2024–2025 Exchange Student Fact Sheet

COVID-19 Notice

Please note that due to the pandemic, there are specific procedures and requirements for travel. Ensure that you communicate with the UPEI Exchange Coordinator and adhere to all requirements and instructions in the UPEI COVID-19 Travel Guide. Students should also be monitoring the Immigration Canada and Prince Edward Island government websites.

Students should monitor the University of Prince Edward Island’s website for updates and information, including the responsibilities that students have in contributing to a safe and healthy campus environment. More information can be found at upei.ca/coronavirus. 

Before you travel

Determine your university tuition category. Some of UPEI’s exchange/visiting student programs allow UPEI and our partners to exchange students, whereby a student pays tuition to his or her home institution but attends classes somewhere else in the world. Other non-partner institutions may send visiting students to UPEI. Unlike exchange students, these students pay tuition fees to UPEI as international students. In consultation with your home university, be sure to determine which category you fall into.

If you are applying as an exchange student from one of our partner schools, please review this exchange application document.

Choose your courses

If you plan to study at UPEI, you will work with academic advisors at your home university and at UPEI to select courses that meet your program needs and to ensure the credits are recognized at your home institution. Typically, a full-time student at UPEI takes five (5) courses per semester, and most courses are three (3) semester-hours. You must be registered in at least three courses (a total of nine semester-hours) to be considered full-time.

Fill out and submit a Course Request form.

UPEI will work to have students registered in their first choice of courses but cannot guarantee students will be registered in their top choices. Coordinators from the partner school must sign off on each course request form. This ensures UPEI that all exchange students have the necessary prerequisites to take the courses they have listed.

Courses in nursing, veterinary medicine, EMBA, kinesiology, and engineering are NOT open to exchange students; however, applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Students must refer to the official timetable and the available course information on MyUPEI in order to complete the Course Request form. The course calendar is updated every February and registration will be in April. Course syllabuses are available only by individual course request by contacting faculty members teaching the particular course.

Apply for your visa

The process for obtaining student visas and study permits varies from country to country. Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more information.

You will also want to refer to the Study In Canada website for more detailed and accurate information about studying in Canada.

Apply for residence

We highly recommend visiting students and exchange students live in residence, and to apply early because residences fill up quickly. Apply online on the Residence Services website.

Housing options

Living in on-campus residence

UPEI’s on-campus residence provides students with a great immersion into the campus culture. As residence is located on the edge of our small campus, classes are just steps away. Residence provides a safe and comfortable atmosphere with a great deal of programming available during the week, including movie nights, painting nights, tutoring, etc. It’s a great way to make lots of friends and be close to the hub of what campus services are offered!

UPEI’s on-campus residences include Blanchard Hall, Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, and Bernardine Hall. Blanchard Hall is highly recommended for exchange students as there is a small kitchenette provided; therefore no meal plan is required for the short stay. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as the residence registration is open.

Visit the UPEI Residence website for more information.

Living in Homestay

Homestay provides students with housing close to campus and in a family environment—sometimes there may be other students living there too! It is all-inclusive and all of your meals are provided. It also allows for greater immersion into the culture as well as greater cultural experience and exchange. Families will often include students in their day to day plans and experiences, including family games nights, sightseeing, and other activities.

Visit the English Language Centre's Homestay page for more information. 

Living off-campus

Students wishing to live off-campus should contact exchangein@upei.ca before making arrangements to live off-campus. Living in residence or in a homestay is strongly recommended for the short stay.

Students can also visit UPEI's Off-campus Housing website for more information on off-campus housing options.

Arrange to pay all costs

Residence, and other fees are payable each term. You can transfer funds directly using StudentPay. (Credit cards are not accepted for tuition or residence fees.)

Arrange for health care

Non-fee paying exchange students are NOT eligible for coverage under the UPEI insurance plan. Each exchange student must purchase mandatory emergency medical coverage through Guard Me International Insurance using the UPEI access code of 2456 to secure the UPEI preferred rate and must provide proof of this to the UPEI exchange coordinator prior to arrival.

Visit the GuardMe website for more information.

Airport pick-up form

If you require airport pick-up, we are happy to provide that service. Fill out and submit an airport pick-up form.

The closest airport is the Charlottetown Airport. The UPEI campus is a five-minute drive by taxi from the airport. The closest international airport is the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Shuttles and buses arrive several times per week from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport to Charlottetown.

Visit the Maritime Bus website for costs and other information.

Upon your arrival - Checklist

• Check in with the UPEI International Exchange Coordinator shortly after your arrival.
• Get information on Orientation Week (O-Week) activities.
• Get your CampusCard student ID card at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre front desk, or at the Residence Services Office in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall.
• Pay residence and fees. Visit the Payment Options page.
• Pick up a free student handbook from the UPEI Student Union Office, 2nd Floor South, W. A. Murphy Student Centre.
• English Academic Preparation (EAP) students: 
  • Take the English Assessment Test (if applicable) at the International Student Office, Dalton Hall.

After you leave

Please remember it is the responsibility of each exchange student to request their own official transcripts be sent to their home institution upon completion of their exchange semester. Once the semester has come to an end, students must request their own official transcripts to be sent to their home institution by submitting the ‘Transcript Request Form’ on MyUPEI.

Due to privacy laws, UPEI cannot request the transcripts on behalf of any student. It is up to the student to request their own. This can be done through the student’s MyUPEI account portal under student planning after their final grades have been posted. Students should request one copy to be mailed to their home institution and in the comments section, ask for the transcript to also be emailed to a specific address (their home institution and their own, if desired). This way schools will receive their transcript immediately and directly from UPEI.