Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences 2025 Summer School

A group of international students at Frankfurt Summer Universities

Frankfurt Summer Universities is proud to offer exciting new courses for international students this summer! Students can take courses in subjects such as:

• Intercultural Communication Competence (Hessen:ISU)

• German Language and Culture (offered online and available in combination with one of the above academic courses)

The programs are designed for international students and taught entirely in English. Frankfurt Summer Universities also offers fun extracurricular activities for students to participate in, as well as field trips to political, financial, and architectural sites. The city is our classroom! To learn more, please visit our website at www.frankfurt-summer-university.de  or contact us at summerschools@fra-uas.de .

Who is this program for?

Undergraduate students in good academic standing who will have completed 2 years of Bachelor studies by the end of Winter 2024. This is an interdisciplinary course. Students and working professionals from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Fees and costs

SMU students pay a program fee of 850euros (approx. CAD$1,240) at the host institution. Students who are accepted before April 7 2024 will benefit from a reduced fee of 750euros (approx. CAD$1,100). The program fee covers 2 weeks of academic courses, course materials, public transportation in Frankfurt, and opening/closing events. SMU will not charge a separate tuition fee.

Students will also be responsible for accommodation, meals, international travel, insurance, $100 study abroad admin fee and personal expenses. You can book accommodation through Frankfurt Summer Universities (see here https://www.frankfurt-summer-university.de/en/housing/). The prices are 580euros (approx. CAD$850) for double occupancy and 450euros (approx. CAD$660) for a quadruple room (3-4 people). They cannot guarantee your preferred housing choice.

Immigration

It is strongly recommended to start the visa application process as soon as students receive their acceptance letter so to avoid any delay. For information on visas, please visit the website of the German Missions in Canada https://canada.diplo.de/ca-en/consular-services/visa/shortstay. To find out if you need a visa, click on “Do I need a visa?” here https://canada.diplo.de/ca-en/consular-services/visa/shortstay#content_1.

If you need a Schengen visa, the visa process for residents of Nova Scotia will be overseen by the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa (as referenced in “Where do I submit my visa application?” here https://canada.diplo.de/ca-en/consular-services/visa/where-to-submit-visa-application/1308212.)

1. Please review the Austrian Embassy website thoroughly here to prepare your visa application: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/austrian-embassy-ottawa/travel-information-on-austria/entrance-and-residence/how-to-apply.

2. When you book your visa application appointment, your application will be managed through VFS Global’s Visa Application Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, the official visa application centre for the Embassy of Australia in Canada.

Questions related to the visa application process should be directed to VFS Global by email at info.austria_can@vfsglobal.com or the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa at Ottawa-ob@bmeia.gv.at.

Transfer credits

Students may be able to earn credits to the extent that those credits are applicable to the program requirements of your SMU degree. Please meet with your academic advisor of your program (visit https://www.smu.ca/academics/academic-advising.html) to see if any of your remaining degree requirements can be completed at another university. If your advisor confirms that there is room for transfer credits in your degree, you will request approval to take courses for transfer credits by submitting a Letter of Permission Request Form (found here https://www.smu.ca/academics/student-forms.html) to the SMU Records Office as soon as your acceptance is confirmed.

Funding

Limited funding may be available; contact the Global Learning Office

How to apply

Interested students should submit the SMU Exchange Program application* by February 15, 2025 to the Global Learning Office.

*To complete your application, you will:

1. fill out your Study Abroad Application (https://studio.smu.ca/s/StudyAbroadApplication2021.pdf)

2. write a one-page letter of intent (Tip: book an appointment with The Writing Centre or ask if personal statement workshops are coming up https://studio.smu.ca/wc-student-tutoring)

3. print in pdf your unofficial transcript from banner and

4. prepare your resume.

Once you have all four pieces of application documents, upload them at the application link here https://smuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55UpfboKu5sImUe.

In addition to the above, please have two letters of reference emailed to Global@smu.ca. At least one letter needs to be written by your Saint Mary’s course instructor.

If you want to know more about what should be included in your letter of intent, or if your professor would like to know what to include in their reference letter, please refer to the Study Abroad Information Package found here https://studio.smu.ca/apply.

What happens after you apply?

If you are selected, you will be nominated to the host university by the SMU Global Learning Office, and the rest of the pre-departure steps will be explained.

Questions?

Email the Global Learning Office at Global@smu.ca.

2025-2026 Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building Program (FMPBP) Competition

Global Affairs Canada has launched the 2025-2026 Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building Program (“FMPBP”) competition. This program offers grants to full-time Canadian faculty for short-term teaching and/or research activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.  

The FMPBP award is valued at CAD$7000. Recipients’ travel can occur from April 1, 2025. All funds must be expensed by March 31, 2026.

Multiple applications are allowed per institution. All applications must be submitted by the Global Learning Office through its institutional My EduCanada account.

Interested faculty should consult the FMPBP guidelines here and contact the Global Learning Office (Miyuki.arai@smu.ca) by Friday, October 18 2024 in order to allow enough time to prepare applications for submission by the deadline of Tuesday, November 19 at 11:59 pm EST.

The scholarship administrator will communicate successful results to Canadian institutions in February 2025.

University of Jyväskylä Exchange Program in Finland (Winter 2025)

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in SMU Exchange! While you prepare your application, you may want to learn in advance what your (and the Global Learning Office’s) plans, expectations, and responsibilities are. This information guide will help you prepare for a well-planned exchange program. Please review it carefully and thoroughly so that your application is full and complete for the selection process. And remember, we are here to assist you throughout all phases of the exchange program! Please e-mail Miyuki.arai@smu.ca if you have any questions or concerns.   

Why should I study abroad? 

There are many reasons and benefits. When you study abroad, you not only enrich your academic experience but also develop intercultural communication skills, competencies and confidence. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience through which you build your resume, learn about different cultures, and make new friends from around the world. Besides you have the support of the home and host universities throughout the journey. 

What is University of Jyväskylä like? 

University of Jyväskylä (JYU) is an internationally ranked research university and is one of the largest and most popular multidisciplinary universities in Finland. JYU provides a genuinely supportive and enjoyable environment for studying. JYU has 14 300 students from about 100 countries. They believe that interaction with people from different cultures and backgrounds is an essential part of academic studies and the university experience. SMU and JYU have been exchange partners since 2006.. The population of Jyväskylä is around 148,000, and the city is located about 170km north of the capital city, Helsinki. See more information here. 

What subjects are offered at JYU? In what language? 

Many courses for exchange students are offered in English by the following: 

• Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication 

• Faculty of Education and Psychology 

• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences 

• Faculty of Information Technology 

• Faculty of Mathematics and Science 

• Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences 

• School of Business and Economics 

See more information here. 

Winter along the shore in Jyväskylä

Can I receive transfer credits towards my SMU degree? 

It depends on which courses you have left to complete for your SMU degree. Please meet with your academic advisor (see here) as a first step. Your advisor will not be able to tell you which courses to take (-- it is up to you to research the partner university’s courses) but can 1) confirm if any of the remaining SMU program requirements can be completed abroad during the exchange program and 2) go over the Letter of Permission process with you. 

Note: JYU course credits are weighted differently from SMU courses. If you plan to earn 15 credit hours from the exchange semester towards your degree, you should aim to validate 30 “ECTS” credits at JYU. 

You must attain a grade of C or higher in most cases for the JYU credits to be accepted by SMU. Please note that the host university’s grades will not be used in the calculation of your SMU GPA – the transfer credits will show on your SMU transcript with a code, “TR”, instead of a letter grade.  

What did former exchange students say about studying in Finland? 

Watch Caitlin’s testimonial here! 

Am I eligible? 

The Exchange Program at JYU is open to all SMU students (Canadian and Non-Canadian students, full-time or part-time) who are in good academic standing and have completed at least 30 credit hours at SMU. We welcome applicants of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Students who are eligible to receive transfer credits towards their SMU degree will be prioritized. 

Important: Your official transcript will be sent from JYU upon completion of the exchange program; however, it will take a couple of months for the transfer credits to be added to your banner account. Therefore, if you are in your final year of your Bachelor program, your graduation will be in Fall 2025. 

What are my costs? 

You will be responsible for SMU tuition (paid at SMU for the transfer credit hours), $100 study abroad admin fee, international and in-country travel, travel insurance, housing, food, communication, passport application, Finnish immigration* application, any fees charged by the host university and miscellaneous/personal expenses. The average living expenses of a single student in Jyväskylä amounts to about €700-900 (approx. CAD$1100-$1400) per month. 

Do I need a visa to study in Finland? 

Yes. Exchange students need to obtain a “Residence Permit” to study in Finland. The Residence Permit application process begins as soon as your acceptance letter is issued by JYU. Students need to prove that they have 560euros per study month. Important: After completing an electronic application, all applicants must visit a VFS Global application centre in person to prove their identity, NO EXCEPTIONS. For students in Nova Scotia, the closest VFS Centres to Halifax are in Montreal or Ottawa. Budget for your travel to a VFS Centre accordingly. See more information at: 

• Guide for students applying for a residence permit here  

• How to apply for a residence permit provided by the Finnish mission in Canada here 

• The VFS.GLOBAL Finland Residence Permit Application Centres here 

Is there funding? 

Yes! The funding program is called the “Erasmus+” International Credit Mobility. Six (6) successful applicants will be selected for the JYU exchange program, and those six students will receive an Erasmus+ mobility grant each. Each grant consists of 900euro-stipend per month for 4 months plus a travel subsidy of 820euros for a total of 4420euros (approx. CAD$6600). Funding will be given by JYU after students arrive in Finland; therefore, students need to pay out of pocket any upfront expenses such as the residence permit application costs and international airfare. 

When is the application deadline? Other important dates? 

You will submit your application for the JYU exchange program to the SMU Global Learning Office by Monday September 16 2024, at 4pm. After you review this information guide, email Miyuki.arai@smu.ca to obtain an application form before Monday September 9. The selection result will be released by Monday September 23 or soon thereafter, and successful candidates will complete the JYU admission application by Friday October 11. As soon as your acceptance is confirmed by JYU, you will start the Residence Permit application process with VFS Global. You will be invited to attend a series of pre-departure orientation meetings.  

The Orientation program at JYU (mandatory) will be held from January 3-7 2025. The exchange semester ends on May 25 2025. 

Other Information 

• Welcome to the University of Jyvaskyla here (1min23sec) 

• JYU Exchange Factsheet here 

From Acceptance to Pre-departure 

Once you are accepted into the program by SMU (internal selection) and by JYU (admission decision), there are other steps you will follow to prepare for your departure. Those steps include the following and additional information about each item will be provided later: 

1. Request approval for taking JYU courses for the transfer of credits 

2. Apply for a passport (if expiring before November 2025) 

3. If you are a non-Canadian student, ensure your Canadian Study Permit and Visa remain valid for re-entry to Canada after the exchange program. (If you are a Canadian Permanent Resident Card holder, check the expiry date, too.) 

4. Apply for a Finnish Residence Permit 

5. Arrange travel insurance (mandatory) 

6. Purchase airline tickets 

7. Attend pre-departure briefing meetings and learn to manage travel risks 

8. Register in courses at JYU 

9. Apply for housing through JYU between October 18 & November 1 2024 

10. Get to know other SMU students who will be on exchange in the same semester 

11. Inform the Global Learning Office if applying for a student loan, and keep in touch with the SMU Financial Aid & Awards Office 

12. Research the host country and region 

13. Request accessibility services to JYU, as required 

14. Register your travel 

15. Complete the waiver form 

16. Attend the orientation at JYU on January 3-7 2025 (mandatory) 

17. Pay SMU tuition and $100 fee at SMU (due January 17 2025) 

18. Review the post-experience reporting requirements and book a re-entry workshop 

19. Receive an official transcript from JYU so your credits will be added to banner 

If there are any questions or concerns and to request the SMU Exchange Program application, email Miyuki.arai@smu.ca. 

We look forward to receiving your application! 

Contact Information: 

Miyuki Arai, Global Learning and Intercultural Support 

Email: Miyuki.arai@smu.ca  

Office: Atrium 106 

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Post-Graduate Research Scholars Program

Committed to fostering the next generation of Asia Pacific researchers and analysts, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada offers up to four Post-Graduate Research Fellowships.

Successful applicants will have a background in Asia-related research in any relevant field and will be based on excellence and fit with the Foundation’s four main research priorities: Understanding Asia Now; Advancing Sustainability; Promoting Trade, Investment and Innovation; Building Skills and Competencies. Please note that grants are not intended to support dissertation research. 

For more information on the fellowship and for application details, please visit: asiapacific.ca/grants/post-graduate-research-fellowships. 

 The 2019-2020 grants are valued at $42,000 for Master’s graduates and $45,000 for PhD graduates for a one-year non-renewable term. Applications for the 2019-2020 award year will close February 28, 2019.