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Faculty of Fine Arts

Study Abroad Programs & Opportunities

Travel should be part of everyone's time at Concordia. Enrich your degree by spending a term, or up to a year, in another country. Or, if you want to study at an institution anywhere outside Quebec that doesn’t have a partnership with Concordia, we can arrange for a visiting-fee-paying student exchange as well.

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 Process

1. Review the information & watch the online info session Concordia International information session for CSEP process

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

Up-coming Live FOFA Study Abroad Info Session: 

Optional CSEP Application Drop-in Questions on ZOOM: 

3. Submit a completed CSEP Application by the deadline through the Concordia International portal 

Recorded FOFA CSEP Info Sessions:

1. FOFA CSEP Applicant Session and supporting Links from the video are below:

2. FOFA CSEP Post-Application Session (what to expect after you have applied)
3. FOFA CSEP Outgoing Abroad/Returned Session

 

Academic Advising for Studying Abroad

FOFA CSEP Program regulations & eligibility

  • Open to both full-time & part-time students
  • 24 credits completed within BFA before CSEP departure
  • BFA 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 (or FFAR 250* formerly).
  • Minimum 12 required credits remaining towards BFA for each CSEP term abroad.
  • Courses are not approved prior to CSEP application for Fine Arts students.
  • 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.
  • **GRADUATE Student candidacy is determined on a case-by-case review with Graduate Programs Director. The CSEP application process & deadlines remain the same with Concordia International.
  • Only after you have attended a FOFA Study Abroad Info Session are you can request individual CSEP advising appointment. Email finearts.sas@concordia.ca include your name, ID#, Major and detailed CSEP related advising issues not covered in the FOFA Study Abroad Info Session. Please also indicate if you prefer an in-person or virtual appointment.

CSEP Restrictions

  • You CANNOT go on the CSEP doing ‘extra credits’ beyond your degree requirements.  All credits taken abroad must advance your degree program and you must pursue a full-time credit load abroad.
  • Capstone courses (e.g. FMAN 402, DRAW 400, etc) will not be considered for CSEP transfer credits 
  • Students participating on the CSEP cannot take courses concurrently at their host and at Concordia University, even if the courses are being delivered remotely.
  • 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.
  • You cannot do an internship or independent study abroad for credit. 
  • 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).

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 1st:

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

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 the exchange program, 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 make an advising appointment by emailing finearts.sas@concordia.ca - include your name, ID#, Major and request advising to get course permission to transfer credits from an institution outside of Québec. Please also indicate if you prefer an in-person or virtual advising appointment.  

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

  • Complete the Student Request Form, completed Program Guide (pick the year of entry to the BFA, indicating where within your degree 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 & last annual GPAs 2.70 and above will be considered.
  • FFAR 249* must either be completed or in-progress at time of application or FFAR 250 previously completed
  • Students are responsible for assuming all costs & tuition-fees paid directly to the host institution.
 
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