Inbound Exchange Students

Welcome to SAIT and Calgary

Your study experience at SAIT goes beyond the classroom. Located in the heart of Calgary—one of Canada’s most vibrant, diverse, and sunniest cities—you’ll find endless ways to explore, connect, and grow. Learn in cutting-edge labs, explore the Rockies on your days off, and make the most of everything SAIT and Calgary have to offer—on and off campus.

Take a virtual tour to see the campus before you arrive.

Semester exchange

Spend a semester immersing yourself in applied, hands-on learning alongside local students. Semester exchange opportunities are available through your home institution’s agreement with SAIT. Here’s what you need to know before your semester in Calgary.

Eligibility, application and deadlines

To be eligible for a semester exchange, you must be nominated by your home institutions' exchange/study abroad office.

You must also:

• be a full-time student in good academic standing
• have completed at least one year of post-secondary study
• demonstrate English proficiency. Proof of English may be waived if English is the language of instruction at your home institution.
  • required level is IELTS 6.0 overall or equivalent (TOEFL iBT 80 / CEFR B2)
• be eligible to enter Canada (typically with an eTA or Visitor Visa).

Once nominated, your home study abroad office will provide you with the SAIT exchange application link and guide you through the steps.

Deadlines for nomination, application and course selection

Semester	Nomination deadline	Application deadline	Course selection
Fall	April 15	May 1	Mid-June
Winter	Sept. 15	Sept. 30	Mid-October

For course selection deadlines, please refer to Important Dates.

Have questions about your eligibility or the application process? Please reach out to the SAIT Study Abroad team at study.abroad@sait.ca.

Programs, credits and grades

Program information

Explore our available programs and courses on our Programs page.

Note: Your home institution’s study abroad office must confirm your eligibility and ensure academic alignment before nomination and application.

Credits and grading

• SAIT uses credit hours, and most SAIT courses are worth three (3) credits.
• One SAIT credit is approximately equal to 2 ECTS.
• Your grade in each course will be calculated as specified in your course outline. Most credit courses are assigned a letter grade and are used to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA).

Visas

For one-semester exchanges (under six months), most students enter Canada with a Visitor Visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Note: These options do not allow you to work in Canada.

If you require a visa, be sure to apply early. We recommend reviewing entry requirements on the IRCC website and confirming your eligibility before applying.

Health and travel insurance

You are required to carry personal health insurance from your home country to cover medical needs while in Canada. Travel insurance is also recommended.

Tuition and fees

Semester exchange students do not pay tuition to SAIT. You will pay your course tuition to your home institution. However, you are responsible for mandatory non-academic student fees, which cover campus services and public transportation.

Estimated student fees per semester are approximately CAD $492.30, including:

• Universal Transit Pass (UPass): $170
• Campus recreation/Athletics: $103
• Technology fee: $109.64
• Student support fee: $109.64

Additional costs may apply depending on your program (for example, textbooks, laptop requirements, lab materials).

Accommodation

On-campus housing

On-campus housing is available at SAIT Residence and Housing, located just steps from your classes. Once you receive admission and your SAIT student ID number, you are eligible to apply for residence.

• If you hope to live on-campus, apply as soon as possible after you receive your letter of acceptance.
• Furnished shared and private apartments are available.
• Utilities and Wi-Fi are included and meal plans can be purchased for an additional cost.

Off-campus housing

Off-campus housing is also available - Saitsa, the SAIT students' association, offers an off-campus housing guide to help you find safe, affordable accommodations nearby.

Guide to getting started

• Pre-departure orientation: semester exchange students will receive a virtual pre-departure orientation before departing for Canada. This is hosted by the SAIT study abroad office and will be scheduled upon acceptance into your exchange program.
• New student orientation:  held the week before classes start, orientation prepares you, NSO prepares you for your courses, introduces key supports, and helps you connect with instructors and fellow students. Be sure to arrive in Canada in time for new student orientation.

Short-term programs

Each year, SAIT welcomes student groups from our international partner institutions for customized short-term programs. These programs are developed in coordination with your program advisor or faculty lead and delivered in partnership with SAIT instructors.

Your experience may include:

• hands-on workshops or classes in the SAIT equivalent program of study
• site visits to local companies, labs, or industry organizations
• group projects and in-class activities with SAIT students
• cultural excursions to iconic Alberta destinations such as Banff, Lake Louise, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum—home to one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaur fossils
• welcome events and orientation sessions
• optional organized meals and group accommodation, depending on program.

At the end of the program, students may receive academic credit depending on their institution’s agreement with SAIT.