New students starting Winter 2021 FAQs

Effective December 1st, foreign nationals who have been in any of these countries within the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada:

• Botswana
• Egypt
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

Given the holiday season and the early start to winter term, we are strongly encouraging all students travelling from outside of Canada (who are not affected by flight bans) to arrive prior to December 20 if possible. Western International will be closed from December 23 to January 2, but we will have staff continuing to support and check on students arriving and/or in quarantine, and to respond to calls for urgent assistance. Our welcome team can be reached at iescwelcome@uwo.ca.

Regardless of vaccination status, all Western students arriving from outside the country (including international students, Canadian citizens and permanent residents) are required to complete all necessary requirements for entry to Canada including registering their mandatory travel and quarantine plan with Western, and registering their arrival details through the ArriveCAN app PRIOR to arrival in Canada. It is recommended they complete their mandatory travel and quarantine registration with Western at least two weeks in advance of travelling.

As of November 30, the Government of Canada has expanded the list of vaccines that travellers can receive to be considered fully vaccinated for the purposes of entering Canada, and therefore eligible to be exempt from quarantine. This list includes the following vaccines:

• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
• Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
• AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
• Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
• Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
• Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

However, as of January 15, 2022, federal requirements will not permit international students who are 18 years or older, who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine other than the seven types mentioned above, to enter Canada. Therefore, all international students in this situation MUST plan to arrive in Canada no later than January 14, 2022. For more information, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Please note students may be required to obtain additional vaccines upon arrival to Canada to comply with Western University’s vaccination policy, even if they are declared exempt from quarantine requirements upon entry to Canada.  See details below.

If students meet all the eligibility criteria, they can now complete up to 100% of their program online from outside Canada and count the online study time from March 2020 to August 31, 2022 towards a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Students should check with their department/faculty if online options are available.

If students take the online options for their program and can’t travel because they are still waiting for approval of their study permit or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)/Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), they won't be able to get a refund for completed terms if they are unable to come to Canada to complete their program in the future. Western University will not be liable for any losses resulting from a student’s failure to qualify for a study permit, or from their inability to otherwise complete the program due to immigration restrictions. If students need university employment, they will not be able to get a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) without a valid study permit, and without a valid SIN the university cannot employ them.

Specific immigration questions pertaining to individual situations may be directed to our International Student Advisors at iesc@uwo.ca or through scheduling an advising appointment.

Yes, you can register and start your program. 

If students meet all the eligibility criteria, they can now complete up to 100% of their program online from outside Canada and count the online study time from March 2020 to August 31, 2022 towards a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Students should check with their department/faculty if online options are available.

For more information about Postgraduate Work Permits, please contact Western International at iesc@uwo.ca

You will be obliged to provide official/final transcripts. If you are experiencing difficulty in obtaining these documents, please contact the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Admissions Office by email to explore your options. Electronic transcript submission is acceptable, however, it must be emailed directly to Western from Institution’s Registrar Office. The email address to directly submit electronic transcripts is: gradapps@uwo.ca.

Deferrals can be granted to May 2021 (including those who deferred from Sept. 2020 to Jan. 2021). Beyond May 2021, we cannot issue a deferral, as a new application is required. We can, however, move the $500 deposit to September 2021.

Students originally admitted for Winter 2021 must request a deferral prior to January 15, 2021.

Yes, students are expected to be on campus unless an accomodation request has been granted based on travel restrictions, or health reasons. 

You will be obliged to provide official/final transcripts. If you are experiencing difficulty in obtaining these documents, please contact the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Admissions Office by email to explore your options. Electronic transcript submission is acceptable, however, it must be emailed directly to Western from Institution’s Registrar Office. The email address to directly submit electronic transcripts is: gradapps@uwo.ca.

Deferrals can be granted to May 2021 (including those who deferred from Sept. 2020 to Jan. 2021). Beyond May 2021, we cannot issue a deferral, as a new application is required. We can, however, move the $500 deposit to September 2021.

Students originally admitted for Winter 2021 must request a deferral prior to January 15, 2021.

Effective December 1st, foreign nationals who have been in any of these countries within the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada:

• Botswana
• Egypt
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

Given the holiday season and the early start to winter term, we are strongly encouraging all students travelling from outside of Canada (who are not affected by flight bans) to arrive prior to December 20 if possible. Western International will be closed from December 23 to January 2, but we will have staff continuing to support and check on students arriving and/or in quarantine, and to respond to calls for urgent assistance. Our welcome team can be reached at iescwelcome@uwo.ca.

Regardless of vaccination status, all Western students arriving from outside the country (including international students, Canadian citizens and permanent residents) are required to complete all necessary requirements for entry to Canada including registering their mandatory travel and quarantine plan with Western, and registering their arrival details through the ArriveCAN app PRIOR to arrival in Canada. It is recommended they complete their mandatory travel and quarantine registration with Western at least two weeks in advance of travelling.

As of November 30, the Government of Canada has expanded the list of vaccines that travellers can receive to be considered fully vaccinated for the purposes of entering Canada, and therefore eligible to be exempt from quarantine. This list includes the following vaccines:

• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
• Moderna (Spikevax, mRNA-1273)
• AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, COVISHIELD, ChAdOx1-S, AZD1222)
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)
• Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
• Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells)
• Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

However, as of January 15, 2022, federal requirements will not permit international students who are 18 years or older, who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine other than the seven types mentioned above, to enter Canada. Therefore, all international students in this situation MUST plan to arrive in Canada no later than January 14, 2022. For more information, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Please note students may be required to obtain additional vaccines upon arrival to Canada to comply with Western University’s vaccination policy, even if they are declared exempt from quarantine requirements upon entry to Canada.  See details below.

If students meet all the eligibility criteria, they can now complete up to 100% of their program online from outside Canada and count the online study time from March 2020 to August 31, 2022 towards a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Students should check with their department/faculty if online options are available.

If students take the online options for their program and can’t travel because they are still waiting for approval of their study permit or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)/Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), they won't be able to get a refund for completed terms if they are unable to come to Canada to complete their program in the future. Western University will not be liable for any losses resulting from a student’s failure to qualify for a study permit, or from their inability to otherwise complete the program due to immigration restrictions. If students need university employment, they will not be able to get a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) without a valid study permit, and without a valid SIN the university cannot employ them.

Specific immigration questions pertaining to individual situations may be directed to our International Student Advisors at iesc@uwo.ca or through scheduling an advising appointment.

If you are not permitted entry into Canada due to flight ban, then you can begin your program online in January 2021. 

Yes, you can register and start your program.

If students meet all the eligibility criteria, they can now complete up to 100% of their program online from outside Canada and count the online study time from March 2020 to August 31, 2022 towards a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Students should check with their department/faculty if online options are available.

For more information about Postgraduate Work Permits, please contact Western International at iesc@uwo.ca

You will be obliged to provide official/final transcripts. If you are experiencing difficulty in obtaining these documents, please contact the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Admissions Office by email to explore your options. Electronic transcript submission is acceptable, however, it must be emailed directly to Western from Institution’s Registrar Office. The email address to directly submit electronic transcripts is: gradapps@uwo.ca.

You must consult with your Supervisor and Graduate Program. A deferral of your program could influence your funding package and/or project availability.

Your funding package will remain the same but there are restrictions with regards to the access to funds. Please contact your Graduate office for more details.

If you do not have a study permit and a Canadian Social Insurance Number, you cannot be employed.

Students originally admitted for Winter 2021 must request a deferral prior to January 15, 2021. However, you must consult with your supervisor first before requesting admission deferral.

Yes, students are expected to be on campus unless an accomodation request has been granted based on travel restrictions, or health reasons. 

You must consult with the Graduate Program and your supervisor to discuss how to continue their program remotely.

You will be obliged to provide official/final transcripts. If you are experiencing difficulty in obtaining these documents, please contact the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Admissions Office by email to explore your options. Electronic transcript submission is acceptable, however, it must be emailed directly to Western from Institution’s Registrar Office. The email address to directly submit electronic transcripts is: gradapps@uwo.ca.

You must consult with your Supervisor and Graduate Program. A deferral of your program could influence your funding package and/or project availability.

No, your funding package will remain the same.