COVID-19 Travel Policies

For the most up to date information on the University of Alberta's response to COVID-19, please visit the university's COVID-19 Information page.

At this time, all travel and education abroad programs managed by University of Alberta International have been suspended until April 30, 2021. We are continuing to plan for future education abroad opportunities but the ability for students to participate will be dependent on the situation at the time of the program.

Exceptions for International Activities

The University of Alberta has developed a special authorization for students wishing to participate in education abroad activities.

Only the following students are permitted to partake in education abroad activities:

• International students and permanent residents of Canada who are back in their home country or plan to return to their home country and would like to participate in programming in their home country.
• Canadian citizens who since March 2020 elected to remain on their education abroad program and are seeking to participate in additional programs in their current host country.

Canadian citizens, currently in Canada and international students seeking to participate in a program outside their home country are not eligible for this authorization.

Students who are applying for the special authorization must comply with all program requirements, including but not limited to;

• COVID 19 special authorization to participate form
• Student agreement/waiver
• Demonstration of sufficient travel/medical insurance coverage that does not include pandemic and/or travel advisory exclusions
• Pre-departure orientation
• UGo registration

Students will need to submit their completed COVID 19 special authorization to participate form to uairm@ualberta.ca to begin the approval process.

Short Term Programs:

• There are a number of short term online programs students can take during the 2020/2021 school year. Please check here for available opportunities.
• Students wishing to take courses online for credit must submit an application in Horizons. Contact your Faculty to ensure that they will award you transfer credit for your completed online courses and if the courses you wish to take fit into your program. Please note that some Faculties will require you to go through a formal approval process before you can take the course.
• e3 2021 programs - The difficult decision has been made to cancel all in-person opportunities for e3 Berlin and e3 French Alps. Virtual internships are available for both locations and we are hoping to offer two academic courses online with e3 Berlin. Please check the respective e3 pages for more information. e3 Brazil will not run in 2021. 
• Summer 2021 partner programs - At this time we are planning and proceeding as usual. Information is slowly being updated on the program finder as our partners send us information. 

Exchanges:

Winter 2021:

• UAI has suspended all programs (managed by this office) that require travel outside of Canada up to April 30, 2021.

• Please continue working on both the UAlberta and exchange destination parts of your exchange application.
  With the exception of passport renewals, payment of your nomination fee, and costs that the exchange destination directs you to pay before December, please do not make any travel arrangements that require a financial commitment (like airline tickets, accommodation deposits, etc.) until you have been notified that your exchange will be proceeding.
• We recommend that you register in UAlberta Winter 2021 courses as per usual until you receive confirmation that your exchange is proceeding. (You would later drop out of your UAlberta courses only after you receive confirmation that your exchange is proceeding and after you receive your host acceptance letter.)

Internships:

• Winter 2021 internships (managed by this office) requiring travel outside of Canada have been suspended until April 30, 2021.
• Spring/Summer 2021 internships are proceeding at the present time. We will continue to monitor the situation and all applicants will be notified if the situation prevents travel to the countries in question.
• Virtual Internships: UAI is actively engaging with our partners to explore virtual opportunities as an alternative to traditional internships. Please see our Global Learning without Travel page for more details.

Scholarships and Funding:

• Students who received an Individual Award or Endowed Award in the 2020-21 competition are eligible to transfer their award to a program in 2021-22.
• Education Abroad Individual Award, Edmonton Consular Corps Award and Endowed Award funding for the 2021-2022 academic year is still scheduled to proceed, with a funding deadline of February 1, 2021, for programs abroad between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022. 
• The Killam Fellowships Program will have a deadline in mid-January 2021 for exchanges taking place in the 2021-2022 academic year.