Inbound Exchange Student
Inbound exchange students are non-degree seeking students from an international institution who holds a valid exchange agreement with McMaster University. Exchange agreements are strategic, reciprocal international relationships promoting the flow of students between institutions. They are established by McMaster’s Office of International Affairs (OIA). McMaster’s International & Exchange Student Experience (IESE) team, as part of Student Success Centre (SSC), administers the exchange program in partnership with OIA.
These students diversify the McMaster community, bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives to classrooms, discussions, and research. Studying abroad allows these students to immerse themselves in another culture, while continuing to earn credits towards their home degree.
Through these reciprocal agreements, inbound exchange students continue to pay tuition at their home institution for the duration of their exchange at McMaster. While at McMaster, they are only required to pay for University Health Insurance (UHIP) – a mandatory, comprehensive health insurance plan that provides health coverage for international and incoming exchange students.
Inbound exchange students can join McMaster for a single-semester exchange, in either the Fall or Winter semesters, or for the full academic year. McMaster does not currently accept exchange students in the Spring or Summer semesters.
Exchange vs. Visiting
Exchange students are not visiting students. A visiting student comes to McMaster University independently and outside of a valid exchange agreement. Like exchange students, visiting students can take courses or conduct research, but they do not come through the McMaster exchange program and are not processed by IESE.
Requirements for Inbound Exchange students
To apply for an exchange at McMaster University, an inbound exchange student must come from a partner institution with a valid exchange agreement. The home institution coordinator must nominate the student to McMaster, and the student must submit a complete exchange application on the McMaster exchange portal, iCent. To submit a complete application, all inbound exchange students are required to submit:
- An inbound exchange application form
- The inbound exchange application form asks students to outline their course interests. As the deadline to receive applications is late April, students create this list based on the SGS Graduate Calendar.
- Resume
- Statement of Interest
- Transcript
- GPA Requirement:
- Engineering – 7.0/12.0 or 2.70/4.00
- All other Faculties – 9.0/12.0 or 3.30/4.00*
- GPA Requirement:
*If your department requires a higher GPA, please let the IESE Global Learning Coordinator know so this can be advertised to partner institutions.
Inbound exchange students from non-English speaking programs are also required to submit a proof of English-language proficiency. McMaster accepts Official English language certification or a letter from the partner exchange. Please review our McMaster Exchange Factsheet for a breakdown of the certifications we accept, and the required levels.
Once a complete application is received, the Global Learning Coordinator from IESE will share the Exchange Application Package with the graduate program administrator.
How to process graduate exchange applications
As part of the Exchange Application Package, the Global Learning Coordinator from IESE, will share the following documents with the graduate program administrator:
| Personal details document | For admin review |
| Statement of Interest | For admin review |
| Proof of English Language Proficiency (as required) | For admin review |
| Transcript | For admin review and/or grad chair |
| Resume | For admin review and/or grad chair |
| Application form (form sent to IESE office on iCent) | For admin review and/or grad chair |
Once all documents have been reviewed and a decision has been made, the graduate program administrator follows the Slate Admissions Training Guide, section 2.8. on processing inbound exchange applications. Please see below an excerpt of section 2.8.
Registration on Slate
Section 2.8 – Processing Applications – Exchange
Exchange applications are managed by the International and Exchange Student Experience team’s (IESE) Education Abroad Coordinator. When an Exchange applicant identifies that they are interested in applying for an Exchange with a particular graduate program, the program office receives an Exchange package from the Education Abroad Coordinator.
Subsection 2.8.a – Exchange Student
The grad program staff should send the Exchange student to the Visiting/Exchange Application page.
Once the applicant completes this application and submits, the application will appear in the ‘Validation by Grad Admin’ bin. If the application is complete, the grad admin can forward the application for recommendation.
Subsection 2.8.b – Exchange Student Review Form
Clicking on the ‘Review Form’ will display the pre-configured form for Grad Admins to complete when validating an Exchange application.
Subsection 2.8.c – Exchange Student Application Summary
This view provides a quick high-level summary of the Exchange application.
Subsection 2.8.d – Exchange Student Application
The Exchange application is much more streamlined as less evaluation is required. As such, the application does not have as much detail as applicants to Regular Grad Programs. It is important to note that the Exchange package sent to the grad program by ISS should be included with the recommendation form.
Rejecting an application
Since inbound exchange students are applying to McMaster from a partnership institution, an applicant should only be rejected if they do not meet the minimum requirements of the program (GPA, academic level, and language abilities). Should your department chair decide the inbound exchange applicant is not suitable, or ineligible for your program, please contact the Global Learning Coordinator in IESE as soon as possible. The coordinator will work on finding the applicant a different program to join.
Department Responsibilities
A welcoming graduate department’s responsibility for an inbound exchange student is to support the student’s academic journey, including course registration, and addressing any academic issues that may arise. In most cases, these students are enrolling in courses only and do not require additional resources from the welcoming department, such as a supervisor or office space. Should the student be interested in conducting research alongside their courses, finding support for this student is the responsibility of the welcoming department.
We also ask departments to include students on relevant communication, and orientation related activities for their program, department, and faculty.
Otherwise, the IESE team is trained to support and guide inbound exchange students. Once fully registered by the welcoming graduate department, an inbound exchange student receives access to a variety of online guides, addressing key topics for their exchange experience, and are invited to attend a series of Pre-Arrival Orientation Webinars, from April to August, covering topics such as immigration processes, on and off-campus housing, and services and supports.
At the beginning of each semester, the inbound students are invited to attend a Welcome Orientation, offered by the IESE team. The orientation offers students key information about their exchange, a campus tour, an opportunity to connect with their exchange community, and meet the IESE support team.
The IESE is always available to meet and guide students throughout their exchange journey. If you do not know how to guide a student, please use the contact information below to connect with a Global Learning Coordinator running the exchange program.
Important Dates
- Application period: late January to end of April*
- Graduate administrator deadline: mid May**
- *While applications are due by the end of April, they will be shared on an ongoing basis with graduate administrators, as they are received. This is to ensure students receive their offer letters with ample time to secure travel documents and local housing.
- **We ask administrators to review applications as soon as possible. It is possible an applicant is not right for your program, but right for a different program. We aim to fully enroll all students by mid-May.
- Late Nomination Deadline: We offer partner institutions some flexibility to accommodate late nominations if shared by September 1st each year. As such, your department may receive an application in the fall semester for a winter semester arrival.
Contacts
Marisa Bachetti
Global Learning Coordinator (inbound)
International & Exchange Student Experience (IESE)
Student Success Centre (SSC)
macincoming@mcmaster.ca
bachetmd@mcmaster.ca
Jenna Levi
Global Learning Coordinator (outbound)
International & Exchange Student Experience (IESE)
Student Success Centre (SSC)
macabrod@mcmaster.ca
levij@mcmaster.ca