Exchange

1. Nominate: Partner institutions must formally nominate internally selected students
2. Confirmation & Next Steps: After nomination deadline, students will be contacted directly via email with written confirmation of nomination acceptance & next steps; partner contact will be CC’d
3. Apply: Accepted students must formally apply to Acadia University as an Inbound Exchange Student, following the application guide
4. Submit Supporting Documents: submit all required documents
5. Acceptance: Acadia University will provide accepted students admission letters

Note: There is no cost to submit an application to Acadia University as an inbound exchange student. If an application fee automatically populates in your portal, it will be waived once your profile is updated as 'exchange' in the system.

For All Exchange Students:

• Copy of Passport
• Academic Transcript

Additional For Education Practicum Exchange Students:

• Vulnerable Sector Check (& Certified English Translation Copy)

No English language proficiency assessment is required; however, Home Institutions should be confident in a student’s English language ability and consider this during the student nomination selection.

To succeed academically, we recommend an English language skill level of/equivalently to:

• CAEL 70
• TOEFL 90
• IELTS 6.5

1. Join Acadia's Global Learning WhatsApp Community (Link Emailed)
2. Activate your Acadia Network Account
3. Upload ID Photo
4. Review Immigration Advising Resources & Secure Necessary Travel Documents
5. Apply to Residence and/or Explore Off-Campus Housing
6. Plan & Enrol in Courses
7. Review the ASU International Medical Plan and/or Request Opt-Out
8. Register for Airport Pick-Up
9. Explore the Orientation Schedule
10. Pay Posted Student Account Fees

• This picture is for identification purposes. The picture must clearly identify you as a person.
• You must be looking straight at the camera (no side profiles).
• The background must be a light solid color (white/off white).
• There can be no borders on the photo.
• There should be a small space between your head and the top of the image, as well as a definite contrast between you and the background.
• The photograph must be in color.
• No red eye or flash reflection on glasses or contact lenses.
• No hats, sunglasses, jewelry or garments of any sort that obstruct the view of your face.

The Acadia Department of Safety and Security reserves the right to refuse any pictures that do not adhere to these standards.

Explore Housing Resources:

• On-campus residence options
• Residence fees*
• Room selection guide
• Apply for residence
• Residence packing list
• Student Residence Portal

Acadia guarantees exchange students a room in residence. Exchange students are welcomed to live in any on-campus residence building.

A mixture of single & double rooms are blocked in Crowell Tower, Seminary House, Chase Court, & Christofor Hall, each semester. Please note that the residence buildings used for room blocking may vary depending on availability.

Rooms are blocked to ensure all inbound exchange students can secure an on-campus room. Blocked rooms are only reservable by exchange students, within the months of May (for Full Academic Year & Semester 1) & November (for Semester 2 & Winter Term Education Practicum Exchange Students); unclaimed blocked rooms will be released to the general student body to book after each period has ended.

Each exchange student’s room/bed will be set up with basic linens prior to their arrival.

Notes:

• *Inbound Education Practicum Exchange Students are charged a prorated fee for on-campus residence and meal plan based on the duration of the Education Practicum Exchange program.
• Full academic year exchange students can request to stay in residence over the winter break, for a fee.

If you have specific housing questions or need assistance, please contact residencelife@acadiau.ca and CC globallearning@acadiau.ca.

Please be advised that Canada is experiencing a housing crisis. Acadia International encourages exchange students to live on-campus.

Acadia’s dine-on-campus plan is mandatory for all students living in residence. Find out more about our meal plans.

Explore Dining Resources:

• Dining on campus
• What's On The Menu?
• Hours of Operation
• Campus dining map
• Food assistance

Notes:

• All ingredient requests for the self-cook station should be directed to the Dining Hall Manager.
• Inbound Education Practicum Exchange Students are eligible for the Bagged Lunch Program (see #20 in FAQ)

The off-campus housing support service is geared towards all students and aims to assist students in finding affordable housing and information on living in Wolfville and the surrounding area.

Learn more and find off-campus housing.

If you are interested to sublet from or arrange a housing swap with an Acadia outbound exchange student, please email offcampushousing@acadiau.ca and CC globallearning@acadiau.ca with your inquiry.

Please include:

• Exchange Term at Acadia
• Expected Arrival & Departure Dates
• Home Institution Name & Location
• Preferred Contact Information
• Housing Rental Inquiry and/or Housing Swap Inquiry

Independent Arrival to Campus:

Students who arrive before or after the specified free airport shuttle service dates and/or outside of the pick-up times will be responsible for their own transportation and the costs associated with it.

If you fall in this category, you can contact World Class Executive Transportation to arrange a time for them to pick you up at the airport or you can book a ride with Maritime Bus.

Public Transit Within Our Region:

Kings Transit operates in the Annapolis Valley, offering fixed route service in Kings, Annapolis and Digby Counties.

Public Transit Within Halifax:

Planning a visit to Halifax? Halifax Transit operates in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).

International Driving Permit:

If you plan to use a foreign driver’s licence in Canada, you should get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in your home country. An IDP will give you a translation of your licence into French and English.

Learn about driving licenses, car insurance, driving laws and rules, buying or leasing a car and safety.

Acadia University will automatically send one free digital or hard copy transcript per student to their Home Institution, based on the information provided in the Academic Transcript Delivery Form.

If students wish to receive a copy of their own, they must individually request/pay for it.

• 1st ("Fall") Semester: September - December
• 2nd ("Winter") Semester: January - April

See Important Dates

See Partner Institutions & Agreement Types

Students who wish to add a course, substitute one course for another, or withdraw from a course must do so through Colleague Student Self-Service, or in writing through the Office of the Registrar. Specific dates and deadlines for course changes and withdrawals are outlined in the Academic Calendar.

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate course changes. Discontinuing attendance in classes or notifying an instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal from a course. To ensure a smooth transfer of credits from Acadia University to your Home Institution, please inform your Home Institution to any course changes.

Course Offerings & How To:

Please follow the guide on ‘How to register for a course’ and dive into our course catalog, spanning a variety of disciplines.

Course Add/Change:

Students may add or change course registrations up to the ‘Course Add/Change’ date specified in the Academic Calendar.

If you are attempting to register for courses with pre-requisite restrictions and the system is not allowing you, you will need to contact Jennifer Gerrits in the Registrar's Office and she can liaise with the respective academic departments to help you get registered.

Course Withdrawal:

The time in which a student withdraws from a course has implications for the grade received. Deadlines are specified in the Academic Calendar.

• To receive a No Record Withdrawal (course does not appear on the transcript), a student must withdraw by the ‘Last day to withdraw from a Fall/Winter course without a “W” appearing on the transcript’ deadline.
• To receive a ‘W’ (Withdrawal), a student must withdraw by the ‘Last day to withdraw from a Fall/Winter term course and receive a “W”. Any Fall/Winter course withdrawals after today will receive an “F” grade.’ deadline.
• The notation ‘F’ (Fail) will appear on a student’s official record when a student withdraws from a course after the last day to withdraw, unless permission has been granted by the Dean for the course to be discontinued without academic penalty, generally for substantial medical, psychological, or compassionate reasons.

Note: If a student does not complete a course, and has not officially withdrawn, an ‘F’ (Fail) will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

Having Trouble?

If you are having difficulties with registering in, changing, or withdrawing from a course, please contact Jennifer Gerrits, Coordinator of Transfers and Articulations, with the Registrar's Office: regis@acadiau.ca

In your email request, please include:

• Student Type: Inbound Exchange
• Request: (e.g. Add Course(s), Change Course(s), and/or Drop Course(s))
• Course Semester & Year: (e.g. 2026 Winter OR Semester 2, 2025-2026)
• Course Name(s): (e.g. Human Resource Management)
• Course Code(s): (e.g. BUSI-3313-WI01)
• Course Time & Day: (e.g. T/Th 9:30 AM - 10:50 AM)

Note: If in the course catalog, a course code doesn't list FA or WI, that means it is not currently being offered. You must look for courses with 2025FA or 2026WI attached. To search courses by semester, use the ‘Advanced Search’ function in the course catalog and select the term.

(Available Course Code Example: BUSI-3273-FA01 or HIST-2593-WI01)

Acadia University requires all international students to have medical coverage.

Inbound exchange students are automatically enrolled under the ASU (Acadia Students Union) provided International Student Medical Plan and the ASU provided Dental Benefit Plan. Learn about what is covered under the ASU provided benefit plans.

Students with private medical coverage may submit an opt-out application for consideration. Learn about opt-out requirements or contact the ASU Supports Health & Dental Plan Administrator, Tanya Comeau.

• Share The Air policy

EDUC-4003-WI02* (3 Credits)

*Must be registered by the School of Education's Administrative Assistant

• Winter Term - 6 Weeks (January to Mid-February)
  • For 2026: January 3 - February 15

Review Academic Calendar for Important University-Wide Dates

• Monday - Friday, approximately 8am - 3pm (7hrs/day)
• January 5 - February 13, 2026

• Elementary (Grade Primary [Age 5] - Grade 5 [Age 10])
• & Middle School (Grade 6 [Age 11] - 8 [Age 14])

• For 2027: Announced in July 2026

• Vulnerable Sector Check (& Certified English Translation Copy)
  • A special type of criminal record check required for situations where you will be in a position of trust or authority over a vulnerable group.

• Department Specific Key Dates
• Academic Policies & Procedures
• Practicum Information
• Follow SOE on Instagram

• Student Services