F.A.Q.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
about THE EXPLORE PROGRAM AT Bishop’s University
When is the program offered?
The spring session is from May 27th to June 28th 2013.
Our Students
How many students participate in the program?
Bishop’s University usually has between 150-180 participants per year.
What is the average age of the students?
The Explore Program at Bishop’s accepts students who are at least 18 years of age. In the past three years, 71% of our students were aged between 18-21 years old, while 29% were 25 years and older.
Where do they come from?
Most students in our English Program come from Quebec, but some may come from Ontario and we usually have a few international students.
The Levels
In what level will I be placed?
All students will have a written test followed by an oral interview test upon arrival to the program. The combined results of these tests will determine the level of the class students will attend.
Course Content
What will I learn in class?
All classes during the program offer vocabulary, grammar and conversation aspects.
Other Classes or Work
Can I attend other classes while I am attending the Explore Program?
The Explore Program is a full-time immersion program and students are not allowed to take other in-person courses while they are attending the program. Online or distant education courses can be an option but students have to realize they will have very little time between classes and activities to do anything else.
Can I work in the evening or on weekends during the program?
The Explore Program is a full-time immersion program. Students should consider that they are being paid by the Government to attend the program. Salaried work during the program is not allowed.
What kind of clothes should I bring?
Students should bring casual clothes. The final banquet is semi-formal, so be sure to bring something a little more dressy!
The Bursary
What does the bursary cover?
This is one of the most often-asked questions. The $2,000.00 bursary will cover the cost of student accommodation and meals from the first evening of the program to noon on the last day of the program. It will also cover some activities and use of course materials. The books may be purchased afterward for a nominal fee.
Pocket Money
How much money should I bring?
Students should consider their current level of spending (except for accommodation and meals) and add anywhere between 20% and 50% to feel comfortable during the program.
The Residences
What do the residences look like?
Participants will stay in double room in the MacKinnon, Pollack and Norton Residences on campus which are a few blocks from the building where classes are held.
Can a visitor come and stay a few days with me in residence?
Visitors cannot spend the night with students in the residences that are used for the program but they are welcome to contact residence services to see about availability and costs for accommodations in our other residences.
Having a guest stay overnight in one’s room may be cause for dismissal from the program.
Can I park my car at the Residence?
Yes, students may bring their car but they will have to buy a permit for the duration of the program. The cost of a permit is about $36 for the 5-weeks. Students should be aware that the use of their car during the 5 weeks is prohibited.
Can I bring my bicycle?
Yes, you can. There is a bicycle path very close to the University which leads to North Hatley.
Program Dates and Accommodation
Can I arrive early and stay at the residence before the program starts?
Yes, you can. However, students must contact residence services to check for availability and pay the per night rate on their own.
Can I arrive one day late?
No, you can’t. Students have to arrive on the first day of the program (Monday, May 27th 2013) for registration, room assignment, orientation and placement testing.
Can I leave the program early?
If students leave the program earlier than the last Friday before 12 pm, they will not receive a certificate or the university credits for the program.
How long do I have to confirm my participation in the program?
The deadline date for the Spring session (May 27 to June 28, 2013) is Friday, April 26th, 2013. Failure to confirm participation before the deadlines may result in the transfer of your bursary to another participant.
Checking In
Where do I go for check-in?
Check-in will take place at the Gait between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. For details about how to find this location, please refer to your mailing package.
Credits
How do I get credits for the course?
At the end of the program, students will receive a certificate that includes the dates of the program and the level achieved. A few weeks later, they will receive an official transcript from Bishop’s University indicating their marks.
If students wish to transfer credits for the course to another institution, Bishop’s will, upon request, send their file to the institution of choice along with a course description. This information can only be sent to institutions, not to students.
Please note that transfer of credits is not automatic, and that the decision to accept our credits is at the discretion of each institution.
It will then be that institution’s decision to give a student credits for the course. We have found that most institutions will give first or second year credits for our programme depending on the student’s level and marks. The number of credits varies with each institution, from three to six semester credits in most cases.
Banking in Lennoxville, Québec
In Lennoxville, there is a Royal Bank of Canada, a CIBC bank as well as a Caisse Desjardins. On the Bishop’s campus, we have three ATM machines – one Royal Bank, one CIBC and one TD Bank for your banking needs.
