Tackling the Exchange: A Guide to Studying Abroad
I remember when I was first planning for my undergraduate degree. The stress of picking the right program and the underlying fear that I would be constrained to complete my entire degree in one place for four years was something that I was hesitant about. I was lucky enough to participate in an exchange in France when I was 15 and it was a formative experience that I knew I wanted to have again in university. However, all of that changed when I attended the Fast Pass orientation in my senior year of high school and stumbled across Lakehead International and learned about “study abroad”—a program that completely shifted my perspective.
Now, I recognize that not everyone has the means nor desire to participate in a program such as this but I feel incredibly fortunate to be participating in it and want to make current and future Lakehead students aware of this opportunity and how to pursue this option.
Laura Pudas is officially known as Lakehead’s global mobility coordinator, but in reality is THE study abroad guru for LU students. For real, this incredible woman knows the ins and outs of study abroad and will be your main point of contact while organizing a semester or year abroad. She is kind, thoughtful, willing to meet with you too many times to count to guide you on where to go and somehow still manages to have a smile on her face after she answers your many questions about studying abroad!
My recommendation would be, if you are interested in studying abroad, book an appointment with Laura to chat about what that could look like!
This is the link to her calendar: https://10to8.com/book/lakeheadintliss/?staff=203897&prevent-change-staff=true
Generally speaking, students study abroad either in their second or third year. Lots of Lakehead’s partner universities offer summer programs for shorter lengths of time that can work for students that have heavy course loads and don’t have the flexibility to study abroad for a semester or year.
In order to apply to the study abroad program, you must submit the application package to the international office which is done by email: studyabroad@lakeheadu.ca. The application package consists of:
Outgoing Exchange Application Form
Personal Reference Form
Academic Reference Form
An unofficial copy of your transcript
A one-page typed Statement of Interest explaining why you want to study abroad
From there you will have to do a short interview with the international office to make sure that you are a good fit for the program. If you are accepted from there the international office will
help you coordinate your flights, visas, accommodation, courses and application to host institutions.
Some common misconceptions about studying abroad are that:
1. It’s expensive - In most cases Lakehead students only pay their tuition to Lakehead, not the host institution and Lakehead offers bursaries to offset other expenses like flights, accommodations and living expenses while abroad.
2. It will affect my average and delay my graduation - The courses you take abroad are transferred to your degree as gradeless credits given that this is stipulated in your Letter of Permission that you initially complete before going abroad.
3. I don’t know the language - The majority of Lakehead’s partner institutions offer many courses taught in English and thus you do not need to be fluent in the language of the country of origin to study abroad there
Now it’s up to you. You have four (or more) years at Lakehead, so take advantage of them. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is which of these amazing destinations you want to go to!