Study Abroad Programs & Opportunities

Concordia Student Exchange Program (CSEP)

CSEP application deadlines

January 15: Main deadline, Fall term, Academic year, and Winter only terms abroad
June 1: Alternate date for only Winter term departures – fewer host options available

CSEP application process

Faculty of Fine Arts students who wish to study at a partner institution must:

1. Watch the recorded Concordia International information session for CSEP participation.

2. Attend a FOFA Study Abroad Info Session hosted on ZOOM (October-December and April-May) or watch the recorded session.

Up-coming Live FOFA Study Abroad Info Sessions & Support on ZOOM:

Special CSEP Application Drop-in Questions on ZOOM:

Academic Advising for Studying Abroad

FOFA CSEP Program regulations & eligibility

Completed at least 1 full-time study semester within their BFA prior to application
24 credits completed within BFA before CSEP departure
Minimum Cumulative & Last Annual 2.7 GPA
BFA students must either have completed FFAR 248 and FFAR 249* prior to or have it in-progress at time of application
Minimum 12 required credits remaining towards BFA for each CSEP term abroad
Students applying for the CSEP on their last full-time term of study within their BFA must have 12 free-electives open to transfer to participate in the program
Must apply online Concordia International application form
Students participating on the CSEP cannot take courses concurrently at their host and at Concordia University, even if the courses are being delivered remotely
**GRADUATE Student candidacy is determined on a case by case review with Graduate Programs Director & FOFA SAS for eligibility and potential course transfer credits. But the CSEP application process & deadlines remain the same with Concordia International.
Only after you have reviewed all information from the FOFA Study Abroad Info Session are you invited to request an advising appointment (finearts.sas@concordia.ca include your name, ID#, Major and detailed CSEP related advising issues not covered in the FOFA Study Abroad Info Session)

*Formerly FFAR 250

After you apply

Register for one of the following mandatory FOFA CSEP Outgoing Workshops – failure to attend will result in the cancellation of your CSEP participation:

If you applied JUNE 1^st:

If you applied JANUARY 15^th:

Post-FOFA CSEP Outgoing Workshop you will need to submit the following to amanda.holt@concordia.ca prior to June 30(for June 1^st applicants) or February 15 (for January 15 applicants):

CSEP Course Selection Form (please list the courses in order of preference; you can use more than one form)
Program Guide indicating your completed courses, registration up until CSEP departure, and the reserved credits for CSEP transfer.
1 PDF document with host course descriptions that you listed on the CSEP Course Selection Form (not just links to website) in the same order. Do not send a list of all the courses taught at the host.
Restricted courses abroad which cannot be taken for credit include, but not limited to: English as a Second Language, Tourism, Physical Education, Internships, courses with missing required pre-requisites & any restrictions set by the host institution.
Undergraduate Concordia Students (BFA) on the CSEP may NOT take Graduate Level courses abroad for credit.
Graduate Concordia Students (MFA/MA) on the CSEP may NOT take Undergraduate Level courses abroad for credit.
Department Advisors cannot approve CSEP undergraduate credit transfers, only potential substitutions or equivalencies (course abroad is EXACTLY equal to one of ours).

BACK from your Exchange semester abroad?

Concordia International will email your Official Host Transcript to FOFA SAS for the CSEP credit transfer with you in copy.
FOFA SAS will transfer your CSEP credits as outlined in your CSEP Equivalencies Contract (R70).
Courses appearing on the host transcript which were not officially approved by FOFA SAS, will not be considered for transfer for credit into the Major.
You will be copied on the email confirmation to Concordia International when your transfer credits are posted to your Student Record.

**Graduate Exchange students – your credit transfers will be handled by the School of Graduate Studies

Funding opportunities for CSEP participants

Visiting fee-paying option

Fine Arts students who wish to study at an institution outside of Québec that does not have a partnership with Concordia for studies abroad, may apply to be a Visiting fee-paying (VFP) student at an alternate qualified institution.

Students must have approval to study abroad prior to taking courses at another institution. Courses taken at another institution outside of Québec without prior authorization, will not be considered for transfer.

Students interested in this option should connect with Amanda Holt, Academic Counsellor, in their drop-in advising hours prior to application.

VFP Application Deadlines

March 15 (for all Summer term departures)
June 15 (for all Fall semester departures)
October 15 (for all Winter semester departures)

FOFA VFP Program Process, Regulations & Eligibility

Meet with Amanda Holt in their regular drop-in advising hours to go over your program & Residency Requirement rules.
Complete the Student Request Form, completed Program Guide (indicating where within your BFA the courses abroad apply), letter of intent explaining why you wish to study at this host institution & any supporting documentation if this is a special request contra-indicating Residency Requirement Rules, provide full-course listings & course descriptions for the intended courses and send it to finearts.sas@concordia.ca
Students with cumulative GPAs 2.70 and above will be considered.
FFAR 249* must either be completed or in-progress at time of application.
Students are responsible for assuming all costs & tuition-fees paid directly to the host institution.

*FFAR 250 was replaced by FFAR 248 and 249 in Fall 2024. FFAR 249 is the second part.

Funding opportunities for visiting fee-paying students