Located in southern Ontario, St. Catharines is a short drive to many of Ontario’s top attractions. Just 60 minutes from Toronto, 20 minutes to Niagara Falls, and 30 minutes from the U.S.A border.

The “Garden City”, which earned its nickname due to its 1,000 acres of parks, gardens, and trails is also the largest in Canada’s Niagara region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario.

St. Catharines has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. The average summer temperature is 25°C with winter temperatures dropping as low as -20°C. The temperature begins to drop in October/November and rise again in April/May. The Niagara Peninsula is the largest wine-producing area in Canada – this draws a great deal of tourism to the region for wine tours and tastings.

Brock University is a public research university located in St. Catharines, ON. Located in historic Niagara region, Brock offers all the benefits of a young and modern university in a safe, community-minded city with beautiful natural surroundings.

It is the only university in Canada that is located in a UNESCO Biosphere reserve located at the center of Canada’s Niagara peninsula on the Niagara escarpment. The University bears the name of Major General Sir Isaac Brock, who was responsible for defending Upper Canada against the United States during the War of 1812.

Click here to learn more about Brock University

Click here to take an interactive virtual tour of Brock University!

Exchange partners will be required to complete their nominations by:

April 15th for a September start date
October 15th for a January start date

After we receive your nomination, our office will send the nominated student our Student Exchange/Study Abroad Program Application.

Students will submit their application & supplemental documents online and once processed, official Letters of Acceptance will also be sent to the student via email.

If a student’s first language is not English, they must meet the minimum language requirements set out by the university:

Undergraduate
Graduate

• Full year (Sept-Apr): May 15th
• Fall semester (Sept-Dec): May 15th
• Winter semester (Jan-Apr): November 15th
• Spring/Summer semester (May-Aug) (Study Abroad Only): March 15th

These deadlines are the absolute latest that Brock can accept applications. Students are encouraged to submit applications well before the deadline to ensure a smooth acceptance process and provide enough time to complete any pre-departure tasks (ie. apply for on-campus residence, apply for study permits etc.)

• Completed Exchange/Study Abroad
  Application
• Official University Transcript
• English Language Proficiency score
  (if applicable)

Fees are quoted in Canadian dollars, based on one undergraduate term from 2019-20’s costs, and subject to change without notice. Bus pass not available for Spring/Summer term.

All fees are due at the beginning of each semester. Please submit payments at least a few weeks in advance as they will take time to arrive and be applied to your student account.

More information about making payments can be found on the Finance Website.

All courses at Brock University are taught in English, with the exception of various language courses that are taught predominantly in the given language.

Fall Term: September-December
Winter Term: January-April

You can view all courses that are offered at Brock via the online Course Calendar.

*Not all courses in the Calendar are offered each term.

The official Fall/Winter Timetable for the upcoming academic year will be published each Spring and students can see which courses will be offered during the term that they will be here.

D1 = Full Year course, D2 = Fall semester, D3 = Winter semester

In general, as long as a student has the necessary academic background, they are able to request permission to join courses from any faculty at Brock. Students are also able to take elective credits from a variety of departments and are not restricted to choosing courses from only one department.

Courses are subject to approval by the academic departments.

Our postgraduate Teacher Education courses (EDUC 8P**), GAME and internship/placement courses are not open to visiting students; only Education classes at the Undergrad level are open. Most upper year Accounting courses are also not open to visiting students.

Courses with “0N” in the course code are not for academic credit, and are not available for Exchange/Study Abroad students.

Some courses require portfolio application, such as musical audition, creative writing & art portfolios. These courses are generally available for visiting students to request, as long as they provide the required supporting materials on time.

Students are assessed throughout the semester and will be expected to complete written assignments, midterm tests, and final examinations. Students will be informed of the assessment schedule at the beginning of each term. “Re-sits” do not exist in Canada.

The undergraduate grading system is as follows:

A (80-100%) Indicates excellent to outstanding work
B (70-79%) Indicates competent work
C (60-69%) Indicates adequate work
D (50-59%) Indicates that the minimum requirements are barely satisfied
F (<49%) Requirements not met; no credit will be given

Students should plan to remain at Brock University until the final day of the exam period.

*The graduate grading system can be found here.

Students studying at Brock University for more than six months must obtain a Study Permit. Study periods of less than six months do not require a Study Permit. Exchange students who study at Brock for less than six months can still apply for a Study Permit.

In addition to a Study Permit, citizens of certain countries also require a Temporary Resident Visa in order to enter Canada. To find out whether you require such a Visa, please refer to the CIC Canada website.

If you do not require a Study Permit, you will be expected to show the Canadian immigration officer at port-of-entry your:

• Passport
• Official Offer Letter from Brock University
• Proof that you have enough money to study in Canada for six months.

Students have 2 options to choose from. On-campus residences or off-campus living. Our office can assist students with choosing the option best suited to them.

On-campus accommodation offers a very typical North American experience. Students can choose a private or shared room within our traditional, semi-suite and self-catered options. All students must purchase a meal-plan and have tenant insurance for their time abroad.

Click here to view our on-campus options.
Click here to view the Residence fees.
Please note: published prices are listed for 8 months. One-semester students should divide the cost in half.

The on-campus application deadline for September, including deposits, is June 1. Winter semester students can apply by December 1.

Off-campus housing provides opportunities to live in the local community alongside upper year students. St. Catharines and the surrounding cities are quite student-focused with bus service to the University. Rent can cost approximately $450-$650 a month, depending on amenities that are included.

For support in securing off-campus housing, contact our Off Campus Living Office.

All students are required to purchase a universal bus pass as part of their fees at Brock University. This pass will allow students to have unlimited travel throughout the Niagara region, for the duration of their study period

The SSC offers a variety of free support services for students to access during their time at Brock. Services include academic skills workshops, study rooms, drop-in tutoring and leadership development.

The SAS offers a variety of support services for students.

Any student who has accessibility needs (academic or otherwise) should indicate this on their application to study at Brock. We will connect the student with a support worker in the SAS so that we can plan for a smooth transition and successful exchange term.

The SAS also offers free and confidential counselling services to students.  Mental health support services are very important at Brock.

There is a medical clinic on-campus at Brock that is staffed by doctors and nurses. All students have access to this clinic as well as to the on-campus pharmacy. The clinic offers a variety of services such as medical care and treatment, health examinations, allergy injections, sexual health advising, mental health counselling and massage therapy. Mental health support services are very important at Brock.

For more information about Student Health Services, please visit their website.

Questions about UHIP can be directed to uhip@brocku.ca.  You can also find more information about coverage and rates on the UHIP website. The fee for 2017 was $204 per term.

The University Health Insurance Plan (U.H.I.P) is mandatory for all international students studying at Brock University. U.H.I.P provides basic healthcare only (general physician visits and emergency health services). It is not supplementary health insurance. Questions can be directed to uhip@brocku.ca

Supplemental health insurance (i.e. coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, etc.) is provided through the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU). Students paying tuition to Brock will automatically be enrolled in this plan and can opt-out if they wish. Exchange students who pay their fees to their home school will have the option to opt-in.

Do you need help adjusting to Canadian teaching, and learning styles? Confused by seminar structures, when to talk to a professor, or the past perfect progressive? Sign-up for our series of workshops or drop in and meet with one of our support specialists for additional guidance.

Click here to learn more.