International exchange (Outbound)

Study abroad as an exchange student - UM Outbound

About outbound student exchange

Our student exchange program lets you see the world while earning credits toward your degree. Through partnerships with more than 50 international institutions in over 20 destinations, UM students can pay regular tuition to the University of Manitoba while studying abroad, and will usually receive credits for courses taken at partner universities.

Other costs, such as accommodation, food, health insurance and transportation will vary based on your destination, but scholarships, bursaries and awards are available to help cover costs.

Why student exchange?

Student exchange program is not just about studying abroad! It also offers many opportunities and enhances personal growth, academic success and career planning:

  • icon map

    Travel around the world

  • icon graduate

    Earn credits toward your degree

  • icon audience

    Make lifelong friends

  • icon spiritual

    Experience personal growth

  • icon community

    Strengthen your intercultural skills

  • icon partners

    Increase employability

Don't wait! It's time to see the world!

Exchange destinations

Europe

Austria

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (exchange program) - Open to students in School of Art only

France

ISARA - Lyon (exchange program) - Preference given to students going into 4th year in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

La Salle Beauvais - Institut Polytechnique (exchange program) - Programs may be most relevant for students in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources. 

Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University (exchange program)  - Open to students in Faculty of Arts, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, and School of Art.

University Clermont Auvergne (exchange program) - Preference given to students who major in French in Faculty of Arts. 

Université d'Angers (exchange program)

Université de Caen Normandie (exchange program)

Université Polytechnique Hauts de France (UPHF) (exchange program) - Open to students in the School of Art and Faculty of Arts only. 

Germany

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (exchange program

TUM: Technische Universität München (exchange program) - Available TUM programs are limited and may be most relevant for students in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources and Faculty of Science. 

University of Greifswald (exchange program) - Preference given to students in Faculty of Arts.

University of Trier (exchange program) - Preference given to students in Faculty of Arts.

Ireland

University of Galway (exchange program) - Open to students in Faculty of Law only.

Italy

UniCollege (exchange program)

University of Macerata (exchange program) - Open to students in Faculty of Arts only.

Netherlands

Spain

Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV) (exchange program) -Preference given to students in Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences.

University of Valencia (exchange program) - Preference given to students in Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

University of Vic (exchange program) - Open to students in Faculty of Arts only (Courses within UVic's Social Studies)

Sweden

Linköping University (exchange program)

Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences (SLU) (exchange program) - SLU programs are most relevant for students in the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences. 

Umea University (exchange program)

Faculty-managed exchange programs

Architecture exchange   Engineering exchange   Asper exchange 

Faculty of Architecture, Price Faculty of Engineering, and Asper School of Business offer exchange programs that are open to their students. If you are registered in one of the faculties and interested in one of their partner schools, apply directly through your faculty's exchange program

Please note: students in these faculties are eligible for both the faculty-led exchange, as well as the International Centre exchange programs. 

Exchange Student Experience

Funding opportunities

While on exchange, students maintain a full-time status at the UM. You are eligible to apply for UM funding as long as you meet their eligibility criteria.

Find out if your UM faculty offers any funding specifically for student exchanges in addition to other general funding.

Financial Aid and Awards has a list of awards available for UM students.

IC Exchange Program Funding

There are 2 funding opportunities you may be eligible for within the IC exchange program. You recieve information and apply after you are accepted into IC Student Exchange Program, subject to funding availability.

  • IC Student Exchange Awards (based on financial needs) and,
  • Carla Thorlakson IC Student Program Exchange Award (based on academic merits)

The information will be sent out by email in May/June after students from both main and secondary application rounds are accepted into the IC exchange program.

Application timelines

AY 27-28 Exchange Application Timeline

  • Dec. 1, 2026 -
    Jan. 15, 2027
    Primary application period for Summer 2027 (unfilled placements only), Fall 2027, Winter 2028, Full Year and Summer 2028 exchanges
  • Apr. 1, 2027 -
    May. 15, 2027
    Secondary application period for Winter 2028 and Summer 2028 exchanges (unfilled placements only)

How to apply

Follow these steps to stay organized while you are preparing your application. You must complete all steps before the application deadline for your application to be considered.

Our Exchange Program is open to all eligible students including international students in both undergraduate and graduate levels. 

It is important that you read and complete every step below if you intend to apply for an exchange program. Missing any steps or meetings may result in your application being ineligible.

Step 1: Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria

Before you begin the application process, you should be aware of the exchange program requirements. In order to be considered for an exchange, you must: 

  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (case by case exceptions may be considered by the selection committee).
  • Have completed at least 30 credit hours by the time of departure. First year students are eligible to apply - the earliest they can go on exchange is the winter term of their second year (if 30 credit hours are successfully completed by the end of summer term of their first year).
  • Preference may be given to students who are in their third or fourth year of study.
  • Be registered in a faculty other than U1 and Extended Education by the time of departure.
  • Demonstrate strong personal, professional and academic goals.
  • Demonstrate that you can adapt to living and studying in a foreign country.
  • Maintain full-time status during the exchange (you don't necessarily need to be a full-time student when you apply).
  • Provide proof of foreign language proficiency, if you'll be taking courses in a language other than English.
  • International Students are welcome to participate in our program.
  • Students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies are welcome to participate (NB: Not eligible to conduct a research or find a thesis advisor through the exchange)

Some applicants may be required to participate in an interview and/or provide additional information.

 

See what programs are available in each of our partner schools. Please use it for general information purposes. For sign-in, use your UM credentials. 

IC Exchange Partner Profiles

 

Step 2: Meet with the Student Mobility Coordinator - booking portal will be open in the first week of Sept.

Meeting is required for students who are interested in student exchange program. If you plan to apply for AY27-28, you must make sure you meet with the coordinator before you submit an IC student exchange application. If you are interested in learning more, you are also strongly encouraged to book an appointment. 

Appointment booking portal will be open here in the first week of September. The advising hours will resume in October. 
NB: Appointments are one-on-one.  

Prior to the meeting, you must review exchange information about institutions of your interest saved in IC Exchange Partner Profiles under "Exchange destinations". You can also find this information under "Helpful resources" located in this section.

Step 3: Meet with an Academic Advisor

Do you have space in your degree for an exchange? How will an exchange impact your degree or graduation timeline? Which term should you go on exchange?

An academic advisor in your faculty can help you answer these questions. You are required to meet with an academic advisor—in either your faculty or the faculty you hope to enter—prior to applying for an exchange.

Use these guidelines to get the most out of your meeting: 

  • Ask for a program check and map out your intended degree. Discuss your required courses, prerequisites and intended graduation date.
  • Identify any courses or requirements for your degree that you must complete at UM (and not while on exchange).
  • Discuss the time and duration of your intended exchange. If applicable, consider when required or necessary prerequisite courses are being offered at UM.
  • If applicable, discuss how participating in an exchange may impact your intentions to complete a co-op term, complete a thesis for an honours degree, conduct research, complete a capstone or final project as a graduation requirement for your program or apply to a graduate or professional program.
  • Consider what courses you'd like to take while on exchange. You are strongly recommended to take courses to count toward optional or electives on exchange. Courses required for your major and minor requirements must be taken at UM.
  • Identify how many courses or credit hours would be ideal to take on exchange. (You must take a minimum of nine credit hours each Fall and Winter term and three credit hours in the Summer term.)

All courses on exchange will be evaluated for transfer credit after your exchange starts. Courses that are previously evaluated at UM can be viewed UM Online Transfer Credit Resources page. Further information will be provided after you've been accepted to the program. 

Step 4: Calculate your approximate costs

You will maintain full-time UM student status while on exchange. As such, you will pay tuition at the UM tuition rates as well as other standard fees, including the library fee, registration fee, sport and recreation fee, student services fee, tech fee, UMSU Health and Dental fees and international health coverage (for international students).

While abroad, you will need to pay for your living and travel expenses as well as the above university-related costs. Visit your host institution’s website to find out the estimated living cost. Depending on where you are completing your exchange, you may or may not be required to pay some small university fees in addition to your living and travel expenses while abroad.

Use our Financial Planning worksheet to help make sense of your potential expenses.

You can also visit the UM Financial Aid and Award database and your UM home faculty to find funding opportunities that may be available to you.

Step 5: Complete the online application - closed

The online application portal is closed. It will re-open on December 1, 2026 for Summer 2027 (last call) and AY27-28 (Fall 2027, Full Year, Winter 2028 and Summer 2028) exchanges.   


Use Outbound Exchange application by logging into UM application portal as a "Returning user"* by using the email address you have used at the time of your last application to the University of Manitoba.

*If you are a student in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, please create an account first as a "First-time user" to start a new application by using your myumanitoba email address. The account you created for your Graduate studies application is not connected to our outbound exchange application.  

In the application, you will be asked about the followings: 

Personal Information; Educational Background; Language Skills; Exchange Destinations; Relevant Experience; Financial Consideration; and Statement of Intent*

*in no more than two (2) pages, please respond to the following questions on a Word doc. and upload as pdf.

  • Why do you want to go on an exchange?
  • How does this opportunity match your personal, academic and professional goals?
  • Describe a cross-cultural experience you had (in 3 sentences or less). then, in more detail tell us what you learned from this experience as a whole.

Please make sure you complete Step 6 as well. 

Step 6: Submit two reference forms - closed

As part of your student exchange application, 2 references are required: 

  • One academic reference from a professor or instructor at UM whom you took or are currently taking a course with.
  • One professional reference from a supervisor or manager of a paid or volunteer position

Instructions:
Reference form link will be open on Dec. 1, 2026.

Send this IC Exchange Reference form to your references. The reference form will be submitted via MS form. If your references have any questions or concerns, please ask them to email the Student Mobility Coordinator at student.exchange@umanitoba.ca.

You will be notified by the Mobility and Exchange team within 5 business days after the reciept of your reference form. 

After you have submitted your application

For applications received during the main application period

Application result – the Student Mobility Coordinator will email you with a result by early March, 2027. Please monitor your @myumanitoba account on a regular basis. 

If you receive an acceptance offer and wish to accept it, the payment of $200 non-refundable placement fee* is required. The payment instructions will be sent to you with an acceptance offer. *Note: The amount of placement fee may be subject to change without advanced notice. 

For applications received during the secondary application period

Application result – the Student Mobility Coordinator will email you with a result by early -mid June 2027. Please monitor your @myumanitoba account on a regular basis.

If you receive an acceptance offer and wish to accept it, the payment of $200 non-refundable placement fee* is required. The payment instructions will be sent to you with an acceptance offer. *Note: The amount of placement fee may be subject to change without advanced notice.

After you have been accepted

Naomi Fujiwara, Student Mobility Coordinator, will be the main point of contact for all exchange-related matters and will work with you throughout the exchange program. 

Most communications are done through emails throughout the program. Students must be organized and respond to emails in a timely manner.

Pre Exchange

  • One-on-One meetings upon request
  • Online Pre-Departure Modules (UM Learn)
  • In-Person Pre-Departure Orientation

During Exchange

Mid-Term Check In 

  • You are required to do a check-in questionnaire halfway through the exchange to reflect on your exchange experience. You are also asked to provide some practical information on course loads, budgeting, housing etc. This information is being shared anonymously with prospective outbound students.

Post Exchange

In-Person Re-entry Session

  • After returning from exchange, you will be required to attend a Re-entry session. This is an important session to help unpack your exchange experience by sharing stories with other returnees. This will also help you navigate a reverse-culture shock and readjust your life back in Canada. A career consultant from Career Services will also facilitate the session to help start your career planning.

Participating in Exchange Promotion events

  • Get involved with exchange social events and exchange promotion (i.e. information table, International Education Week, presentation, guest panelist, article on UM Today and other social media)
  • Become an Exchange Buddy to help inbound students make UM and Winnipeg their home. 

Transfer Credits

IC Exchange program can not guarantee full transfer credits from courses completed on exchange. Many of the exchange courses will not be officially assessed and approved for transfer credit prior to the start of your exchange. The Mobility coordinator will provide further information on transfer credit application process.

Nomination and Application to the Host Institution

The mobility coordinator will officially nominate you to your host institution before you start an application to the host institution. Further information will be provided. 

Application deadlines for host institutions vary, but typically fall within these timelines:

  • For Summer 2027 exchanges, apply to the host institution by February/March 2027
  • For Fall 2027 and AY 27-28 Full year exchanges, apply to the host institution between March and May 2027
  • For Winter 2028 exchanges, apply to the host institution between September and November 2027
  • For Summer 2028 exchanges, apply to the host institution by February/March 2028

Other Experiential Learning opportunities abroad

McCall MacBain International Fellowships

Unlock new skills, perspectives, and experiences! Apply to spend a year (12 months) in a non-English country of your choice to learn a different langauge, work and study in a differnet cultural context. Up to 5 Fellowships available with funding of up to $30, 000 each.

What to expect - Language Training (one term), Academic Study (one term - via IC student exchange if available), and Work Experience (one term) plus 2 Retreats (Pre-Departure + Re-Integration).  

More information can be found on International Centre Main page

 

Contact us

Naomi Fujiwara, Student Mobility Coordinator

International Centre
Room 541 UMSU University Centre
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

204-474-7261