LETTER OF PERMISSION (LOP) FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDY OUTSIDE CANADA

A “Letter of Permission (LOP)” must be requested from the Office of the Associate Dean if you wish to take courses at a university which does not have a formal exchange agreement with McMaster University. Each course you intend to take elsewhere must be approved by your program counsellor/academic advisor to ensure that it will be counted for credit at McMaster University.

CHOOSING A HOST INSTITUTION:

  • Before pursuing an LOP, check with the International Student Services Office (Gilmour Hall, Room 104) to see if McMaster University has an existing exchange agreement with the institution you wish to attend. An Exchange is often an easier process than LOP.
  • You will pay tuition to the host institution not to McMaster University. Check to see if the host institution charges higher fees for students from other countries if you intend to study abroad; these fees can be 2-5 times higher than those of domestic students.
  • Ensure that the host institution provides transcripts: without a transcript McMaster University has no official record of the courses you took and grades you received. You may also need to get transcripts in the future if you apply for graduate school or employment.
  • Although McMaster University may award credit for courses you take elsewhere, other institutions may not recognize the host institution you have attended. Confirm that the institution you wish to attend is recognized and accredited. This will ensure that your courses will not be discounted by another institution.

STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Complete your LOP before you apply to the host university; you cannot get credit for courses after you take them. Get everything sorted out before you leave.
  • You are responsible for having the host institution forward transcripts to McMaster University.
  • You are responsible for informing McMaster University of any changes to your LOP (course selection, etc.) and for getting approval for course changes.
  • Withdrawal from or non-registration in courses taken on LOP must be verified by official documentation form the host institution.
  • If you wish to stay longer that you originally intended, you must contact your program counsellor/academic advisor for a new “Letter of Permission” for the new set of courses you will take.

MORE INFORMATION:

If you have further questions:
  • Also see the following webpage: Letter of Permission
  • See pages 16, 18, 21, 63, 81, 105, and 148 in the 2008/2009 Undergraduate Calendar
  • Consult your program counsellor/academic advisor
  • Check our website http://oisa.mcmaster.ca
  • Visit us in the International Student Services Office, Gilmour Hall, Room 104

 

Office of International Student Services, June 2008.

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