McMaster Exchange Program update: January 2021

The McMaster Exchange Program is following McMaster’s Risk Management Policy regarding student travel. Under this policy, undergraduate exchange programs are prohibited within any country/region with a Government of Canada travel advisory of Level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) or above. Currently, the federal government is advising against all non-essential travel outside Canada, and all 2020–21 outbound exchange programs have been suspended. As of January 26, 2021, this includes all in-person, short-term summer programs, research stays and semester exchange departures before August 1, 2021.

Given the advanced planning that our services require, the McMaster Exchange Program is moving ahead tentatively with applications for the 2021–22 academic year (August 1, 2021, onwards). As much is still uncertain about the year ahead, students are advised to plan for both international and domestic scenarios but not make any financial commitments towards their exchange until they are approved to do so.