Arrival, Transition and Cultural Support

The International Student and Study Abroad Centre is a place for international students to:

• receive support with their transition into student life in Canada
• get involved in transition events and social activities
• access advising services, including immigration advice
• make friends from around the world
• attend workshops on topics such as employment in Canada and immigration
• get support throughout their studies
• inquire about supports during unexpected life events

Study Abroad, Awards and Travel Safety

ISSAC supports all USask students who wish to travel abroad with the university. Through ISSAC's various programs and services, the centre is a place where students can:

• apply to go on exchange for one or two terms
• take part in summer programs offered by our international partners
• get travel safety support and complete the University's pre-departure process
• apply for travel awards and conference funding
• get support while studying abroad with the university

Intercultural Programming

ISSAC supports the university in its internationationalization efforts also by offering intercultural programs that students can participate in. Through ISSAC, ratified student associations can:

• Become members in the Global Connections Network
• Apply for support for student-led events that are open to all students
• Take part in the planning and delivery of the annual Global Village event

• International student guide
• Students going abroad
• Incoming exchange students

International student advising:

Monday to Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00 noon Central Standard Time at the following Zoom link:

• https://usask-ca.zoom.us/j/410289734

Study abroad advising: 

This non-credit course is designed for students undertaking an intercultural experience throughout their studies (i.e. studying abroad, COIL coursework, internship abroad, service learning with an intercultural organization). The course outlines foundational concepts in intercultural studies to help them process their intercultural experience and provide them with tools to understand better how to communicate with cultures outside of their own dominant culture. It also seeks to assist students in self-reflecting and improving upon their own intercultural competencies.

Module 1 introduces the concept of culture and how to define it. The iceberg analogy for culture is used to assist students in understanding surface/external and deep/internal cultural elements.

Module 2 discusses the dimensions of culture including: power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, long/short term orientation, indulgence/restraint, and low/high context communication.

Module 3 highlights the 5Rs of cultural change: routine, reactions, roles, relationships, and reflections about yourself. This portion of the course is designed for students who are moving to another culture for a period of time and is intended to help them process transition or culture shock and to prepare them in advance for this experience.

Module 4 then introduces Intercultural Communication Competencies (ICCs) and asks the student to reflect on their own ICCs.

Module 5 asks students to reflect on the above modules during their intercultural experience.

Module 6 takes place after the intercultural experience and asks the students to reflect on what they have learned through their intercultural experience.

The modules can be delivered as stand alone modules or through mixing and matching what is relevant to the student’s experience.

Anyone (student, staff or faculty) can self-enroll and take the course by going to the Training and Development section in PAWs. To access the course directly click below.

• Introduction to ICC modules

• An opportunity for international, Indigenous and domestic students to learn and build multicultural relationships and understanding through informal and semiformal activities, workshops, sharing circles and events.
• Help students to learn about one another's identities as well as their own

• Building Bridges

A place where you can relax with friends, enjoy your lunch, study or get involved.

• Global Connections Lounge

The University of Saskatchewan is excited to announce a new financial assistance scholarship for USask International students. The SIOS International Student Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to continuing international students USask who are unable to continue or complete their studies due to financial barriers and will be available for the 2022-23 academic year until funds have been exhausted. 

Learn about eligibility criteria and complete an application by visiting the Scholarships and Bursaries channel on PAWS. Please use the following pathway within PAWS:

Academics --> Scholarships and Bursaries --> Apply --> Current Students --> SIOS International Student Scholarships

Applications for Fall Semester 2022 closed on Friday, December 2, 2022.

• Apply on PAWS

Assisting faculty with immigration matters

ISSAC is the first point of contact for faculty and staff regarding immigration matters involving international students.

• Faculty info

Travel safety

ISSAC assists faculty and staff with risk assessment and emergency planning. The centre oversees the USask pre-departure process.

• Faculty travel safety