Study Abroad

You don’t need to wait until you graduate to travel and explore your options abroad. Through a study abroad program, you can gain a global perspective while earning credits and staying on track to meet your goals. We offer more than 100 opportunities with leading universities around the world.

Planning for study abroad?

Study abroad allows you to immerse yourself in another culture while continuing to earn credits toward your McMaster degree. Research has shown that a global education can help students develop career-ready skills, including problem solving, resilience, interpersonal communication and adaptability.

Although applying for study abroad usually takes place in your second- or third- year, planning for study abroad can start much earlier. First-year students interested in study abroad can get ready in three ways:

  1. Plan your academics: Review your advisement report on Mosaic to see how you can best set yourself up for a study abroad experience. If your program is very restrictive, this can be really important. Some strategies may include saving electives to take while you’re overseas, rearranging your schedule or taking some summer school classes to lighten your load abroad. Many faculties offer academic information sessions in the Fall for students interested in study abroad.
  2. Start saving up: Saving for the future is a great habit to get into, whether you end up going abroad or not. Start putting away a little each month, and consider what other resources you can take advantage of — scholarships, part-time work, RESPs, OSAP, etc.
  3. Be curious: Intercultural learning doesn’t start when you get on a plane! There are great opportunities at McMaster to get you started on your global journey. Consider McMaster courses with an international perspective, join an MSU club with a global focus or chat with a fellow Marauder whose background may be different than your own. Visit our Global Impact at Home page and take part in International Education Week for more ideas.

Get started by viewing our general information sessions available on our Microsoft Teams Community. All students interested in studying abroad must view these recordings before they apply. Information sessions are updated each year in late October.

Many faculties offer academic information sessions in the Fall for students interested in study abroad. These are generally held during International Education Week and can assist students in building a tentative study plan for their exchange application.

Students can take advantage of two main pathways to study abroad while a student at McMaster. Sometimes, programs are even a merger of the two! Read on to explore your options and learn about eligibility.

  1. The McMaster Exchange Program
  2. Letter of Permission (Independent)

For external programs like the McCall MacBain International Fellowship and KILLAM Fellowship program, review the individual program website for deadlines and relevant application information. Students in these programs are selected by an external committee. If your application is successful, we’ll follow up with you with additional information and support.

McMaster Exchange Program

The most popular route to study abroad, the McMaster Exchange Program is comprised of hundreds of university-to-university partnerships that facilitate the mobility of McMaster students for academic purposes.

  • Tuition and supplementary fees are paid to McMaster.
  • Students study abroad through one of McMaster’s formal exchange agreements (link).
  • Credit earned abroad may be transferred back to McMaster and counted towards the student’s academic degree.
  • Credit is recognized on a pass/fail basis (as determined by the host university system).
  • Grades obtained in courses will not be included in the calculation of McMaster averages, which may affect consideration for in-course academic awards.
  • Students may take up to six units at another university toward a minor.

Undergraduate:

  • Be enrolled in an Honours or a combined Honours program.
  • Apply in your second year of a four-year program (to go abroad in your third year) or third year of a five-year program (to go abroad in your fourth year).
  • Have completed at least 60 units with a cumulative average of at least 7.0. You must have at least a 6.5 CGPA when you apply, with a plan to meet the 7.0 (Note: Individual programs may have additional requirements.)
  • Not study abroad in your home country (international students).
  • Be registered as a full-time student during the exchange.
  • Be in good academic standing.

MBA:

  • Be enrolled in a full-time or co-op MBA program.
  • Apply in your first year, to go abroad in your third academic term.
  • Have completed your first year and be in good academic standing (no outstanding exams or grades)
  • Meet the requirements of the host institution (Some programs may have additional requirements such as >2 years work experience.)
  • Not study abroad in your home country (international students).
  • Be registered as a full-time student during the exchange.

What kind of study abroad experience are you searching for? We can help you weigh your options and make an informed decision. The McMaster Exchange Program offers the following global pathways:

  • Semester/year: Go on a semester- or year-long exchange.
  • Summer: Spend two weeks or two months over the summer studying abroad.

View our opportunities to find out which pathways are available at each of our university partners:

A quick list of current McMaster Exchange Partners:

Additional resource:

  • Partner Profiles and Exchange Reports: Login with your MacID and filter the database for more information on McMaster Exchange Partners.
    • Note: You can view the reports by clicking the Partner name and viewing the tab, “Student Experience.”

A $100 application fee will be charged to all semester abroad students with a fully submitted exchange application following the final deadline.

Please join our Microsoft Teams Community for the exchange application link.

McMaster Exchange Program 2025-2026 | General | Microsoft Teams

Attention: Your application may also require the below supporting documents to be uploaded before the deadline:

To apply for study abroad with the McMaster Exchange Program, please refer to the following deadlines:

  • Semester or year-long exchange: January 21, 2025
  • Summer study programs: February 19, 2025
  • Late program deadline: April 30 (DSB) / July 15, 2025

Late application deadline: Applications open April 1. Apply at this time if you:

  • Missed the on-time deadline.
  • Want to study abroad for a semester during term two only.
  • Are flexible with your exchange destination.

Note: Faculty offices are closed the entire month of May. You will need to coordinate your application accordingly.

Independent study abroad (Letter of Permission)

A Letter of Permission (LOP) is a formal request made to your academic department to take courses outside of McMaster for credit. An LOP can be granted for domestic or international study. A Letter of Permission is different than an exchange program, read below to find out more.

  • Tuition fees are paid to the host university.
  • Students may study abroad at any accredited institution (with prior approval by McMaster)
  • Credit earned may be transferred back to McMaster and counted towards the student’s academic degree.
  • Credit is recognized if a grade of 60% or better is obtained.
  • Grades obtained will not be included in the calculation of McMaster averages, which may affect consideration for in-course academic awards.
  • Students may take up to six units at another university toward a minor.
  • Students must be in good academic standing.
  • International LOP’s are not guaranteed. Students must obtain necessary approval in advance from their Faculty/Program Office.
  • Each McMaster faculty may have different requirements, eligibility, or conditions for LOP study. Please speak to your academic advisor for more information. Important note: The DeGroote School of Business (UG and MBA) does not currently offer international study abroad via LOP.

Our featured LOP summer opportunities are comprised of short summer experiences hosted by McMaster Exchange Partners but NOT included in the exchange program. Students choosing to complete a short LOP with these institutions often benefit from discounted tuition because of McMaster’s existing partnership.

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There are three main steps when applying for a Letter of Permission opportunity.

  1. Apply for a Letter of Permission via your Faculty/Department. Instructions can be found via the Student Center in Mosaic or on the individual faculty website.
  2. Apply for admission via your host school
  3. Register your upcoming travel with McMaster and complete the necessary pre-departure steps. Email MacAbroad@mcmaster.ca to begin this process, at least 4 months prior to travel.

An international Letter of Permission is a study abroad opportunity arranged independently between a student and a hosting institution. As each institution will have its own policies, procedures, and deadlines for visiting students (non-exchange), prospective LOP students are advised to seek out information on relevant deadlines well in advance.

How to connect with us

Do you have questions about applying for exchange? Join the MS Teams community for prospective outbound exchange students in the 2025-26 academic year. Connect with global opportunities staff and students going through the application process.

If you’ve attended one of our study abroad information sessions, but you still have questions, we have one-on-one advising to help you further explore your options. We can help with most questions, with the exception of your study plan.

  • For course-specific academic questions, you will need to meet with an academic advisor.
  • To meet with a member of the SSC Global team, book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Global Opportunities.
  • Have quick questions? Attend our International student in-person drop-ins (International and Exchange Student Experience Hub MUSC B118)
    • Mondays and Thursdays: 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Tuesdays and Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Before you apply for a study abroad, you need to understand how the courses you take abroad will fit with your McMaster degree requirements. Your academic advisor can help you understand the transfer credit process and where you should focus your course search.

Exchange socials and peer advising

Our socials occur each year and allow prospective, inbound and returned exchange students to connect. Many of these events and socials begin taking place during International Education Week. Check OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events for dates and registration, or join our yearly MS Teams group for updates.

Exchange reports and blogs

Read about study abroad student experiences by searching our student exchange reports or reading posts from our Stories From Abroad blog series. These reports and blogs are available year round!

McMaster, International and eXchange Club (M.I.X.)

M.I.X. is an MSU club made up of recently returned and outgoing McMaster exchange students, members of the larger McMaster community and international students. Meet other global-minded students in a fun, social setting.