Scroll down for FAQs for students planning to participate in international exchange Spring/Summer 2021.
Friday, February 26, 2021
Dear students,
I am writing to you about your plans to study abroad in the Spring/Summer terms. The university has been consulting closely with Global Affairs Canada and Global Affairs’ advisory against all non-essential travel outside of Canada is still in place: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories. The global travel advisory has led us to make the difficult decision to suspend the study abroad program for Spring/Summer 2021. This includes all exchange programs, practicums and internships, which require travel to an international location, including the Bader International Study Centre.
I am aware that you have been much anticipating your international experience and we regret that this will not be possible in the Spring/Summer terms. Continuing uncertainty about public health, travel restrictions, immigration and health insurance factors, and the ability of host universities to welcome Queen’s students are some of the reasons for the decision to cancel the Spring/Summer study abroad program. Many of our international partner universities who had intended to host Queen’s students have already cancelled their programs, or are now offering online courses for incoming students.
We want to uphold and preserve our institutional commitment to the value of student mobility for deepening a shared understanding and for broadening experience. We will do our utmost to ensure that you will have an opportunity to study abroad before the completion of your studies at Queen’s. University activities abroad on or after September 1, 2021 are scheduled to continue at this time, but please keep in mind that conditions created by the pandemic may require changes. If you are able to postpone or shift your travel to a later date or undertake your activity remotely and without travelling internationally, please work with your faculty international office to arrange to do so. The international offices in our faculties/schools will be contacting you directly about the options available to you. We ask for your patience and your flexibility as these options are finalized.
With best wishes,
Dr. Sandra M. den Otter
Vice-Provost, International
Professor, Department of History
Queen's University
FAQs for students planning to participate in international exchange, Spring/Summer 2021
Last updated Friday, February 26, 2021
No. The university is following Global Affairs Canada travel advisory which advises against all non-essential travel outside of Canada. Queen’s continues to suspend all university-sponsored international travel.
Please speak with your faculty international office for more information and an individualized response.
Queen’s students should seek direction for Spring/Summer courses from their faculty international office and/or academic counsellor.
No. We regret that this will not be possible in the Spring/Summer terms. Continuing uncertainty about public health, travel restrictions, immigration and health insurance factors, and the ability of host universities to welcome you at this time. Student safety is one of the reasons for the decision to cancel the Spring/Summer study abroad program. Several of our international partner universities who had intended to host Queen’s students have already cancelled their programs, or moved their courses online for incoming students.
We will attempt to be as accommodating as possible; however, we cannot guarantee this as an option to all students, based on factors such as our exchange partners’ decisions. Your faculty international office will contact you to outline and discuss the options available to you if they have not already done so.
Faculty international offices are working with partners to identify options and communicate them to students as quickly as possible.
No, virtual exchange programs are not affected, only programs that require physical travel to an international location.
Students should work with their faculty international offices and/or academic counsellor to understand course selection in the event of a deferral may be granted.
University activities abroad on or after September 1, 2021 are scheduled to continue at this time, but please keep in mind that conditions created by the pandemic may require changes. If you are able to postpone or shift your travel to a later date or undertake your activity remotely and without travelling internationally, please work with your faculty international office to arrange to do so. Options for mobility in Fall 2021 may vary by faculty international office.
All international travel for university-sponsored activities was suspended on March 12, 2020, and this suspension is still in place. Please check with your faculty international office for alternative program planning.
Please email your question to global@queensu.ca.
For Graduate students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Staff and Faculty
This suspension follows the Global Affairs travel advisory. We closely monitor the status of this travel advisory and will revise the travel suspension as soon as the Government of Canada changes the advisory.
Requests for waivers can be submitted to global@queensu.ca. Please include a brief description of the proposed travel, an explanation of extenuating circumstances that make this travel essential, plans for return to Canada, including quarantine planning and mandatory hotel stay and insurance and health care coverage. If a waiver is approved, a successful OCASP submission is then also required. Please note that travel costs may not be reimbursed by Financial Services if a waiver is not in place before travel begins.