Frequently Asked Questions

The Be World Ready program at Niagara College prepares you for global success through education, exchange, and international experience. This program offers you the opportunity to experience culturally diverse learning environments, understand different perspectives and connect practical skills with a global mindset to help you launch your career.

All participants are required to hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return to participate in any opportunity involving outbound travel.

You are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) and/or ETIAS on your own. Be World Ready is unable to tell you what visa and/or ETIAS you require and how to apply. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation as needed to apply for a visa. While Be World Ready is not able to advise or guide you in a heightened level of detail through any particular visa process, you may consider hiring a travel visa service to assist you with the visa application process. Please note that Be World Ready and Niagara College do not endorse any third-party vendors, nor have any influence or control over any outcomes or services rendered. Be World ready cannot apply for a visa on behalf of any participant.

All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the global experience, to ensure that there are no challenges with re-entry to Canada. It is recommended that the international student book an appointment to meet with their International Student Advisor to confirm Canadian Immigration requirements are valid.

Depending on your destination country, we encourage you to book an appointment with a travel health professional regarding any additional vaccinations and medications you may need.

The way that funding is released is dependent on the type of Be World Ready opportunity. Please visit the relevant Work Abroad, Global Learning Experience, or Summer Institute opportunity FAQ section below to learn more.

Students have the potential to travel and receive grant funding through Be World Ready up to 2 times; students can travel once on either a Global Learning Experience, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange, and they can potentially travel again for a Work Abroad opportunity (if eligibility requirements are met – please note that if more applications are received than work abroad grants available, priority will be given to those who have never travelled on any type of Be World Ready experience before). So, if you’re wanting to travel on a Global Learning Experience, note that participation on a GLE is permitted only for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready GLE, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange since beginning their studies at Niagara College.

The safety of those travelling with Be World Ready is our number one priority. Be World Ready supplies you with thorough risk management training as part of your pre-departure training, and for group opportunities, BWR monitors destination country risk levels as communicated by the Government of Canada. To learn more about safety abroad, contact [email protected].

Use your break week wisely and participate in a Global Learning Experience.

A Global Learning Experience is a short-term study abroad group experience that incorporates both vocational and cultural elements, while visiting some of the world’s most famous sights! All GLEs occur during Niagara College’s scheduled break weeks to ensure that students do not miss any classes.

These experiences are led by our trained Niagara College staff leads, and may be made up of students from across NC – a great way to make new friends and networks!

Many of our GLE’s are customized for specific Schools and programs at Niagara College, allowing students to apply the skills learned in the classroom in a real-world setting.

While we travel to some iconic destinations, this is no vacation. It’s an accelerated and high value educational program abroad, and it counts by showing up on your transcripts and your resume.

Items included in the Global Learning Experience vary from one opportunity to another. You are encouraged to review the inclusions section on each GLE opportunity page. However, GLEs typically include round-trip airfare (where applicable), shared accommodations, travel insurance, and program fees as outlined in the itinerary. Participants can expect to purchase some meals on their own and will need to bring spending money for any souvenirs, tips, extra excursions, incidentals, transportation that is not included, or items of a personal nature.

No. All aspects noted as included in the overall cost of the selected Global Learning Experience are mandatory with no exceptions made. Our GLEs are developed using group pricing and we cannot deviate from the inclusions by individual request.

No. Students cannot book their own flight in any way or alter the flights confirmed by Be World Ready. The round-trip flights as confirmed by Be World Ready are part of the package pricing, and the group is to travel to and from the destination country together.

These are our Niagara College Global Learning Experience policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

Each Global Learning Experience destination has different accommodation providers or themes. Accommodation types that are used may include a combination of dorm-style rooms, homestays, tourist class hotels (shared with a roommate), hostels or bunkhouses. Private accommodation options are not guaranteed.

Rooms will vary in style on each experience; however, they are commonly twin share (2 people to a room with separate beds, where possible).

Single supplements (having a room on your own) may be requested at the time of registration. All costs associated with a single supplement request will be incurred by the participant and paid by the timeframes and instructions provided by the vendor.

Students will be given the opportunity to meet their fellow travellers before the deadline to submit their roommate requests. Be World Ready does their best to accommodate rooming requests, but please note that final rooming arrangements are subject to room occupancy requirements and availability. A rooming list will be created by Be World Ready staff and shared with our accommodation providers before your departure. All participants will be emailed and will have the opportunity to identify their preferred roommate(s). While we will make every effort to ensure all preferences are met, we cannot guarantee it.

No. Only full-time enroled students at Niagara College can participate in a Global Learning Experience. Applications are accepted and based on our outlined eligibility requirements.

In addition to regular communications shared with participants leading up to the departure of their GLE, Be World Ready requires students to enrol in the Be World Ready course (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103).

During the course, students will be presented with the overall expectations of the experience as well as in-depth details concerning their itinerary, and all the information to prepare for a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience abroad.

During their time abroad, students will be able to communicate with their GLE staff leads directly, 24/7, with any questions or concerns.

Eligible students who successfully apply for the Global Learning Experience will be instructed to make a one-time payment directly to the BWR Payment portal. Students will require an accepted form of payment to complete the registration. The accepted cards are VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, Debit Visa and Debit MasterCard.

Payment plans and deposits cannot be accommodated.

No. Students will not directly receive grant money as the full value of the grant has already been applied to the final payment to offset the total cost of the learning experience abroad. The grant amount is standard across all programs, and the amount that students pay for a GLE is the remaining balance after the grant has been applied. For students who do not complete all grant requirements by established deadlines (including the time of submission), the full grant amount may be charged directly to their student account. Details on grant requirements will be shared with you as part of the mandatory Be World Ready (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103) course, which all students participating in a Be World Ready Global Learning Experience must enrol in and successfully complete to receive funding.

No. The purpose of the grant funding is to help students gain global competencies that they would not otherwise be exposed to, and as such, travelling to a home country destination does not support this goal.

Enrolment in the BWR course is a mandatory part of the GLE experience. If you do not have any remaining general or liberal electives left to complete in your program, you would be subject to the Tuition-Credits Exceeding Load fee, which is approximately $270.00 for the BWR course, and subject to change at any time. Please note that the fee would vary depending on your total credit load and academic status (e.g., part-time or full-time). This Tuition-Credits Exceeding Load fee would be assessed on your student account for the term you will be enroled in the BWR course.

This is an international employment opportunity approved by your academic area that allows you to gain professional experience while immersing yourself in a new cultural environment. It offers students the chance to develop their intercultural competencies, expand their global mindset, and build meaningful connections.

Your Work Abroad opportunity must first be approved by your academic area (Co-op Consultant). Once this approval is confirmed, Be World Ready will connect with you to complete pre-departure training, review submission requirements, and arrange GuardMe insurance to help you prepare for your Work Abroad experience.

The amount of funding you can expect to receive depends on the duration and location of your Work Abroad placement.

For a 4-month placement in the United States (excluding the Disney/University of Florida agreement), you may receive up to $1,000, minus the cost of GuardMe insurance.

For a 4-month placement outside of Canada and the United States, the maximum funding is up to $2,000, less the GuardMe insurance cost.If you are completing an 8-month placement in the United States, you may receive up to $2,000, also reduced by the cost of GuardMe insurance.

Grants will be released upon successful completion of your work abroad experience.

Upon your return, Be World Ready will notify Financial Aid to release the grant to your student account. If your account has no outstanding balance, you may request a refund to your personal bank account through the Student Accounts department. If there is an outstanding tuition balance, the grant will first be applied to that amount, and any remaining credit, if applicable, can then be requested to be released to your personal bank account.

Yes, all students who are actively enroled in a program at Niagara College may consider exploring a Co-op or work placement abroad. All international students enroled at Niagara College and wishing to explore work abroad opportunities, outside of Canada, must connect with their International Student Advisor (ISA) to learn more about potential impacts on their current and future immigration plans. They must also receive necessary approvals through their Co-Op Consultant/Placement Officers. Note, BWR grants are not available to students with work placements in their home country.

Yes, you are expected to coordinate your own flight arrangements.

Except for Disney WA participants or some other specialized programs, BWR provides mandatory travel insurance for your opportunity abroad and no funding will be provided until all necessary information has been collected to order this on your behalf. Insurance cards will be emailed to you directly from GuardMe. There is no cost to you for this insurance. To learn more about the insurance coverage offered, please review the policy description.

For students participating in the Disney Work Abroad opportunity, you will purchase your travel insurance out of pocket through the University of Florida. However, please ensure that you have coverage for the gap between the end of your academic term and the start of your co-op placement.

You are responsible for arranging your own accommodations. It is recommended that you speak with your employer to find appropriate housing options. Some employers may offer housing as part of the employment package, others may require you to find housing separately, but they may have recommendations to reliable resources that would be helpful to you.

This depends on the housing situation, visa requirements, and employer expectations. We recommend you discuss this with your Co-op Consultant, as well as your employer to determine what they feel is appropriate and viable. If it’s determined to be a possibility, you will need to determine visa requirements for anyone planning to travel with you.

BWR will provide you with an outline of where we can support you with your work abroad opportunity, and what you are responsible for. BWR will provide you with training modules to complete that will help you to prepare for your travels. BWR will provide you with support by answering questions on an ongoing basis via email or in-person meetings. Some meetings may involve your Coop Consultant, or Placement Office, should it be deemed appropriate and beneficial to the discussion topic.

Be World Ready is unable to tell you what visa you require and how to apply. While Be World Ready is not able to advise or guide you in a heightened level of detail through any particular visa process, you may consider hiring a travel visa service to assist you with the visa application process. Please note that Be World Ready and Niagara College do not endorse any third-party vendors, nor have any influence or control over any outcomes or services rendered. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation, as needed

Your Co-op Consultant is responsible for approving your co-op and ensuring you are meeting the requirements of your co-op. Be World Ready is not able to provide guidance on coop related matters and does not match students with employers or job boards.

BWR is unable to provide assistance in obtaining other official documentation required by your employer or the visa process, such as police checks.

A Semester Exchange is an immersive study abroad opportunity that allows you to spend one academic semester at Niagara College.  This experience gives you the chance to learn in a culturally diverse environment, explore new perspectives, and develop global competencies while continuing to earn academic credit toward your home university’s program.

Partner Institution students, accepted on tuition-free exchanges, only pay for public transportation per term and for international medical insurance per term. The correct amounts will be shared with you in your Letter of Acceptance (LOA).

*Material fees will be assessed upon timetable selection as these fees are course related.

Non-partner students pay a reduced semester tuition rate, medical insurance, and miscellaneous fees. For more information, please email [email protected]

No. All prices are average estimates and are subject to change annually.

*Material fees will be assessed upon timetable selection as these fees are course related.

Exchange semesters are offered twice a year. The Fall Term runs from September to December, and the Winter Term runs from January to April.

Niagara College offers a variety of accommodation options to support the diverse needs of incoming students. These include Homestay, which is the recommended option for a culturally immersive experience; Landing Pad, designed for short-term stays upon arrival; Off-Campus Living, which allows students to independently arrange housing in the Niagara region; and On-Campus Residence, depending on availability. For more information, please visting our housing website: https://international.niagaracollege.ca/student-services/housing-options/

Yes. This is included in your fees breakdown. The bus pass covers one term of regional transit. You cannot OPT-OUT. The bus pass is mandatory for all Niagara College students.

To apply for an exchange at Niagara College, first meet with your home institution’s study abroad office to discuss your academic plans. Once your eligibility and course alignment are confirmed, your home institution will submit your semester exchange nomination to BWR, who will then work with you directly on the application process and next steps.

The application deadlines for exchange opportunities at Niagara College are April 1 for the Fall Term and August 1 for the Winter Term.

A Semester Exchange is an immersive study abroad opportunity that allows you to spend one academic semester at a partner institution. This experience gives you the chance to learn in a culturally diverse environment, explore new perspectives, and develop global competencies while continuing to earn academic credit toward your Niagara College program.

Semester exchanges take place during a full academic term, which is typically 4 months in duration. Not all international partners academic calendars align with Niagara College’s and this must be assessed prior to selecting a specific destination and partner.

Our goal is to ensure that your time abroad enhances your studies at Niagara College and keeps you on track with your scheduled program completion.

Niagara College has multiple partners and destinations for a semester exchange. While you may be drawn to completing your exchange in a specific destination, we must first work together to assess the academic alignment against your course and program requirements.

If there is a destination you’d like to explore, and it’s not on our list, reach out to [email protected] to book an appointment.

Yes, a Learning Agreement is required to confirm course equivalencies between Niagara College and the partner institution that you will be completing your exchange with. Be World Ready works with the academic area at NC to review and sign the agreement before it is finalized and filed.

Courses vary based on availability at the academic partner from term to term.

The amount of funding you can expect to receive depends on the duration and location of your Semester Abroad experience.

For a 4-month semester abroad experience outside of North America, the maximum funding is up to $2,000, less the GuardMe insurance cost.

Grants will be released upon successful completion of your semester exchange experience.

Upon your return, Be World Ready will notify Financial Aid to release the grant to your student account. If your account has no outstanding balance, you may request a refund to your personal bank account through the Student Accounts department. If there is an outstanding tuition balance, the grant will first be applied to that amount, and any remaining credit, if applicable, can then be requested to be released to your personal bank account.

No, with the exception of some destination or partner specific insurance provider requirements, Be World Ready will purchase your international travel insurance on your behalf through GuardMe insurance.

All students who are actively enroled in a program at Niagara College can be considered to complete a semester exchange. However, the academic partner and programs must align to meet your graduation goals.

All international students enroled at Niagara College and wishing to explore outbound semester exchange opportunities beyond Canada are encouraged to connect with their International Student Advisor to learn more about potential impacts on their current and future immigration plans before making their final decision.

Be World Ready is unable to tell you what visa you require and how to apply. While Be World Ready is not able to advise or guide you in a heightened level of detail through any particular visa process, you may consider hiring a travel visa service to assist you with the visa application process. Please note that Be World Ready and Niagara College do not endorse any third-party vendors, nor have any influence or control over any outcomes or services rendered. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation, as needed.

In many cases with semester exchanges, our academic partners will provide you with guidance on the your visa needs, while also supplying necessary documentation to support your application.

Yes, you are expected to coordinate your own flight arrangements.

A Summer Institute is a short-term academic program that combines focused study with cultural exploration. Offered during the summer months, it allows you to deepen your knowledge in a specific field, engage with experts, and experience a new cultural environment without interrupting your regular academic schedule.

Students will receive the grant after successful completion of the  Summer Institute opportunity and the completion of all outlined grant requirements shared by BWR.

Each Summer Institute offering will have its own unique application process and deadlines. Visit our Summer Institutes page and the specific opportunity to learn more.

For a Summer Institute experience outside of North America, the maximum funding is up to $1,500, less the GuardMe insurance cost.

Grants will be released upon successful completion of your Summer Institute experience.