FAQ

Yes, as long as they do not overlap. You can only take one at a time because they have an intensive schedule and full participation in daily classes is required. Also, be aware that Faculty of Arts and Science students can only take a maximum of 2.0 credits during the summer session. Any more than that requires special permission from your registrar's office.

No. The schedule of the Summer Abroad courses is quite intensive, which is why you are able to earn a full U of T credit in approximately 4 weeks. Students are required to attend every class and they take place every day for 3 hours. There may also be field trips during non-class times so you should only be enrolled in the one course at a time.

No.  If you have received the credit as part of the virtual Summer Abroad program, you cannot re-take the same course abroad. However, you can participate in a different Summer Abroad course. (The only exception to this is the Ecuador program for which the 2021/2022 virtual course is different from the course that is taught on site.)

Students (or alumni) of registered North American universities can apply to our programs. See our Eligibility Requirements page for more details.

Yes, visiting students are welcome to apply. Please refer to the Visiting Students section under Eligibility for more details. 

No, all our courses are taught in English (except for language courses).

U of T students who have completed one or more courses must have a CGPA of at least 1.75 at the time of application. Some programs have additional requirements; see our Eligibility Requirements page for more details.

Yes. While some programs may have non-negotiable prerequisites, most program applications will allow you the opportunity to explain any academic or non-academic experiences that may be relevant preparation for the course.

The maximum number of programs you can apply for is two. Students should not apply for programs that they do not intend to participate in.

In some rare cases students may be granted permission to apply to more than two programs. If there are extraordinary circumstances behind your decision to apply to three programs, you may contact the Professional and International Programs office to make the request.

You will need to prepare your personal statement and have access to a credit card to pay your application fee. 

The application closes on 1 February at 5 PM EST.

Your application has been submitted when your application pre-acceptance status changes to "Pending." If your application pre-acceptance status still reads "Incomplete" there are still steps you need to complete. Check that you have paid the application fee, and ensure you click "Submit" after the payment has been processed.

Please refer to the Admission Criteria section.

Until you receive an admission notification by email from the Summer Abroad office, your admission to the program is not guaranteed so you should not make any travel plans.

The costs depend on the program and differ for domestic students and international students. A detailed breakdown of the Summer Abroad program fees is available in the program section of this site.

Financial assistance is available to eligible students for on-site program. Please refer to the Financial Aid section of the Summer Abroad website for the eligibility requirements.

Explore the funding resources listed under Financial Aid to learn about the different types of funding available from University of Toronto and other organization. Funding your Summer Abroad program may involve a mix of financial resources — combining government grants, student awards, part-time employment, RESPs and contributions from family members.

NOTE: Awards administered by Woodsworth College (including Summer Abroad awards) are not offered to students applying to virtual courses. 

The Summer Abroad Office offers a limited number of needs-based funding to current U of T domestic students to cover some of the travel cost. Read more about eligibility and the application process. 

Summer Abroad fees submitted to the University of Toronto, including the application fee, are non-refundable upon receipt. Exceptions to this policy are detailed on the Refunds and Withdrawal link above.

Should a program be canceled by University of Toronto prior to departure, the fees paid to the Summer Abroad office will be fully refunded to enrolled students. 

Congratulations on your U of T award! You can view the details of your award payment on ACORN. The award details (such as the award name, payment date, method of payment etc) can be viewed on ACORN as soon as the funds are paid out to you. Instructions on how to view the award information is available on the ACORN Help page.

Note: Direct Deposit to your bank account is the fastest and most reliable way to receive award payment. Learn how to set up your Direct Deposit on ACORN. Set up your Direct Deposit on ACORN before the award payment is released to you.  

Summer Abroad is a group travel program and as part of the experience, residence accommodations are included. Many international residences for students may require proof of vaccinations for students to be able to stay there. Therefore, Summer Abroad recommends that all participating students be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccine series before the start of the program.

As per the Government of Canada, all eligible travellers should complete a COVID-19 vaccine series  along with any additional recommended doses in Canada, at least 14 days before travelling.

• COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. They can also provide some protection against infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Summer Abroad participants and supporting staff are required to follow the guidelines and directives set by the local authorities and the program staff. Social distancing where appropriate, and self-monitoring your health will also be important.

For travel during COVID-19, please review the updated information and list of resources posted on the COVID-19 Update & Planning page.

Depending on the location, COVID-19 testing may be required for entry into a country or as part of your exit from a country. You will be expected to comply with all airline and country entry and exit requirements. In addition, you will need to be aware of any COVID-19 testing required by the countries through which you plan to travel, either before the program or as part of your return back to Canada.The Summer Abroad team are monitoring these conditions and will provide guidance for Summer Abroad programs as part of the pre-departure session. Updates will also be provided to you closer to the departure dates.

Yes, you will be required to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms on a daily basis. Help us keep the Summer Abroad community healthy and safe!

Students’ travel during their free time must adhere to local and international guidelines and restrictions. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware and comply with the restrictions. Students who travel away from the program site on non-program travel are responsible for any costs resulting from COVID-19 restrictions or requirements. In addition, students may face academic consequences due to missed classes if they are required to self-isolate on return to the program location. 

We encourage students to get to know their host city and host country better while abroad.

Local excursions are an important part of a student’s experience abroad. Field trips will be offered to the extent permitted by the program and the public health protocols.  

External visitors are not permitted into the program facilities and guests are not  allowed to visit a student in their residence room. 

If you tests positive for COVID-19 and have COVID-19 symptoms, you should isolate yourself and contact the program staff. Isolate until no fever and symptoms improving for 24 hours (48 hours for gastro-intestinal symptoms), depending on local health guidelines. Continue to wear a mask for 10 days from symptom onset. Local health authorities may conduct contact tracing after positive tests.

Individuals who are close contacts of the symptomatic or positive case, no longer require quarantine. You should isolate immediately if symptoms develop. Wear a mask for 10 days from last exposure

As a Summer Abroad participant, you will be connected to the U of T Safety Abroad team and will also have access to resources through the International SOS. Summer Abroad staff will remain in regular contact with all students, including in the event of a positive test within a program. 

Classrooms and communal spaces may have capacity limits in compliance with local regulations. Students will be required to provide their own face masks and wear them in classrooms, offices, and common areas, or while participating in program gatherings. Other measures will be shared with students both before and after arrival on site. 

This depends on the program but most applicants will be notified by mid-March to early April.  Notification is sent by email so be sure to check your email account frequently.  Once students have been admitted they have one week to pay the $1,000 deposit to secure a spot in the program.

Admission to on-site Summer Abroad Programs is conditional upon the Government of Canada allowing travel outside of Canada. You are also required to complete all pre-departure requirements before you travel.

We recommend researching the airline or travel agent about the cancellation and change fees before booking your flight. You are advised to select refundable tickets to allow for a change in plans. 

In addition, you may want to review the terms and conditions of any travel insurance policy to understand coverage in the event of COVID-19-related disruptions. Please refer to Travel Health Insurance information posted on the U of T Safety Abroad site.

As an undergraduate student, you may already be covered for 60 days of international travel through the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU). As of Sept. 1, 2020, the UTSU travel coverage also applies to COVID-19-related emergency medical expenses, including those under 50 and those travelling during a Level-Three Advisory (avoid non-essential travel) issued by the federal government.

We also recommend that you wait until your visa or permit, if required, is approved before you book your flight. All students are responsible for making sure that their necessary travel documents are in order for entry to the program location, as well as to any course field trip locations. Students who are unable to obtain any necessary visas in time must withdraw from the program and may lose the fees that were paid to participate.

Please review the up-to-date entry requirements, including various COVID-19 requirements such as screening, testing, and proof of vaccination and/or quarantine requirements, for the countries you will be visiting or travelling through if admitted to this program. You should also be aware of the re-entry requirements for you to return to Canada.

If you determine you will need to apply for a visa to travel to your destination(s), please consider booking an appointment at the relevant consulate/embassy in Toronto in advance. Appointments can be difficult to schedule last minute. If you are not admitted to the program, you can cancel your appointment at that time.

The Summer Abroad team will notify you by email if a course pivots from on-site to virtual format due to the travel advisory. You will be provided detailed information regarding the Virtual Summer Abroad course, including the benefits of a virtual Summer Abroad course. If you decide not to proceed with the virtual format, fees paid to the Summer Abroad office will be refunded to you.

Woodsworth College reserves the right to cancel programs or courses for any reason, including low enrolment or health and safety concerns. 

The health, safety and well-being of our Summer Abroad participants is our highest priority. We will monitor local public health guidance and travel advisories from Global Affair Canada. The decision to modify or suspend a program will not be taken lightly and will only be made after careful consideration and consultation with the U of T Safety Abroad and our program partners.  

In the event the University of Toronto has to suspend on-site programs due to health and safety concerns, the Summer Abroad programs will pivot to virtual programs to support academic continuity. The Summer Abroad team will notify the participants immediately and will work with you during the transition.

Students are advised to monitor their email regularly. The Summer Abroad team will provide pre-departure program information. Once abroad, the on-site staff will maintain ongoing communication with students.