Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What are the eligibility requirements?

• Must be a Trent student enrolled in a 4-year Honours or 3 year General program
• Have a minimum cumulative average of 70%
• Earned at least 5.0 credits towards your degree

Where can I go?

Trent has many partnerships already established - please review our destinations page. If you do not see a particular destination, you may apply for a Letter of Permission which allows you to study abroad at any institution. 

What is the difference between "studying abroad" and an "exchange"?

An Exchange is an arrangement between Trent and a partner institution. One of the partner university’s students will come to Trent while you are visiting their school. You pay Trent tuition fees and remain enrolled as a Trent student while abroad. You will be responsible for paying full-time tuition and ancillary fees to Trent regardless of whether you choose to take a reduced course load abroad.

Studying Abroad is an umbrella term to describe the many types of opportunities at Trent - including partner exchanges, departmental exchanges, and LOP's.

What is a Departmental Exchange & does every Department offer them?

Some specific departments at Trent University have unique programs that combine academics and work-placement opportunities abroad to highlight aspects of the discipline. Currently, the only programs that offer Departmental Exchanges are French Studies (Nantes), Modern Languages and Literatures (Bolivia), and International Development Studies (Ghana). 

Please contact the respective department for more information.

What if I want to study at an institution that Trent isn't partnered with?

If you wish to go to an institution which is not one of Trent’s partners, you can apply for a Letter of Permission. This is a Letter that allows you to establish a contract with Trent University which will give you credit for the courses taken at your host institution. You are responsible for arrangements with the university you are interested in.

Why is it preferred that I study abroad in my 3rd year?

By your 3rd year you should have adapted to university life and acquired the academic skills required to study in a foreign environment. Additionally, many students finishing their 1st year often do not have the pre-requisites required for courses at a host institution.

Studying in your 3rd year also allows breathing room to catch up from any complications that occur as a result of your exchange. If you study abroad in your 4th year you have little room for error and therefore studying in your 3rd removes that pressure.

Can I study abroad in my 2nd year?

Yes you can!  However, 2nd year applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Please consult with a study abroad advisor.

Do I have to speak the language of the country fluently?

• On an Exchange, no. Many of our non-English speaking partner institutions offer courses in English, regardless of the official language(s) of the country. You may also be required to take language courses at your host institution if English is not the countries native language
• On a Department Year Abroad for the Modern Languages department, you will be required to take courses in the language of instruction of the host university.

Can I study abroad at our partner institutions during the summer term? 

All of our contractual agreements with partners pertain to the academic term - with the exception of UCO (Catholic University of the West Angers) who offers a summer business course. Therefore if you want to study abroad in the summer it will have to be through a departmental exchange or more commonly an LOP.

How long will I be away?

• You have the choice to apply for one semester or a full academic year.
• Summer programs usually run from 4-6 weeks.

ACADEMICS

What is the course load requirement?

You are expected to enrol in a normal full-time course load at your host institution regardless of if you are part-time or full-time at Trent.

Do I receive credit for the courses I take abroad?

Yes! The courses you take abroad will be assessed using the Course Assessment form before you leave for your exchange. It it your responsibility to connect with departments and get your credits assessed. Afterwards, transfer credit will be assigned.

If you are abroad and come across a course you wish to take, you will need to re-submit your Course Assessment Form for re-evaluation. 

Will my grades from my time abroad appear on my Trent transcript?

All grades from host universities will appear as PASS/FAIL on your Trent transcript.

Numeric grades will only be considered for scholarship recipients but will still appear as PASS/FAIL on your Trent transcript.

FINANCE 

How much does studying abroad cost?

You pay full-time Trent tuition and ancillary fees for a Partner Exchange (regardless of course load taken while abroad).

• You are responsible for the cost of housing and meals. Some partners allow you to simply pay housing to Trent, but most students can expect to pay housing and meal plan to the host institution.
• You are responsible for the cost of transportation, health insurance, medical, and general living expenses. A more detailed explanation can be found at our Costs Page.

There is a placement fee of 250.00$ once you have been approved and you have accepted your offer to Study Abroad (this is non-refundable).

Is there any financial assistance available?

• OSAP-eligible students can continue receiving OSAP while abroad.
• There are a number of exchange awards, bursaries, loans and scholarships available to eligible students. The application is available on myTrent under the Study Abroad tab.
• If you have an existing scholarship it still applies when you Study Abroad.

ACCOMMODATION & HOUSING 

Where do I live while abroad?

Depending on the agreement and host institution, residence accommodations and/or a meal plan may be included in your exchange, however, most of our partners require you pay them directly for housing.

A few institutions do not have residences. If this is the case, you are responsible for finding your own accommodations. The host institution should have information on convenient accommodation locations to assist you.

APPLICATION

When should I begin planning my study abroad?

Our recommendation is as early as possible to ensure your degree requirements will be met while abroad. The formal process begins in the Fall Semester of your 2nd Year, when Study Abroad holds information sessions. To stay up to date with our events follow our Instagram @trentstudyabroad.

How do I get started planning an exchange?

The first step in preparing for an exchange is booking an appointment with an Academic Advisor to plan your degree and determine your degree requirements. This includes completing a degree checklist.

Once you get approval from your academic advisor, you can begin to review the information on our website and attend one of our information sessions. Any questions you have during this period can be directed to our email studyabroad@trentu.ca. After you submit your application you will be prompted to schedule a meeting with our study abroad advisor where you can meet at the Trent Study Abroad Program Office -Champlain College room 301 next to Trent International.

Where can I find the Application Form?

The Application Form can be found in your myTrent in "Academics" tab under the "Study Abroad" heading inside the "Outbound" folder.

When is the deadline for Applications?

The deadline for the 2025-2026 Study Abroad year is January 10th, 2025.