Dal Study Abroad

A postcard has arrived from Leeds, England 📨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Sometimes the biggest part of going abroad is not just discovering a new place, but discovering more about yourself. This postcard from Leeds is a reminder that living in a new country on your own can be challenging, rewarding, and full of personal growth.

Booking your flights is an exciting step in getting ready for exchange ✈️🧳

Before booking, make sure your visa is confirmed if one is required. If your visa is still being processed, it is best to wait until you have a confirmed timeline. Choosing refundable or flexible tickets can also help if your travel plans change unexpectedly.

This week’s student Q&A ✨🌍

Q: What's your advice for future students going on exchange? 🇦🇺

A: Live off campus! There are plenty of opportunities to meet other exchange students, but living off campus forced me to meet people at different events which resulted in me making some of my best friends.

This week's student takeover is Alyson Moncur-Berr! Alyson is a third-year student at Dal studying psychology and journalism. She is currently on exchange at the University of Leeds!

Here's what she has to say about her time on exchange:

Favourite memory - My favourite memories abroad have been hanging out in the kitchen planning trips and activities with my flatmates and friends, and also getting to see those trips come to life! I have been lucky enough to visit multiple countries while on exchange and they’ve been incredible but I find the small moments in your home city with friends make such a difference!

What I’ve learned - I’ve learned on exchange that even though it’s scary at first, it’s really easy to find little bits of home all over the world. Everyone wants to share what their home & culture is like and you’ll figure out that people from halfway across the world can be so similar to you!

Tips - If I could give advice to those applying, I would say to plan more than you think you have to, so you can enjoy yourself later. Write down all the important dates and forms, and make a list of things you might need, and it’ll make everything so much smoother.

Introducing the Student Exchange Ambassador initiative! 🌎✈️

We are looking for multiple returning exchange and study abroad students to join us as Student Exchange Ambassadors for the 2026/2027 academic year.

This is a volunteer-based position for students who want to contribute to international exchange and study abroad programming at Dal by sharing their experience, connecting with inbound and outbound students, and helping other Dal students prepare for their time abroad.

Ambassadors will also represent the region where they studied and may support events, provide testimonials, and contribute photos or advice for .

Communication will begin in August 2026, with in-person opportunities beginning in September. Some events may also offer virtual or hybrid options.

Interested? DM us or email [email protected] with your name, host institution, and a 250-word statement of interest by June 21st.

Are you a Dal student going abroad? Don't forget that finding accommodation is an important part of preparing for your upcoming exchange or study abroad 🏡✈️

Your host institution will usually share housing information after you are accepted and enrolled, including on-campus and off-campus options.

More information is available in the Exchange & Study Abroad Handbook.

Coming to Dal on exchange? Here’s a quick look at on-campus housing options! 🏠 🇨🇦

Living in residence can be a great way to stay close to classes, campus resources, and student life while settling into Halifax. Dal offers both traditional residences and apartment-style options, so you can choose what best fits your exchange experience.

Residence spaces for exchange students can be limited, so be sure to apply as soon as you receive your Banner number and Dal NetID.

This week’s student Q&A ✨

Q: What was the best part of your exchange experience? 🌍

A: The best part of my exchange was the lifelong friendships I made and all the amazing places I got to visit. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! ✈️🤍

This week’s student takeover is Teviah! Teviah is a fourth-year student studying International Development Studies. She moved abroad to Bergen, Norway for a winter term exchange.

Here’s what she has to say about her time on exchange:

My favourite memory from abroad was going on a week-long camping trip at the end of my semester. We rented a car, went wild camping, and explored different parts of the country.

The main thing I learned is how special it is to make friends with people from other countries. I now have some of my best friends all around the world, and that is so special to me. Putting yourself out there is always scary, but the discomfort is temporary, and it is so worth it.

Greetings from Brighton, England 📬🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

This postcard captures the new experiences that can come from studying abroad. Stay tuned as we continue sharing snapshots from Dal students exploring destinations around the world.