Come to Guelph on Exchange | Incoming Students
Study abroad at one of Canada’s top universities!
Experience life at one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities while earning credits toward your degree. The University of Guelph offers a welcoming campus, strong academics across diverse fields, and a vibrant student community. Whether you join us for a semester or a full year, you’ll discover new perspectives, make lasting friendships, and explore Canadian culture in a safe, student-friendly city.
There are many great reasons to choose Guelph as your exchange destination:
- Academic excellence. U of G is one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities with a reputation for teaching and research.
- The Gryphon community. A strong sense of belonging, school spirit, and student support make it easy to feel at home.
- A beautiful campus that's safe, green, and designed to support learning and student life.
- The City of Guelph - a vibrant, charming, student-friendly community.
- Central location. From Guelph, it’s easy to explore Canadian highlights like Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, and Montreal.
How to become an exchange student at the University of Guelph
There are two main ways to attend the University of Guelph as an exchange student. Which option applies to you will depend on whether your home university has a formal exchange agreement with Guelph.
With an Exchange Agreement
Every year, the University of Guelph welcomes nearly 200 exchange students from around the world. We hope you’ll join us for one or two semesters! To apply, you must first be nominated by your home university. Visit your International/Exchange Office to learn about their procedures. If nominated, your university will provide instructions for accessing our incoming exchange application. In order to come to Guelph as an exchange student, your home university must have an exchange agreement with U of G. If you are unsure, you can use our program search tool to see if your home university is listed.
With a Letter of Permission (LOP)
If your home university does not have an exchange agreement with us, you can apply to study on our campus as a visiting student through what we call a Letter of Permission (LOP). A Letter of Permission gives a student permission from their home university to take credits at the University of Guelph and transfer these credits toward their degree program.
On an Letter of Permission (LOP) to U of Guelph, an incoming international student must pay international student tuition and fees to the University of Guelph and is considered a U of G student for the duration of the LOP. Interested students are responsible for applying for admission to the University of Guelph and assistance is not provided by the Centre for International Programs.
For more information on an LOP as an Undergraduate Student to Guelph, see our Undergraduate Admissions website. For questions about applying to University of Guelph as a visiting student, please contact Undergraduate Admissions. Your Program/Academic Councillor or international office will be will be able to talk to you about your home university's administrative process.
For more information on an LOP as a Graduate Student to Guelph, look at the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies LOP page as a guide. For questions about applying to University of Guelph as a visiting student, please contact Graduate Admissions at gradapps@uoguelph.ca. Your Program/Academic Councillor or international office will be will be able to talk to you about your home university's administrative process.
Pre- and Post-Arrival Resources for Incoming Exchange Students
Acceptance Letter, Visas, and Immigration
Guidance on study permits, visas, and other requirements for studying in Canada.
Academics at U of G
Learn about choosing courses, transferring credits, and academic resources for exchange students.
Housing and Accommodation
Explore your options for living arrangements while studying abroad.
Health Insurance
Learn about mandatory health coverage and how to access medical care in Canada.
Getting to Guelph from the Airport
Find tips and transportation options for traveling from Toronto airports to Guelph.
Transportation Inside and Outside Guelph
Learn how to get around campus, the city of Guelph, and beyond during your exchange.
Information for Exchange Partners
If you are a staff or faculty member from one of our partner institutions, please visit our Exchange Partners page for nomination timelines, advising resources, and agreement details.
Register for START International Orientation!
All incoming exchange and international students are invited to attend START International, U of G's orientation program designed to support your transition.
Incoming Exchange Student FAQs
Exchange acceptance letters will be mailed to your home university in mid-May for students who have applied for a fall semester or full-year exchange, and in mid-November for students who have applied for a winter semester exchange. At this time, you will also receive an acceptance e-mail with a scanned copy of your acceptance letter and other important information such as how to apply for residence, the orientation program and fees.
The major fees you pay to the University of Guelph for your exchange are fees for your residence, meal plans and student fees (that is, your health insurance and bus pass).
The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and the Student Health Plan are mandatory for exchange students at the University of Guelph. Find out more information about health insurance here.
Student Accessibility Services facilitates a variety of programs and services to assist students with both temporary and permanent disabilities to participate fully in university life and maximize campus accessibility. Any exchange students who may require special services should register with the Accessibility Services (preferably before arriving at the University of Guelph).
The Centre for International Programs provides official grade reports for all students attending Guelph on exchange. Official grade reports will be sent directly to the exchange office at the students home institution following the completion of their final semester at Guelph. Grade Reports for students who attended Guelph for the Fall semester will be sent in January. For the Winter semester, transcripts will be sent in May.
If you need your own copy of your official transcript or need it to be sent to another university for a graduate school application, you must order the transcript directly from Enrolment Services.