National Student Exchange (NSE)

Exact semester dates vary by institution and whether they operate on a semester or a quarter system. For details, please check the program pages for each school using the NSE campus finder. 

Most schools use the semester system. The fall semester generally runs from late August/early September to late December and the spring semester (our winter semester) runs from early January to late May/early June. 

Universities on the quarter system have a calendar year that is divided into four equal sessions. Three sessions make up an academic year: fall (September to December), winter (January to March), and spring (March to June). These are equivalent to two semesters at UCalgary. Quarter credit hours generally earn one-third less value than semester credit hours.

While students can apply to return on multiple NSE exchanges, it is not allowed to spend more than one academic year at any given school.

Accommodation options vary from institution to institution. Most universities have on-campus housing available. For details, refer to the NSE campus finder, select your desired school, and see the Room/Meals tab at the bottom of the page.

This exchange is open to regular, full-time undergraduate students in any faculty at the University of Calgary, who have completed at least one full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (B-). 

Some campuses have higher GPA requirements. For details, refer to the NSE campus finder, select your desired school, and see the Conditions tab at the bottom of the page.

The NSE supplemental application form is required for a complete application.

Students may be asked for an academic reference at a later time, depending on which school they are applying to. 

Students studying in Puerto Rico must meet additional language requirements if the language of instruction is Spanish. To take courses in Spanish, students must have completed a minimum of SPAN 303 (4 semesters of Spanish) at UCalgary, or have the equivalent training/knowledge.

Please discuss your campus choices with your Global Learning Advisor as you are putting together your exchange application. Some NSE schools are highly competitive or have other limitations which your advisor can help identify (e.g. the University of Hawaii does not have a reserved spot for UCalgary students, and UCalgary students cannot apply for both Hawaii campuses). 

How do I find out what courses are available through NSE?

Start with the campus finder on the NSE website which also allows you to search by major. Click on each school to see their profile. Scroll down to see the Academics tap which has information on any restricted or closed programs as well as a link to the course catalog. For specific transfer credit information contact your academic advisor.

Can I study at any NSE partner institution?

University of Calgary students can only exchange with NSE institutions that exchange with Canada on payment plan B (students pay tuition at their home institution). When you enter "University of Calgary" as your home campus when first using the NSE campus finder, only campuses that are available for you will show up.

I can't find the online application for the NSE university I'm interested in...

Our online application system does not have an application for each NSE partner. You will need to search and apply  "NSE" (the general program). You can apply for up to eight NSE partners! You will need to submit course lists for each partner using the NSE supplemental application form, submit a copy of your unofficial transcript and answer the questions in the online application. For instructions on how to submit your unofficial transcript, click here. 

Are there smoke free Campuses?

Yes! See this List of Smoke Free Colleges and Universities. (2019)

Are there universities in this region that have good LGBTQ+ communities/supports?

Yes! Here are a few examples: 

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is ranked #3 of the top 50 universities in the USA for LGBTQ+ students, offering an LGBTQ Resource Centre, Safe Space Training to the campus community, an annual Eau Queer Film Festival, annual Drag Ball, gender-inclusive housing, faculty training, and an inclusive curriculum that offers classes on queer theory, sexual politics, gender/sex in history, and more. 

University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis one of the 25 best universities in the USA for LGBTQ+ students, and is also ranked #35 of 50 universities in the USA for LGBTQ students. They offer an LGBTQ+ International Student Drop-in Center as a part of their resource center (the Gender and Sexuality Centre for Queer and Trans Life), and excel in healthcare provision, diverse housing options, academic inclusion, and support of LGBTQ students, staff, faculty, and administration. 

University of Minnesota Morris is also ranked #48 of the top 50 universities in the USA for LGBTQ+ students. They have a formalized Queer Issues Committee, a Safe Zone training program, events and speaker series. The university is a small public liberal arts college, and offers a caring campus community for all students. 

Southern Oregon University and University of Oregon are two of the top 25 U.S. universities for LGBTQ+ students. Southern Oregon (number 21 of the top 50 LGBT universities) offers a Queer Resource Center with resource library, gender-inclusive bathrooms, a Queer Carnival, Trans Training Workshops, and more. 

University of Oregon (number 28 of the top 50 LGBT universities) has a Standing Committee for LGBT Concerns which has been in operation since the early '90s and continues to serve the community to create a welcoming and supportive experience for LGBTQ+ students and staff. They also offer a LGBTQ Greek community, Theta Pi Sigma, and also offers a unique program called the Bridges Panels designed to facilitate intersectional dialogue.