UCalgary campus

Visiting and exchange students

If you’re attending UCalgary to pursue research studies directly related to your current degree, you may be eligible to participate in the visiting student researcher program.

Visiting student researchers

Visiting student researchers are full-time students who attend UCalgary to support a specific research project that aligns with their studies at their home institution.

Learn more about visiting research students

Exchange students

Are you a student pursuing your degree at one of UCalgary's exchange partner universities? Would you like to spend time studying at UCalgary? Find out more.

Learn more about exchange students

What is the visiting student researcher (VSR) program?

The VSR program is a formal study program specifically for students who want to pursue research at UCalgary. View the full definition in UCalgary's Academic Calendar.

Visiting student researchers are full-time students who attend UCalgary to support a specific research project that aligns with their studies at their home institution.

Both undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in a full-time degree program at an accredited or recognized post-secondary institution may apply to participate in this program.

UCalgary campus

Visitors inside of Canada can’t participate in the VSR program unless they have a valid study or work permit.

Please have your supervisor complete the assessment form found at the link below. We require this information to assess which application stream (work permit versus study permit) will be the best suited route for your VSR appointment at UCalgary.

Visiting student researchers

Your first step would be to contact a UCalgary research supervisor in the faculty of your area of research interest to confirm they’d would be willing to host you on their research team. Once you have this confirmation, apply for admission to the VSR program using the links below.

Undergraduate visiting student researchers must complete the undergraduate applicationFor any questions related to undergraduate VSR requirements, email admissions@ucalgary.ca.

Graduate visiting student researchers must complete the graduate applicationFor any questions related to graduate VSR requirements, contact future.grad@ucalgary.ca.

Conducting research in Canada, regardless of if it’s for study purposes or not, is considered work. As such, proper authorization is required.

After you’ve been formally admitted to the VSR program and have a UCalgary letter of acceptance, please have your supervisor complete the assessment form . We require this information to assess which application stream (work permit versus study permit) will be the best suited route for your VSR appointment at UCalgary.

If you are required to apply for a study permit you will need a Provincial Attestation letter for your application. 

Exchange students

If you are a student currently attending one of our exchange partner universities and would like to spend a semester or more studying at UCalgary, welcome to the University of Calgary!

This section will guide you from your first visit to our website as a prospective future exchange student, to being nominated by your home university and filling out the UCalgary Exchange Application.


What type of immigration documents do I require as an Exchange student?

If you are an exchange student coming in for one term, you would be able to come to Canada with an eTA or visa. 
Click here for more information on which one you need to enter Canada.

Please know you will be granted entry as a visitor for a period of 6 months from the date of entry, unless limited by an officer. As a visitor in Canada, you cannot work. You would however be permitted to participate in your 4-month exchange as an international student.

When is a study permit is needed:

  • you'll be studying at UCalgary for longer than six months.
  • if you'll be conducting any independent research on our campus (outside of regular course requirements) during your exchange

Information on How to apply for a study permit

Before you enter Canada

You must have your immigration application approved prior to entering Canada.

Please ensure you are review the type of immigration documents carefully needed for your program before making plans to come to Canada