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.
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.
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 application. For any questions related to undergraduate VSR requirements, email admissions@ucalgary.ca.
Graduate visiting student researchers must complete the graduate application. For 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.
Bringing your family with you while you study in Canada
Many students studying in Canada are anxious about having to leave their spouse and/or children behind in their home country.
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 with no intention to work or conduct any research, 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 that by entering Canada without a study permit 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:
- If you are an exchange students and want to work while you’re here, you'll need to apply for a study permit. For information on working in Canada as a student, please click here.
- You’ll require a study permit if you'll be conducting any independent research on our campus (outside of regular course requirements) during your exchange
- you'll be studying at UCalgary for longer than six months.
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