What You Need to Know About Academic Exchange (EXCH) 🔹 How do I get credit for courses I take on exchange? 🔹 What’s an Exchange Letter of Permission and why do I need it? 🔹 How do I make sure my exchange courses count toward my degree?

✅ What you need to know:

Congratulations — you're about to begin an exciting exchange experience! 🎉 Before you go abroad, here are some important steps to follow:

🗂 Course Credit Evaluation:

  • Acadia keeps a database of previously approved exchange courses, but it’s not an exhaustive database of all possible courses.
  • You’ll likely need to get course syllabi from your host institution for faculty review.
  • This process can take time — start early!
  • Most exchange courses won’t have direct Acadia equivalents.
    Instead, they’ll be recorded as electives in your discipline.
    Example: A 3000-level history course may appear as HIST-9303.

✅ Talk to your Academic Advisor about how these electives will fit into your degree requirements.

⏳ Course Credit Hours:

  • At Acadia:

    • 9 credit hours/term = full-time
    • 15 credit hours/term = full course load

  • At European institutions using ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System):

    • A 10 ECTS course ≈ 5 Acadia credit hours
    • A full load of 30 ECTS/term = 15 Acadia credit hours

⚠️ Do not exceed 15 credit hours per term or 30 per year.

📝 Letter of Permission:

📄 Download the Letter of Permission

📘 Helpful definitions:

  • Letter of Permission: A form that allows you to take courses at another institution and transfer the credits back to Acadia.
  • ECTS: European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System  — used to measure course workload in Europe.

🔗 Suggested terms and links:

📝 Special notes:

  • Start planning early — credit evaluation and approvals can take time.
  • Keep copies of your syllabi and Letter of Permission for your records.
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