Student exchanges
If you’re interested in a student exchange at Université Laval, talk to your university as soon as possible about the options available and how to apply. Please note that links in this section are in French only.
For more information:
Interested in doing a student exchange at Université Laval?
Student exchanges are one- or two-term mobility stays that allow you to take courses in another university as part of your training, providing an opportunity for you to enrich your academic career.
At Université Laval, these stays can take place during the fall term (September–December) or the winter term (January–April). During the summer term (May–June or July–August), only intensive courses in French as a Second Language are offered.
Please note that only applications submitted by your home institution will be accepted, regardless of the exchange program.
Types of exchange programs
To qualify for an exchange program at Université Laval, you must be selected by your educational institution. You should contact your university several months in advance to find out what exchange opportunities are available.
Some interinstitutional agreements provide for exchanges for specific programs of studies (International Profile and Exchanges Canada) while some exchange programs offer access to various programs of studies (general agreements, BCI) but require the program director’s approval before the exchange can take place.
In the case of the International Profile and Exchanges Canada, your institution can tell you what programs are offered.
The programs available through general agreements and the BCI exchange program are listed below.
Consult the Academics page for more information on our programs of studies, including the learning objectives and the admission requirements for each of them. You can simply enter the name of the program that interests you.
Course selection
Please verify that the courses you wish to take are offered in the program of studies you have selected. You can select only one of Université Laval’s programs of studies and the courses offered in that program.
To access the courses available in your selected program, you must choose the courses that interest you among those listed in the program structure section (see “Liste des cours” under “Structure du programme”).
Available courses are announced at two points during the year:
- in April for the fall term; and
- in November for the winter term.
When scheduling, you will be able to see the teaching format and the time slot for each course. You can also see whether there are prerequisites for the course by clicking on the course description. You are not required to follow the proposed academic path as it is intended for regular students in the program.
Please note that the course selection you submit in your application is an indication of the courses that interest you. Registration for these courses will depend on their availability and any essential prerequisites.
Université Laval does not issue diplomas for student exchanges.
However, some interinstitutional agreements allow students in a dual degree program to continue their academic career at Université Laval after their exchange in order to complete their degree. For more information, refer to our page on dual degrees.
Eligibility requirements
- You must be selected by your home institution for a stay of 1 or 2 terms maximum, excluding any French as a Second Language intensive courses.
- You must have the required level of French (DELF B2) unless you wish to take courses offered in English in the business administration program or French as a Second Language courses.
- At the time of your departure, you must have completed the equivalent of at least one year of academic studies as a full-time student.
- You must be registered at your university during the exchange and have paid your tuition fees, and you must be registered at Université Laval as a full-time student (12 ULaval credits per term) for the duration of the exchange.
- You must select your courses from those offered in the program of studies to which you have been admitted.
- You must have obtained the required immigration documents for the duration of your stay.
Architecture
- You must submit a portfolio.
You must have a laptop computer.
Arts and Design
Students in visual and media arts, graphic design, product design, and animation art and science must submit a portfolio.
Graduate School of International Studies (ESEI)
The following courses are not open to exchange students:
- Essai (ETI-6500, ETI-6501, ETI-6502, ETI-6503)
- Stage (ETI-6510, ETI-6511, ETI-6512, ETI-6513)
- Atelier de recherche (ETI-6010)
- Activité de recherche – mémoire 1 to 4 (ETI-6801, ETI-6802, ETI-6803, ETI-6804)
- Mission commerciale à l’étranger (GIE-6029)
- Clinique de droit international pénal et humanitaire (DRT-7011)
Priority for registration in the multidisciplinary seminars (all “Séminaire pluridisciplinaire” courses) is given to students in the master’s program in international studies. Subject to availability, exchange students may apply.
Humanities
Some programs available through the BCI or a general agreement require students to provide English proficiency test results (TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS) or they may be denied admission.
- International studies and modern languages (score required: TOEIC 825)
- English literature and linguistics (score required: TOEFL ITP 550)
- Teaching English as a Second Language (score required: TOEFL ITP 550)
Music
- Instrument and small ensemble courses are not available to BCI or general agreement exchange students.
- Large ensemble courses may be available to BCI or general agreement exchange students on the condition that they pass an audition and obtain approval from the director of the Faculty of Music. Contact the faculty for more information: etudes.1@mus.ulaval.ca.
- For more information, see the music program admission requirements.
Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Only students who come as part of the International Profile program can register for laboratory courses.
- Some courses are not open to exchange students: special subjects, visits, seminars, internships and research activities (all courses in the series “Sujets spéciaux,” “Visites,” Séminaire,” “Stage” and “Activité de recherche”).
- Students may select a maximum of 2 non-faculty courses and only 1 remote course.
Science and Engineering
Bachelor’s degrees in North America correspond to engineering degrees (5 years) in European grandes écoles, while Master’s degrees and doctorates or PhDs are equivalent to European research Masters and doctorates respectively.
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry: Laboratory courses are not open to exchange students.
Business Administration
Click on the links below to see the admission requirements that apply to you based on your level of education and your country of origin.
**Disregard sections on specific requirements, and qualifying year and courses.**
Bachelor’s degree: A minimum of 13 years of education is required to qualify.
Master’s degree
Documents required for bachelor’s and master’s programs
For your application to be considered, you must provide legible copies of your general education transcripts (e.g., a French baccalaureate, which corresponds to a Canadian high school diploma), all academic transcripts (including any preparatory classes) and certification of your diplomas. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Language requirements
To register for courses in French, students must have a level of French equivalent to DELF C1.
Submitting your application
If you are one of the candidates selected by your university, you will receive an email asking you to fill out an online application form for your file. The email will specify the documents you need to attach, including a list of courses you would like to take.
Admission
If your application is accepted, you will receive a letter of admission from Université Laval, which you will need to complete your immigration formalities. If your application is rejected, you will be notified by email.
You will also receive an email with your Université Laval email address and login information for the student portal.
Upon your arrival, we recommend that you submit your legal documents to the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible following these instructions.
To make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions for your exchange, you can refer to Your stay at Université Laval: a glossary.