Welcome, class of 2020, to Waterloo Engineering!
The engineer of the future will need to be a truly global engineer, where geographical boundaries will be of relatively minor importance while communicating and working with engineers of all nationalities will be essential. An international exchange could be your first step along this path!
What is an International Exchange?
An international exchange is a program that allows students to spend one or two academic terms at one of our partner universities while earning credits toward their Waterloo degree.
International Exchange is available to all undergraduate students that maintain an overall grade point average of 70% or higher and typically takes place in your 3A or 3B academic terms (or both!!). Normally, you will lose no time on exchange and will graduate with your class.
Why Should You Start Thinking About it in 1A?
It’s a great opportunity that should be high on your list of things to plan for, but it needs preparation, organization, and forethought. You could be among the 15% of your class who goes on this amazing adventure and learning experience.
What Are Some Benefits of Exchange?
If you’ve lived most of your life in one country in one culture, exchange will truly be an eye-opening and life-changing experience for you. It can open your eyes to the outlook, traditions and culture of your host country. You’ll meet other exchange students from all over the world and make life-long friends and contacts.
The Faculty of Engineering has exchange partnerships with over 80 top-tier universities in about 30 countries. You’ll need to decide which best suits your needs: most of our exchanges are restricted in numbers, some are open only to certain disciplines of engineering, and for some you need to learn (or refresh) your language skills if the language of instruction is not English. In some of our exchanges it’s easiest to go for a one-term exchange, while for others two terms, or even a full year including a work term may provide a better fit.
All this is a part of planning for your future which could take you anywhere in the world!
To get started, visit our website (search for “Engineering Exchanges” at the UW home page) for all information, instructions, and forms you’ll need. If you are on Facebook, look for the “UW Engineering Exchanges” group, which is specifically for outbound students and for those who have been on exchange, and is moderated by the Engineering Society (EngSoc) and the Faculty Exchange Office.
Also be sure to contact Cindy Howe in the Faculty Exchange Office (Carl Pollock Hall, Room 3658), eng.ug.exchange.askus@uwaterloo.ca
Don’t let this chance pass you by! You will need more than a year of lead-time after completing the application process before you can go on exchange.
What about tuition fees?
You will pay your regular Waterloo tuition fees to Waterloo.
Finally, an exchange is great for fun, travel and adventure. You’ll visit parts of the world that stay-at-home students may never experience. Don’t take our word for it; talk to students who’ve gone, or read what they have to say:
“Going on exchange is the BEST decision I’ve made in my undergrad life! It has helped me grow as a person from learning in a new environment, making friends around the world, and seeing things in different perspectives. Not to mention all the amazing travels you can do on an exchange.” – LinLin Chen, Management Engineering
“In my opinion no classroom is ever an ample substitute for the experiences of the real world and nothing provides the individual more perspective than the opportunity to travel abroad. As our global world seeks to address the pressing challenges of our age, such perspective is becoming invaluable.” – Matthew Benson, Civil Engineering
[writing of a camping experience while on exchange in Chile] “A little village of tents beneath the mountains. I’d never gone hiking in such a busy place, but I loved the suppertime gatherings around propane stoves, passing spices round to other travelers, trading stories.” – Tessa Alexanian, Systems Design Engineering
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