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Incoming Exchange

Thank you for considering Smith School of Business at Queen's University as your exchange destination. We have exchange programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

To be considered for exchange, your home school must have a formal exchange agreement with Smith School of Business. You will need to be selected and nominated by your home university, then apply and be accepted by Smith.

Why Smith?

Smith School of Business at Queen’s University offers an exceptional learning atmosphere, personal attention, highly engaged faculty, and a powerful sense of community. As an exchange student you can learn from award-winning professors and industry experts. Smith offers different areas of focus: entrepreneurship, social impact, investment banking, accounting, marketing, consulting, international business, human resources, sustainable finance, customer analytics, business venturing and more. Classes are dynamic and often include team challenges, consulting projects and living business cases.

You can also enjoy the many different activities organized by the Commerce Society (at the undergraduate level) and clubs, as well as multiple sports and volunteering opportunities for a well-rounded experience.

Our Programs

Bachelor of Commerce

Our Bachelor of Commerce program is known to be one of Canada’s best undergraduate business programs. It is one of the most competitive in Canada to get into, with an average cut-off of 87% and a job placement rate of 96%.

It is strongly recommended that all applicants have successfully completed at least six foundation courses in Business and/or Economics at their home school. Students in an undergraduate program or in M1 of a Masters’ program will be admitted to exchange studies in the Commerce program.

All courses are taught in English. Refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 2.2MB) for English proficiency requirements.

Master of International Business

Our Master of International Business, ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in North America, is an incomparable opportunity for people with international business aspirations. The curriculum covers issues ranging from the global economy to cross-cultural leadership.

The MIB exchange program is offered in the winter term only. Students must be in an MBA or in M2 of a Masters’ program to be admitted.

All courses are taught in English. Refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 3MB) for English proficiency requirements.

Master of Business Administration

Our Master of Business Administration, with a 99% job placement rate and amongst the 100 top-MBA programs worldwide, delivers both the technical expertise and interpersonal skills development that employers require today.

The MBA exchange program is offered in the fall term only. Students must be in an MBA or in M2 of a Masters’ program to be admitted.

All courses are taught in English. Refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 2.4MB) for English proficiency requirements.

Key Dates

Commerce

Term Fall 2024 (September – December)/Full year Winter 2025 (January – April)
Nomination April 1 September 1
Application April 30 September 30
Orientation (mandatory) Late August / Early September 2024
please refer to Fact Sheets (PDF 2.2MB)		 January 3, 2025
please refer to Fact Sheets (PDF 2.2MB)
Transcripts Available Sent directly to partner school in Winter of the following year. We recommend students request a copy prior to departing Queen’s from the Registrar’s Office or via SOLUS. Sent directly to partner school in June. We recommend students request a copy prior to departing Queen’s from the Registrar’s Office or via SOLUS.

Please refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 2.2MB) for the most up-to-date information.

MBA

Fall 2024 (September – December) Summer 2025 (July – August)
Nomination April 1 March 1
Application April 30 March 31
Orientation (mandatory) August 30, 2024 TBC
Transcripts Available Sent directly to partner school in February of the following year. We recommend students request a copy prior to departing Queen’s from the Registrar’s Office or via SOLUS (for personal use). Sent directly to partner school in October. We recommend students request a copy prior to departing Queen’s from the Registrar’s Office or via SOLUS (for personal use)

Please refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 2.4MB) for the most up-to-date information.

MIB

Winter (January – April)
Nomination September 1
Application September 30
Orientation (mandatory) Early January
Transcripts Available Sent directly to partner school in June. We recommend students request a copy prior to departing Queen’s from the Registrar’s Office or via SOLUS (for personal use).

Please refer to the Fact Sheet (PDF 3MB) for the most up-to-date information.

“I was fortunate to study on exchange at Smith School of Business. The school boasts a reputation for its academic excellence and a dynamic campus community. They provided a perfect platform for students seeking to immerse themselves in a new culture and broaden their perspectives. I was struck by the university's commitment to diversity and inclusion. The student and faculty bodies were diverse, with representation from various regions around the world, and the curriculum reflected this diversity through its courses and events.

My exchange semester at Smith was a truly transformative experience. I learned from world-renowned faculty members, deepened my knowledge of my major, and formed lifelong bonds with students from diverse backgrounds. For those considering an exchange program at Smith, I wholeheartedly recommend embracing every opportunity available. Take full advantage of the university's resources, engage in a wide range of extracurricular activities, and build meaningful relationships with classmates and professors. Embrace new experiences, step out of your comfort zone, and never stop exploring all that Kingston has to offer!”

Fabio Caccamisi
Home: Università Bocconi, Italy
Exchange: Smith Commerce

Application Process

Step One

Partner Nomination

Students are nominated to Smith School of Business at Queen's University by their home school. Check with your study abroad advisor for details.

Deadlines to Apply

  • April 1 for fall-term or full-year exchange
  • September 1 for winter-term exchange

Important Note

Course registration occurs in summer; therefore, nominating students by April 1 for the fall and winter terms, and August 1 for the winter term will provide students with the best access to our course offering.

Step Two

Student Application

  1. After you have been nominated to attend Smith on exchange, you will receive an email from us with a link to the online application.
  2. Complete your application as instructed and you will receive an "application confirmation" email.
  3. The required application documents must be provided to confirm your eligibility for exchange. Refer to "Required Application Documents" below for details on how to submit your documents.
  4. Once your application and documents have been assessed, you will receive a formal exchange offer letter and further emails with details regarding your next steps.
  5. Your offer letter, along with your "Letter of Acceptance" will be emailed to you in May for fall or fall & winter applicants, and by October for winter applicants. These letters are important documents that will be required for Canadian immigration purposes.

Deadlines to Apply

  • April 30 for fall or full-year exchange
  • September 30 for winter exchange
Step Three

Required Application Documents

  • Transcript: Provide your most recent academic transcript.
  • Proof of English Proficiency: Check with the Exchange Coordinator at your home school to confirm if a proof of English proficiency document is required.
  • Commerce Applicants: Your required documents must be submitted by your home school Exchange Coordinator directly to:
    Admission Coordinator, International Exchange
    Undergraduate Admission & Recruitment Office
    Gordon Hall, 74 Union Street
    Queen’s University
    Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
    intstudy@queensu.ca
  • MBA and MIB Applicants: Your required documents can be uploaded with your application, or sent via email by you or your home school Exchange Coordinator directly to SmithGradExchange@queensu.ca

Next Steps

Each exchange program has a separate intranet that you will access for information regarding course registration, orientation, and for regular updates from your Smith Exchange Advisor. Your Smith Exchange Advisor will send you an email on how and when to access the portal.

You will need a valid passport to gain entry to Canada. If you already have a passport, please ensure that it will remain valid for 6 months after your return home.

VISA: Citizens of certain countries and territories will require either a Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to visit Canada.

Study Permit: If you are planning to study in Canada for one term (less than 6 months), you may study under temporary resident status as a visitor. For any period longer than 6 months (two terms), a Study Permit is required.

For detailed information regarding Citizenship and Immigration Canada's consulates, embassies and high commissions worldwide visit: Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.

Exchange students will live off-campus in private housing in proximity to the university.

The Queen’s University International Centre offers housing support that includes information for all new international members of the Queen’s Community regarding available resources to search for off-campus housing, clarity around housing terms, and what to be aware of before contracting to rent a particular property.

Further information can be found by visiting the Queen’s University Off-Campus Living Advisor’s website.

The Housing Resources section found on the Off-Campus Living Advisor website may be particularly useful, specifically the ‘Off-Campus Housing Resource Package’.

As an incoming exchange student it is mandatory for you to obtain the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). You will be automatically enrolled into UHIP and the fee will be added to your Queen's student account.

To find out more about UHIP, payment deadlines, and how to make payment, please visit the UHIP website.

All inquiries in regards to UHIP should be made to uhip@queensu.ca.

There is a mandatory orientation session for all incoming exchange students. Please refer to the Fact Sheet for your specific dates. An agenda with details will be shared with incoming students in the month before your arrival.

Resources

Queen's University International Centre (QUIC)

The Smith Exchange Team works closely with the staff at the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC), located in the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC). The members of the QUIC team have extensive experience in working with international students across all faculties at Queen’s University as well as the surrounding community. Through its activities, QUIC promotes an internationally-informed and cross-culturally sensitive learning environment.