ĢAV

Skip to main content
Dal.ca Home
Dal.ca Home

Apply now

There are a few steps you need to take to apply for an exchange to ĢAV, including registering your travel.

Step 1: Talk to your home university

To come to ĢAV on exchange, you must be formally nominated by your home university. Please consult with the International Centre, Study Abroad Office, or Exchange Coordinator at your home university for guidance on how to come to ĢAV as an exchange student.

Once you have been nominated by your home university, the next step is to complete ĢAV’s inbound exchange student application by the following deadlines:

February 1: exchange students coming to ĢAV for the summer term (May–August)

May 1: exchange students coming to ĢAV for the fall term (September–December) OR for the full academic year (fall + winter)

October 1: exchange students coming to ĢAV for the winter term (January–April) OR for the winter + subsequent fall term

Step 2: Start your application

  1. Create an account in .If you are accessing the application portal for the first time, select the “Registration” option. Make sure to use the same email address for the registration set-up and the application form.

  2. Check your email. You will receive a confirmation email from ĢAV International Centre (noreply@dal.moveonca.com). Add this address to your safe senders list to prevent future emails from the same address going to your Junk or Spam folder.

  3. Verify your account. Inside the email, click on “Account Activation” to complete the registration process. Please note that at least one special character is required for your password (e.g. ! @ # $ % ^ & *).

  4. Start the application. Once you have set your password, log in again to the portal. To access the exchange application, select “Start” next to “Application for Incoming Exchange Students.”

See the application tips section below for more information.

Required documentation

The following documents are required for your application:

  • Official transcript (PDF file only)

  • A nomination letter from your home university. In some cases, your home university will nominate you directly. In other cases, your home university will provide you with a nomination letter. For students in the latter group, please include a copy of your nomination letter as part of your application.

Step 3: Apply for a study permit or TRV/eTA

Depending on your citizenship, you may need a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. This is separate from a study permit.  

Exchange students who are coming to ĢAV for less than six months do not need a study permit, but they do need a TRV or eTA. They will have to apply for this separately. 

Exchange students who are coming to ĢAV for six months or longer need a study permit. They will automatically receive a TRV or eTA as part of their study permit application. No separate application is required.    

U.S. citizens are the only foreign nationals who are exempt from the TRV/eTA requirement. All other foreign nationals require either a TRV or eTA.

Learn more about study permits

Application tips

The application form is a simple, straightforward process. However, here are some tips to make the process even easier: 

  • Be sure to save your progress. For security purposes, the application closes after a certain amount of time.
  • Click “mark as complete” at the end of each page. You cannot submit your application form unless all pages are marked as complete.
  • No changes can be made after submitting applications. Double check that all information is correct.
  • After successfully submitting the application, you will receive a confirmation email that provides you with information regarding next steps. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at exchanges@dal.ca.

ĢAV Letter of Admission

Once your exchange application has been submitted and processed, we will send you Letter of Admission by email. You can use that Letter of Admission to apply for a study permit or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA).

Working in Canada

As an exchange student, you can work on or off campus (up to 24 hours a week) if you have a post-secondary study permit with work eligibility stated on it and you are registered in a full-time course load. If you are going to study at ĢAV for only one term, you still need to apply for a study permit.

In your study permit application, it's important that you include a letter of explanation to clarify why you are applying for a study permit for one term of study. If you receive approval for a study permit and wish to work on or off campus during your studies, we strongly encourage you to verify that the study permit states eligibility to work on and off campus when it is issued to you at the airport.

Learn more about working in Canada while on exchange

Contact the ĢAV International Centre

The International Centre provides support services, resources, and immigration advising to international students on all our campuses, manages our exchange and study abroad programs, and acts as a social and cultural hub in Halifax. Meet with one of our advisors or stop in to attend one of our regular social events.

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (UTC-04:00)

Phone: +1-902-494-1566