Studying away from McGill

Independent Study Away

NOTE: Any coursework completed at another university MUST be pre-approved to be considered for transfer credit. Any transfer credit request without pre-approval will be refused.

An independent study away is when a McGill student applies, registers, takes courses and pays tuition to an accredited degree granting institution and receives an official transcript of these studies from the same undergraduate degree granting school. Students must be registered at the host school as a “visiting, non-degree student” and take courses that are part of the host university’s undergraduate curriculum, taught by their faculty members. Host universities normally require a letter of permission. Students must apply on Minerva for a Study Away. Once approved, a letter will be generated and students will be able to print the needed letter and the study away term will appear on the McGill Transcript for the specified term.

NOTE: Students completing prerequisite courses after being admitted to McGill must take them at a university-level institution.  These courses cannot be taken at CEGEP-level.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for Independent Study Away, students must:

• Have a minimum CGPA of 2.7 at the time of application (2.5 CGPA for the summer term)

• Have not already received the maximum number of transfer credits

• Complete the Travel Registry requirements. If your course is online, the travel registry is not required (please ensure to indicate this in your statement of purpose).

Application Instructions:

To apply for a Study Away term(s), you must: 

1. Research and select a host institution 
2. Research the courses offered at the host institution during the proposed term(s), identify the course(s) that you intend to register for and verify that it has been approved through McGill's Course Equivalency System; if it has not, you will need to register a request for evaluation (see FAQs)
3. Complete the Study Away application in Minerva (Student Menu > Student Records Menu > Exchange/Study Away Menu), including a Statement of Purpose, indicating why you wish to go on Study Away
4. Complete the Transfer Credit Assessment Form (TCAF) in Minerva; this involves listing the course(s) that you propose to take at the host institution for review and approval; the link to the TCAF can be found at the bottom of your Study Away application; in order to populate this form, the course must already be approved in the Course Equivalency System 
5. Once approved by the Faculty, you will receive an automated e-mail from Minerva indicating that you may log back into your Study Away application and print a “Letter of Permission” (link found at the bottom of application); this letter will allow you to apply to the host institution as a Visiting Student  

Exchange

An exchange means studying for one or two semesters at one of McGill’s official partner universities and transferring those credits towards a McGill program and paying tuition to McGill. Bilateral student exchange agreements exist between McGill University and one other institution, which has been reviewed and approved by McGill. The number of exchange spaces available at the host institution are limited, and vary from year to year. Students must apply on Minerva for an Exchange. McGill students nominated to participate on an exchange term abroad are charged McGill tuition for that term (equivalent to 15 McGill credits). The Exchange term will appear on the McGill Transcript for the specified term.

In order to qualify for exchange, students must:

• Have a minimum CGPA of 3.00 or greater
• Have not already received the maximum number of transfer credits
• Require the credits to fulfill requirements at McGill
• Be currently registered as a full-time, degree-seeking McGill student
• Have completed at least one year of full-time study by the start of your term abroad
• Complete the Minerva Transfer Credit Assessment form
• For more information, please click here: https://www.mcgill.ca/mcgillabroad/students-going-abroad/plan-and-prepare

IUT

NOTE: Any coursework completed at another Quebec university MUST be approved via the IUT system. Any transfer credit request without pre-approval will be refused.

The Québec Inter-University Transfer Agreement (IUT) allows students to take one course or a full course load at another university in the province of Québec. During the term of the IUT, students will pay McGill tuition. McGill students wanting to take courses at another Quebec university MUST apply to the CREPUQ online application. Grades are sent to us automatically and electronically once they are available. The IUT term will appear on the McGill Transcript for the specified term.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Students must have completed one full year of studies (Fall and Winter)
• Students must have a CGPA of 2.0
• The course completed while on IUT must be applicable to the students program, as either elective, complementary or required.

For more information, visit the IUT home page.

J'Explore Program

The Explore Program is a Five-Week French-Language Bursary Program offered by the Government of Canada. Students that successfully complete the program may be eligible to receive transfer credit on their McGill transcript. Please note that not all courses offered through this program are for credit. It is important to read the Explore Website to ensure that the host university they select grants university-level credits for their courses. If the program is not affiliated with a recognized university, credits cannot be granted. Students should follow these steps:

1. The student consults the Explore Program website to determine the course they wish to take
2. In Minerva, the student submits a simplified Study Away Application (you must indicate in the comments that you wish to take a course offered through the Explore Program) and an Approval of Transfer Credit Assessment form to request course approval.

3. **Students undertaking the Explore Program should always refer to the Transfer Credit & Advanced Standing webpage (left hand menu, "Explore Program") for the most up-to-date information on the program.**

4. The student applies for the Explore Program on the Quebec government website
5. If the student is accepted for the bursary and confirms their registration at the host institution, they must email this decision to their Faculty Student Affairs Office (saoadvisor.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca)
6. The Faculty SAO approves the Study Away application and Transfer Course in Minerva
7. Management of Academic Records adds a special inter-university course to the student’s record in the appropriate summer term and a notation of ‘Inter-University Explore Pgm’ reflects on the McGill transcript
8. Upon course completion, the student requests a copy of their transcript to be sent to saoadvisor.macdonald [at] mcgill.ca
9. Student takes a post-test at McGill’s French Language Centre and the result of the post-test must be received by the ISA Office/advisor before transfer credit is processed. Instructions can be found on this website
10. Credit transfer is processed based on post-test results.