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Independent Study Away

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鈥� ISA applicants: Effective S25, the Independent Study Away (ISA) option for students in the BA, BSW or BTh degrees will be strictly limited to approved institutions located in Canada. Arts OASIS will no longer be approving - nor authorizing transfer credits 鈥� for requests to enroll in courses at institutions abroad, regardless of whether those institutions are in regions which are 鈥渉ome鈥� to students.

鈥� Studies completed at another university MUST be pre-approved in order to be considered for transfer credit. After-the-fact requests for transfer credit will be refused.

鈥� Interested in doing an Independent Study Away in Summer 2025, Fall 2025 or full year in Canada? The Minerva application module opens on February 15.

鈥� (held on Thursdays starting February听 20th, 2025 - May 1st, 2025 from 3:00-4:00 pm). This session will allow students to ask questions related to the Independent Study Away process.听

What is Independent Study Away (ISA)?

Simply put, it's permission from Arts OASIS to apply, register, and take courses (and pay tuition) at an authorized accredited degree granting institution. Consult our listing of approved host universities (STEP 2 below, select a University) . During this pre-approved term away, your status at 91社区 will be "non-resident" and your status at the host university will be "visiting".

Important notes:

  • Requests will be refused - and hence credits will not be recognized -听if they pertain to the following:
    • Study away opportunities via organizations or companies which act as intermediaries for the institution which grants the course credit. (e.g. Semester at Sea via the University of Calgary).
    • Courses offered as part of 鈥渋ntensive鈥� or otherwise condensed university/college programs (eg Summer intensive programs, International Summer School initiatives, etc)
    • Any and all requests for after-the-fact transfer credits.

To contact the Study Away Team,听submit a request via the听.

Application periods

TERM

 DATES
Summer Term ONLY February 15 to July 15
Fall Term ONLY

February 15 to July 15
Fall & Winter Term February 15 to July 15
Winter Term ONLY August 15听to December 1

Eligibility

To be considered for ISA, at the time of application, you must:

  • Be currently registered in a B.A., BSW or B.Th. degree at 91社区 (with your program(s) of study accurately reflected on your Minerva transcript).
  • Summer Term Application: Have a minimum CGPA in the 91社区 BA, BSW or B.Th. degree of 2.0 and maintain this CGPA for study away eligibility.
  • Fall/Winter Term Application: Have a minimum CGPA of 2.7 in the 91社区 BA, BSW or B.Th. degree and maintain this CGPA for study away eligibility.

Graduating students:

Students who are taking one or more courses at another university during their final term WILL NOT be eligible to graduate at the end of that term. Your graduation term will be delayed by one term (e.g. If you complete an ISA in the Summer term, your graduation will be delayed to the Fall term).

Social Work and Theology students:听

You must first discuss your plans to take courses at another university with your program advisor (see Social Work program advisor or Theology program advisor). Your program advisor must contact us, confirming that you have departmental approval. Please have them submit a ticket via the 听BEFORE the Independent Study Away application deadline. They can select "Other", then in the "Summary"听indicate: SWRK/Theology approval for LAST NAME/FIRST NAME; STUDENT NUMBER and INDEPENDENT STUDY AWAY TERM.

Considerations for Inter-Faculty Transfers and ISA:

  • If you applied for an Inter-Faculty transfer to Arts - Your study abroad term will be evaluated according to Faculty of Arts eligibility requirements. Arts OASIS cannot guarantee that your approved term abroad will be honored if you are accepted to transfer to the BA degree.
  • Summer: this is handled by your current faculty, including the transfer of credits.
  • Fall or full-year:
      • Your term abroad will not transfer to the BA program (ie. you will have to cancel your term abroad).
      • You must have successfully completed a minimum of 12 credits in the 91社区 BA degree with a 91社区 CGPA of 2.70 or greater before submitting an application for an Independent Study Away. You will not be able to complete an Independent Study Away in the first year in the BA degree.
  • Students interested in transferring out of the Faculty of Arts should consult with the other Faculty鈥檚 advising office/ISA coordinators as to potential impacts of a transfer.

ISA Policy for Online Courses:

  • A maximum of 6 credits of online courses taken through Independent Study Away may count towards your 91社区 degree as electives only. If you take an online course via an Independent Study Away program, the course will be recorded on your transcript with a general subject code (e.g., ANTH for Anthropology) followed by "XXX" instead of a specific course number. The course cannot count towards a program requirement.

Application procedure

Degree Planning

Review the Plan & Prepare section of this website. A well researched degree plan is an important part of the study abroad process. Carefully read the Arts OASIS Degree Planning website for important information about planning your degree.

It is recommended to complete an Arts OASIS Degree Planning Worksheet following the instructions in the Degree Planning Guide before submitting an application to study away to ensure that your plan meets your academic requirements. If you need help with this process, book a Degree Planning appointment with an Arts OASIS Advisor and make sure you meet with each of your departmental program advisor to carefully plan the courses needed for each program of study.

Keep in mind the degree requirements for the B.A degree when planning your study away:

  1. You must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 60 credits at 91社区.
  2. A minimum of two-thirds of all program requirements (Multi-Track, Honours, Faculty Program) must be satisfactorily completed at 91社区.

Select a University

  1. Consult our PDF icon Host University Checklist
  2. Read Step 2 of 鈥�Plan and Prepare鈥� to ensure that you meet the application criteria.
  3. Ensure that the host university you wish to attend is from our listings of approved host universities:
    • PDF icon Canada
    • PDF icon Online
    • Requests will be cancelled if they fall under the following categories:
      • Pertaining to schools that do not appear on our listing of approved Canadian host universities.
      • Involving study abroad organizations or companies which act as intermediaries.
  4. Ensure that the host university:
    • Is currently accepting students to study on campus as non-degree, fee-paying visiting students.
    • That you meet the host university's eligibility requirements.
  5. Check the before applying to study away to see if the course(s) you wish to register for have previously been approved for transfer credit.

Submit your application

Important notes:

  • Submit ONE application for Independent Study Away per application period. The application periods are Fall only, Fall and Winter (full-year), Winter only and Summer only.
  • Your 91社区 email account and the Minerva Study Away module are our official means of communication during the application process and during your term away.
  • If you have a "HOLD" on your Minerva record, please consult this website for information on the impact this will have on your study away application.
    • If the hold is not cleared by the deadline you have been given in the "SAO comments" in your Minerva study away application, your application will be FACULTY REFUSED.

Minerva Application:

  • Minerva: Student Menu > Student Records Menu > Exchange/Study Away Menu > Request for Study Away.
  • The application institution drop-down listing has hundreds of universities but you must select only those on the 鈥淎pproved鈥� listings (see step 2).
  • Submit a brief statement of purpose that explains your reasons for applying to study away.
  • Additionally for SUMMER ONLY:
    • Complete the Minerva Transfer Credit Assessment Form (MTCAF)听linked to the Minerva Study Away application.听To access the form, log on to Minerva and navigate to: Student Menu > Student Records Menu > Exchange/Study Away Menu >听View Application Status > Click on the Details. At the bottom of your Minerva Exchange or Study Away application, click on听Course Approval and Transfer Credit Form听to access the Minerva Transfer Credit Assessment form.
    • Course(s) listed on the Minerva Transfer Credit Assessment form:
    • Will be Faculty Approved as "elective only".
    • If you wish to use a course to meet a 91社区 program requirement, consult the departmental program adviser.
    • The maximum number of credits you may take during one Summer session is 12 credits. This credit total includes 91社区 Summer Studies courses and courses taken at another host university during the Summer term.
    • Do not register for concurrent courses (including online classes) that are scheduled at the same time or in the same term.

Degree Planning Worksheet (optional):

Tips & Tools for your Application:

  • Don鈥檛 rush through your application!
  • Click on the Question Marks or Help tabs in the Minerva Application for explanations.
  • The application will time-out after 90 minutes of inactivity.
    • Have your text/course lists ready to paste into the application so as not to lose your work or miss the deadline.
  • Once you submit your application it cannot be modified. You will not be able to change your choice听of partner university. If you want to make change, you will have to cancel your application and complete a new one before the deadline.

Apply to the Host School

  • Ensure that your registration at the host university will be as a 鈥渘on-degree visiting student鈥�.
    • Confirm that the host university has an undergraduate 鈥渧isiting, non-degree, or free-mover鈥� student status.
  • Ensure the courses for which you register are part of the host university鈥檚 undergraduate curriculum.
  • You are responsible to meet the host university鈥檚 application procedures and deadlines.
  • You will be billed tuition and related fees directly by the host university.

WARNING 鈥� Affiliated partners and 3rd party organizations:

  • You may not enroll in courses at an affiliated partner university of the host institution, and are not eligible to receive transfer credit for studies arranged by or offered through study abroad organizations, third parties or intermediaries.
  • You are not permitted to be concurrently registered as an undergraduate degree student at two different universities in the Fall and Winter terms.

Approval

Once your application is 鈥淔aculty Approved鈥�, download your 鈥淟etter of Permission" (LOP) from the application. The LOP:

  • Is your official letter granting you 91社区 authorization to take courses at the specified host university during the specified term as a visiting student for the purpose of transferring course equivalences and credits toward your 91社区 degree.
  • May be required by the Host University鈥檚 Registrar's Office or Enrollment Services.
  • Is provided in place of any forms that must be provided to the host school confirming your permission to study away.

Your Minerva record will be updated to non-resident 鈥淭erm Away鈥� status for the same 91社区 term(s) you will be away. If you are registered for 91社区 courses in the Fall and/or Winter terms and you are approved to study away:

  • These 91社区 courses will be dropped.
  • You will not be able to register for 91社区 courses in that term(s).
  • Your 91社区 courses WILL NOT be re-instated if your plans change.

NOTE: If you are studying away in the Summer term:

  • Your Minerva record will be updated to non-resident 鈥淭erm Away鈥� in mid-July, to permit you to access summer course registration at 91社区.
  • Once your Minerva record indicates "Term Away - Arts", you will not be able to register for 91社区 summer courses on Minerva.

ONLINE COURSES: If you plan to take an online education course, please read the information under Transferring Credit, "Online Education Policy".

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