Frequently Asked Questions

Definitely! Queen’s students have the opportunity to study at one of a wide array of partner institutions around the world. The International Programs Office will help you to choose an institution, enrol in courses, arrange accommodations, and make the experience as enriching as possible.

Students normally go on exchange for one or two terms in their third year. On-campus English Majors and Medials typically take 300-level ENGL courses, all of which are full-year. This is no obstacle to studying abroad: all it takes is planning. The key thing to remember is that the prerequisites for 300- and 400-level ENGL courses are the same; therefore, there is nothing to stop you from taking 400-level ENGL courses during your third year, before you have taken any 300-level courses. This important fact allows you go on a one-term exchange in your third year, and still make progress toward your degree.

This is the advice we offer to all students going on an exchange:

Full-year exchanges: Select courses at your host institution that will allow you to satisfy as many of your Queen’s requirements as possible.

One-term exchanges: During your at-Queen’s term, take 2–3 400-level ENGL courses if you’re a Major, or 1–2 400-level ENGL courses if you’re a Medial. While you’re on exchange, select courses at your host institution that will satisfy as many of your Queen’s requirements as possible.

In both cases, the advice of the Undergraduate Chair will be crucial in helping you to choose courses at your host institution that will help you to make progress toward your degree. The UG Chair will work with you individually to make sure that you get what you want out of your exchange, and still satisfy your Plan requirements.

Exchanges can be life-changing experiences: if this in an opportunity you want to pursue, then you should do it without fear that your Plan requirements will hold you back, or that an exchange will delay your graduation. Unless you choose a host institution that offers no courses in English literature (and there are sometimes good reasons why you might), there is no need to worry that an exchange will prevent you from graduating on time.

You are encouraged to seek advice about international exchanges from the Undergraduate Chair early in planning process.