty-Specific Considerations
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Informational Videos
Learn more with our two playlists: (Go) Global Glimpse and the Ambassador’s Desk!
(Go) Global Glimpse
Our primary video series which walks you through all the need-to-know information about Go Global!
The Ambassador’s Desk
Hear from some of our previous Go Global Ambassador’s about what their experience was like.
Go Global Partner Schools
Go Global has over 180 partner universities in 50 countries worldwide for term-based exchange options. For the most current information on partner universities, refer to the link below. Note that this link will take you to our Vancouver website as they host the content.
See the map below for a visual of where all of the partner schools available to UBC Okanagan students are located, and then find out more by searching for them on our Partner University School page.
Tip: Select “Exchange” from the “Program Type” drop-down to see winter-session exchange options. We do not recommend using the “Areas of Study” filter except for Engineering and Management. Management (UBCO) is the correct option for BCOM students at UBCO.
faculty-specific considerations
Each faculty has slightly different considerations to take into account in regards to Go Global. Some major have additional considerations, however the below lists will help with some basics.
- Very few restrictions for degrees in this faculty
- Although students from FASS can go abroad in their second year, it is not usually recommended to do so. Most degrees have 2nd year requirements which, if not obtained abroad, will delay degree progression (e.g. PSYO 270/271)
- 3rd year is the suggested time for most majors to go abroad
- In addition to Go Global, your program advisor may be able to suggest some strong exchange options for you
- Degree-specific considerations are important
- ex/ VISA has less flexibility than ENGL
- The best time to go abroad for Media Studies is 2nd semester of Third Year
- It is encouraged to reach out to academic advising or your program advisor/coordinator if you are uncertain on how to meet any of your degree requirements while abroad
- Best time to go abroad to avoid delays in degree completion, regardless of pursuing CIE/Exchange, is:
- For 4-year degree plans: second semester of 3rd year
- For 5-year degree plans: second semester of 4th year
- Students have two options for how to study abroad:
- Coordinated International Experience (CIE)
- Fewer exchange options (~18 partner schools)
- Generally unlimited space at each of the partner institutions
- Semester abroad counts as a co-op term
- Two-thirds of your courses should be ENGR-related
- General Exchange program
- Greater selection of exchange opportunities (~200 partner schools)
- Generally a larger selection of non-ENGR coursework available at partner institutions
- More flexibility available in the courses that you can take
- Coordinated International Experience (CIE)
- For CIE it is mandatory, and for Exchange it is highly encouraged, to work with an Academic Advisor during course planning and articulations
- Health and Exercise Science / Human Kinetics
- BHK degree is well suited for exchange at any point in third/fourth year
- For BHES students:
- KAH Concentration – Can go abroad in third year or during summer
- HBC Concentration – Can go abroad in third year but may have challenges finding equivalent courses, so summer may be best
- CEP Concentration – Summer programs only
- No concentration – Can easily go abroad in Third or Fourth Year
- If wanting to take HES coursework while abroad, it is recommended to go to a partner institution in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, or the United Kingdom
- If wanting to take elective coursework, many more options are available – it is encouraged to reach out to our office to discuss how this might work with your degree
- Nursing
- Limited ability to take part in Go Global programming
- 3cr of elective coursework which could be completed during any summer
- Global Health Practicum in 4th year
Nursing Go Global Guide
- Limited ability to take part in Go Global programming
- Master’s of Social Work
- Generally not able to go on exchange. Please speak to your supervisor to determine whether exchange is plausible for your degree
- Students can go abroad in summer at any time, but cannot earn upper-level MGMT/COMM credit in the summer between first and second year (e.g. only elective credits can be earned in the first summer session)
- The earliest that students can go abroad in the Winter Session (Sept-Apr) is the first semester of third year
- MGMT Students studying abroad during their fourth year need to ensure that they earn credit for MGMT 490 either at UBCO or while abroad
- BMGT & BCOM students can take MGMT/COMM-related courses at schools that appear with the “Management (UBCO)” filter under Areas of Study on our partner search page
- BMGT and BCOM students from UBCO cannot take MGMT/COMM-related courses at partners that only appear with the “Commerce (UBCV)” filter under Areas of Study on our partner search page
- Some degrees work well to go abroad for one or two semesters, while others will require a bit more planning
- Specific degree requirements (e.g. specific 21-credits of upper-level BIOL for ZOOL Majors) can be satisfied through unassigned courses (BIOL 3rd) with approval from the degree program advisor
- In addition to conversations with Go Global and Academic Advising, it will be important for you to consult your program advisor, especially for degrees with a high level of course-specific degree requirements
- Computer Science
- Students need to be at UBCO for a full year to complete COSC 499. This course may be available during the summer session.
Additional Considerations
Learn about other students personal accounts of their experience at partner schools to see if they are a good fit for you.
Log-in to our Student Report database below and click “Read a Report” to review submissions!
