International Opportunities

The College of Biological Science (CBS) is committed to promoting and encouraging it's students to engage in international opportunities. With over 50 international institutions to choose from, these opportunities are an exciting and unique way to enhance and enrich your degree. One way that CBS is trying to increase awareness of these opportunities is through the purposeful inclusion of a semester abroad within our schedule of studies for our majors. Students enrolled in CBS majors have the opportunity to apply for one- or two-semester international exchanges, two- to four-week field schools, a semester abroad, or a summer research semester.

Further information about the international experiences available, including partner institutions can be found on the Centre for International Programs' website

Below you will find information on the following:

Provincial Exchange Programs

Exchange Programs

Exchange programs give students the opportunity to attend any one of 50 partner institutions from all over the world. Students complete the courses offered by the institution they attend, but pay University of Guelph tuition. This is a great way to explore a new culture, learning environment and gain some experience and knowledge in an area of expertise not available at Guelph

To apply for most exchange programs: Students must attend a Study Abroad Information Session in order to gain access to the U of G online application.

Minimum requirements: Minimum 70% cumulative average required to apply (*students with 67-69% cumulative averages who indicate serious extenuating circumstances that affected their grades may be considered)

Application Deadlines:

Summer 2019, Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 exchanges and study aboard - January 25th for UofG online study abroad application

Research Aboard Options:

Provincial Summer Research Programs - China, France, Germany, India

University of Guelph is a member of provincial exchange consortiums in the Ontario Rhone Alpes (ORA) region of France, the Baden-Wurrtemberg (OBW) region of Germany, Jiangsu province in China (OJS) and the Ontario/India (OIN) short term study program. There are great opportunities for students in Science, Health Sciences and Engineering to spend 2 - 3 months during the summer semester conducting research under the supervision of a faculty member at one of the participating universities in China, France, Germany or India. Students are not required to speak the language to participate in these programs. 

Students are supervised by a researcher at a host institution in one of the four countries listed above. Each summer program has it's own individual application forms and deadline dates.

All of these summer research programs offer scholarships to help offset travel and living expenses. 

Application Deadlines:

  • China - January 18th, 2019
  • France - December 7th, 2018
  • Germany - December 7th, 2018
  • India - January 18th, 2019

Application Forms: Available on the CIP website

Mitacs Globalinks Internships

Mitacs International and the German Academic Exchance Service (DADD) are working together to offer Canadian undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct research with German PhD students during the summer summer.  The program is called RISE-Globalink Research Internship (RISE-GRI) and is offered at a variety of approved German Institutions. 

The program involves a 10 - 12 week placement whereby the undergraduate student is partnered and supervised by a PhD student. : 

Criteria to be considered for the opportunity as stated by Mitacs International:

Open to full-time undergraduates in biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, or engineering (or a closely related field) who have completed at least two years of a four- or five-year program

  • Applications accepted until December 15, 2018 through the RISE Germany Application Portal
  • Competitive opportunity — only top-ranked students are matched with projects
  • Projects must start between May 15 and July 9, 2018
  • Approved recipients receive $6,000 toward travel and accommodations               

For questions about the application procedure, matching process, and internship placement, please contact rise-germany@daad.de. For any questions regarding the funding, please contact Mitacs International at international@mitacs.ca.

Research Placements at University of Bremen and University of Hohenheim, Germany

Students in any field of study offered at the two universities and who have a minimum 70% cumulative average are eligible to apply. Travel scholarships are available. 

Application deadline:   

December 9, 2018 for placements occurring in Summer 2019

Application Forms

Application forms are available on the Centre for International Programs website

Study Abroad 

Study aboard opportunities involve Guelph students travelling to any one of six regions to study with a Guelph faculty member while exploring the region’s history and culture.  Courses taken at the host institution are taught by a University of Guelph faculty member in the chosen country.

Letter of Permission 

A letter of permission is available to allow students to take courses at other institutions and still maintain their status at the University of Guelph. When completing a letter of permission students are responsible for applying for admission as a visiting student to the institution they wish to attend. Students can undertake a letter of permission to an international institution however on a letter of permission students would be considered an international students and would pay international fees.