How to apply to CSEP

General requirements

Below are the general eligibility requirements for all faculties. However, each student's file will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please consult your faculty if you have any doubts or questions regarding your eligibility.

Note: Students with a CGPA that falls below the minimum requirement of 2.70 at any point before departing for exchange will have their approval to participate in the CSP revoked and will no longer be allowed to proceed with the exchange.

Submit your application forms

There are several steps that you need to complete to submit your application to Concordia International, beginning with the selection of your host institutions to the acceptance of your placement at one of those institutions.

• Janaury 15, 2025: Application deadline for Fall 2025, Winter 2026 and full year exchanges.
• June 1, 2025: Application deadline for second round, Winter 2026 semester exchanges only.

Note: Not all exchange partners will be available to applicants who apply by the June 1 deadline. Spaces at popular destinations—such as Spain, Italy, Singapore, Korea, and Japan—are usually allocated to students who apply by the January 15 deadline.

Note: Students who cancel their exchange for non-academic (related to their Concordia degree) or non-medical reasons will not be permitted to apply for the program in the future. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

These 4 steps are only part of your application process for your exchange program. Please remember that your faculty also has requirements and processes that you must complete to get permission to participate in the program. Please confirm that you have completed your faculty's requirements.

Once you have accepted your placement, you will be required to complete an application for the institution in which you have been placed. However, you can't apply before you are prompted to do so by either your ILO, or by the host institution. Generally, the application period for host applications, depending on your host institution, are as follows:

• Fall applicants: Apply from April – June        Winter applicants: Apply from August – November

Prepare application documents

Your host may require you to provide some of the following supporting documents with your application:

• Proof of Language Proficiency
• Official transcript
• Letter of recommendation
• Proof of adequate funding
• Letter of motivation

Revisit course offerings

Confirm the course availability at your host university for the term(s) you will be on exchange. You may be required to select new courses at the time of your host application. 

Maintain course flexibility

Course flexibility is required as your host can't guarantee course availability. Ensure you have had a large selection of your host courses approved by your Concordia faculty.

Full-time course load requirement

Students must be regsitered for the equivalent of 12 -15 Concordia credits while on exchange at their host university. Students must confirm the credit equivalency between their host university and Concordia University prior to leaving for their exchange to ensure that they are registered full-time at their host unievrsity.

Students who are not registered full-time while on exchange are not eligible for a credit refund.

You will not receive a credit refund under the following circumstances:

• You registered for less than the equivalent of 12 Concordia credits
• You registered for the equivalent of 15 Concordia credits
• You failed any course at your host university

Confirm host admission notice

Letters of Admission (LOA) are issued 4-6 weeks after the host application deadline. Upon receipt of your letter, please send a copy to your ILO. Your LOA is required for confirmation of your bursary. 

Attend the pre-departure orientation session

The pre-departure orientation session is a group event to prepare students who have been accepted into the CSEP for their time abroad. Valuable information not previously discussed is shared during this session. 

You can reference the pre-departure Guide here and familiarize yourself with the material that wil be dicussed during the session. Please note that reading this guide does not replace your attendance. All students must attend the on-line pre-departure session. 

Arriving at your host university

You have finally arrived at your host university! Your journey has officially begun. There are some final steps that you are required to complete for you to have a successful exchange. The steps below should be completed within the first two weeks of your arrival at your host university.