FAQ for international students

Yes, Concordia University will be closed from December 23, 2023 to January 7, 2024 (inclusive).

During that period, emails and phone calls will not be monitored and our in-person and virtual drop-ins will not be taking place.

We strongly encourage you to get in touch with us at least one week before the holiday closure in order to get the answer to your question(s).

• January 15, 2024 - first day of class and deadline for all new students to arrive in Montreal to begin your studies
• January 29, 2024 - deadline to upload your immigration documents valid for the duration of the Winter term to your Student Center
• January 24, 2024 - DNE deadline: last chance to register or modify your course registration for the Winter 2023 term

Pelase remember: as an international student, you will have to maintain a full-time status throughout your studies.

• Undergraduate students (Bachelor’s, undergraduate certificates, and Independent): You must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits in the Fall and another 12 credits in the Winter to maintain your full-time status.
• Master’s course-based students: You must register for a minimum of 9 credits in the Fall and another 9 credits in the Winter in order to maintain your full-time status.
• Master’s thesis and Ph.D. students: Students in thesis-based master’s or doctoral degree programs are accepted as full or part-time students at the time of admission. These students are considered to be full or part-time according to their status at admission, regardless of the actual amount of credits for which they register. 

• More important deadlines for undergraduate students
• More important deadlines for graduate students

Reach out to the Welcome Crew Mentors! They’ll be available remotely to offer support and help answer any of your new-to-Concordia questions. You can reach them via email or book a one-on-one Zoom appointment. They're happy to share their experience and help you find the information you’re looking for! Remember, mentors can't provide immigration-related advice or advise you on which courses to take.

Find out what other services are open over the holiday break.

You can refer to our Prepare to Travel page to find out what documents you should have on your person while travelling to Canada.

To find out what COVID-related documents you may need for your travels, please visit Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada's COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders page. 

This depends on the type of student you are! 

If you are a one term exchange or visiting student: please upload the biographical page of your passport to your Student Centre.

If you are enrolled in a program (certificate, diploma, bachelor's, master's or PhD), please upload the following documents to your Student Centre:

• CAQ approval letter or CAQ certificate  

        AND

• study permit (your study permit will be issued once you enter Canada)
   

IMPORTANT:

Depending on your status in Canada, you may not need a CAQ or study permit. You can find immigration document(s) you may need depending on your status in Canada here.

The deadline to upload your immigration document(s) is January 29, 2024.

If you cannot be in Canada by January 15, 2024, we recommend that you request a deferral to a later term. 

If you are an undergraduate student, please contact your Admissions Officer (contact details in your offer of admission).

If you are a graduate student, please contact your graduate program advisor or coordinator (contact details in your offer of admission).

You can find step-by-step instructions on renewing your CAQ, study permit and Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) on our Renewing Your Immigration Documents page.

If you need any document issued by Concordia University (such as an attestation letter), since the University will be closed from December 23, 2023 to January 7, 2024, there may be some delays.

You can print proof that you are billed for health insurance from your Student Centre:

• Make sure you are registered for Winter 2024
• From the main screen of your Student Centre, go to Account Inquiry
• Select Winter 2024 and click on details

The fee for your health insurance plan ($712.00) should appear and you can then print this out and have it on your person when you travel to Canada.

You can read your Blue Cross health insurance policy to familiarize yourself with your plan.

Please note that your Blue Cross plan will be activated on January 1, 2024. This said, you can only register for and print your card as of January 15, 2024 (as indicated in the top-right corner of the instructions sheet). It is important to remember that although you can’t print your card until January 15, 2024, any covered medical expenses you may incur between January 1 and 15, 2024 will be reimbursed by Blue Cross.

Your Blue Cross plan does not cover regular dental care.

As a new student, you can self-enroll in to your student association's dental plan.

To find out the deadline to self-enroll, as well as what steps to take to so do, select the student association that applies to you below:

·         Undergraduate students (undergraduate certificates and bachelor's)

·         Graduate Students (graduate certificate, diploma, Master's or PhD)

The self-enrollment period is from January 22 to  February 7, 2024.

Blue Cross does not cover offer health insurance coverage for your spouse/common-law partner.

For information on other insurers who provide Visitor's Insurance on an individual basis, please see a list of websites below. You can compare their plans and choose the one that best fits your current situation. Keep in mind that not all plans are comparable and it is the responsibility of the student to check on the plan details.

Please note that some plans completely exclude expenses related to pregnancy; others will only cover the expenses if the pregnancy started after the beginning of the health insurance coverage. There can also be limitations relating to the coverage of your newborn. Remember: newborns do incure costs post-delivery and you are responsible for said costs.

• Manulife CoverMe
• Québec Blue Cross 
• AIG Travel Guard (for American students only)
• Tugo
• Assurance visiteurs
• Allianz Care

Please note that international students MUST be covered by the Blue Cross Health Insurance Plan for Concordia International Students even if their dependents are covered by another insurance provider. 

Blue Cross does not offer insurance for your child/children but as of September 22, 2021, all children are eligible for the Québec health insurance (RAMQ) and basic prescription drug insurance plans provided that they are present in Québec for more than 6 months per year, whether they were born here or not. This includes:

• Children temporarily living in Québec, for example, those of foreign workers or students
• Children without legal status in Canada

Moreover, the 3-month period during which people who settle in Quebec are not eligible for health insurance (also called “waiting period”) is abolished for all children.

Please visit the RAMQ's page for information on how to register your child or children for the Québec health insurance plan.

You can email iso@concordia.ca to request a health insurance letter. This letter will confirm your Blue Cross health insurance coverage during your studies.

Don't forget to include your student ID# in your email and note that it can take up to 5 business days for the letter to be issued.

If you have one or more prescriptions from outside of Quebec, it’s important to prepare in advance if you need them renewed. Prescription renewals are not automatic and may require an assessment when you are meeting with a new medical practitioner. 

Follow these steps to avoid stress and make sure that you get any prescriptions you need in time. 

• Before you arrive: Come to Montreal with as many refills of your prescription(s) as available, and any relevant documentation. For example, ask for a summary of all your prescriptions from your doctor or pharmacist so you can provide this information to other health care providers in Montreal.
• When in Quebec: One to three months before you run out of your prescription(s), book an appointment at Health Services.
  It’s important to take this step in advance, as assessments or tests may be required to update your prescription(s). Additionally, some medications prescribed in other countries are not available in Canada and the doctor will need to find a suitable alterative. By booking your appointment well in advance, you can ensure there is enough time before you run out of refills.

Questions? If you have questions about your prescription(s) or medication, you can also speak to a pharmacist. For example, some medications that are available over the counter in other countries may require a prescription in Canada. By speaking to a pharmacist, you can know in advance if you will need to book an appointment with a doctor. Find out what a pharmacist can do for you.

Whether you want to live on-campus (university residence) or off-campus, or are just looking for temporary accommodations while you finalize your housing situation, you will find the information you need in our Housing Options page.

Discover on- and off-campus food resources in our Food Resources page.

When you feel you've learned all you can in a day and that there's no room left in your brain for any new information, maybe it's time to take a break and attend a social event. Not only is it a welcome break from all that studying, but you can meet new friends from all over the world and enrich your university experience.

Take a look at our social events calendar.

The ISO holds information workshops throughout the year on topics such as:

• Working in Canada
• Post-graduation work permit
• Income taxes for international students
• Your Blue Cross health insurance plan
• Much more!

You can find the complete list in our events calendar.