Coming to a new place or attending a new school can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we have plenty of resources for you, and friendly staff who are eager to help. Attending orientation is a perfect way to start your first semester and prepare you for university life in Canada.

In addition to NSO, you get to attend the International Student Orientation (ISO)! While we can’t all be together in person, we can still come together virtually! Sign up for the online ISO here!

During ISO you will learn more about what life at the University of Prince Edward Island and in Canada is like- as well as all of the great support and assistance programs we offer! If you’re concerned about starting your degree online or making friends, we have you covered. The relationships made at orientation can last throughout your university career and beyond. Wherever you will be this fall, we hope you can be present and make the most of your time by attending both Orientations! For those of you who are able to come to campus, we may be able to hold a few small in-person sessions if we can do so and meet social distancing requirements.

Topics covered at the orientation include:

  • Immigration information
  • COVID-19 & border travel information
  • UPEISU’s health insurance
  • Transition to the Canadian culture
  • Academic and social support & information
  • Housing support & information
  • How to make friends
  • Fun social events, activities, & clubs
  • The bus system
  • And much more!

We will be covering a lot but we’ll make sure you leave orientation feeling fresh and prepared to tackle your UPEI degree!

Coming to a new country and a new school can be hard. Luckily, UPEI has the International Buddy Program which pairs you up with a returning student. You can sign up here: http://projects.upei.ca/buddyprogram/

Get in touch with other international students, both new and returning, on the International Student Facebook page.

We can’t wait to meet you this fall (online or in person)!! We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns you have. Visit us on the 4th floor of Dalton Hall when you come, or call at 902-566-0576.

– Richelle, Sarah, Erika and the rest of the ISO team