Queen’s University (Kingston)

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8 students per semester

Fall semester: Early September – Late December
Spring semester: Early January – Late April (Known as ‘Winter Term’) 

See the academic calendar here and choose Arts and Science.

English

Arts and Science courses are open to exchange students provided that they have the appropriate prerequisite courses. Please note that availability may be limited in some departments. Students may have the option to take courses from another Faculty; however, the majority of courses must be in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Students are not permitted to enrol in courses offered by the Faculty of Law.

The system is comparable to UCU: Queen’s has 100 to 500 levels. (400-levels are like 300-levels at UC, intended for Seniors; 500-levels are graduate courses that might sometimes be open to Seniors.) The first digit of the course code indicates the level.

You can find information on this university’s credits in the credit conversion table

Grades at Queen’s are given on a percentage scale, which converts to UC-grades as shown.
Sometimes, grades will also be given on the familiar A-F scale.

On campus (residence)

Many exchange students mention that they enjoy the convenience of staying in residence. Find more information about Queen’s residences. Please note, all residence allocations are made through a lottery system and housing in residence cannot be guaranteed.

Off-campus

The majority of upper-year Queen’s students live off-campus, and many exchange students also choose this housing option. Sometimes exchange students are able to find accommodation in a house with other Queen’s students who need an additional housemate. Finding appropriate living arrangements in Kingston can be a challenge – especially in the Fall term. It is recommended that exchange students who choose to live off-campus should come to Kingston at least one week in advance to find adequate accommodation.

One of the best off-campus housing option for exchange students is the Kingston Student Housing Co-operative (aka Science ’44 Co-op).

It is recommended that students do not sign a lease or send rent money to a landlord before arriving in Kingston. 

• On campus housing: About CAD 3,887 per term (€2,544)
• Meal plans: range between $835 – $4,040 (€547 – €2,644, more information)
• Mandatory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP): $204 per term (€137)
• Off campus housing: approximately $2,250 – 3,200 per term (€1,521 – €2,094)

More information about cost of living can be found here

During the Fall semester, there is an introduction week with many social activities called NEWTS (Newly, Exchange, World Transfer Students) Week. Find out more here. 

The International Programs Office (IPO) offers an academic orientation session at the start of each term for incoming Arts and Science exchange students. The session provides information about academic programs in the Faculty of Arts and Science, course registration, the academic culture at Queen’s, contacting professors, and the role of teaching assistants. 

The Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) runs an orientation session that covers students’ rights and responsibilities, opportunities to make the most of their time at Queen’s, the numerous student services available to make their exchange successful, as well as travelling in Canada and the United States. Information about the QUIC orientation program is available online.

The Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS), the student government representing Arts and Science students at Queen’s, runs the Exchange Buddies Program, which groups incoming exchange students with upper-year Arts and Science students. Incoming exchange students will receive an invitation to join the ASUS Exchange Buddies program once they have confirmed their acceptance to attend Queen’s.

The university campus has a large gym facility, as well as academic, social, and sports clubs, and even several museums. As exchange student you will also receive a bus pass with which you can travel for free within the city of Kingston. 

The Student Wellness Centre supports the personal, academic, and social development of students at Queen’s University by providing a range of programs and services appropriate to their needs. 

The university campus is located in the middle of Kingston, Ontario, a city of some 120,000 inhabitants, 25,000 of which are enrolled in Queen’s university. Kingston itself is located on the shores of Lake Ontario, some three hours from Montreal to the North and Toronto to the South. 

The climate in Kingston is similar to that of the Netherlands, but with colder winters and warmer summers. 

So far, students had a great time at Queen’s! The education is of a good level and teachers make sure to have very interactive lectures. Experiences with both off-campus and on-campus housing are good. QUIC is a very good help for all non-academic matters: finding housing, getting a health-insurance, etcetera. They also organise some social activities. Kingston itself is a friendly and historical town with many bars and clubs, but the campus itself also has things to do for your time off, e.g. excellent sport facilities. Students have mentioned that it can be quite challenging to get into the courses you want, but Queen's does allow students to switch courss during the first two weeks of class.