Study abroad for a semester in the United States!
The Killam Fellowships program is an exceptional opportunity for full-time Canadian undergraduate students to pursue an exchange program at American universities. Applicants chosen through a competitive selection process are awarded a US$6000 scholarship (approx. CAD$8400) for their exchange study in the US. For information, see the website here.
Eligibility
To be considered for a Killam Fellowship to study in the United States, students must meet the following requirements at the time of application. The student must be:
a citizen of Canada,
a currently enrolled full-time undergraduate student in good standing
expected to be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in good standing during the entire 2025-2026 academic year, should they be selected for an award,
expected to receive an undergraduate degree in the Spring of 2027 or beyond,
able to meet the eligibility requirements and regulations of the home university,
proficient in English,
in possession of a strong academic record, and
able to complete all steps of the application process prior to the published deadlines.
Application
Interested students should submit the following documents by email to the Global Learning Office (Miyuki.arai@smu.ca) by December 5 2025:
Proof of Canadian citizenship (e.g., a passport scan)
Curriculum Vitae (up to 3 pages, 12-point font, 1" margins)
Unofficial academic record (i.e., a pdf printout from banner). Also submit unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions you’ve attended outside of SMU, if any.
Personal Statement (1 page, single spaced, 12-point font, 1" margins) – In your statement,
· Provide a narrative statement explaining why you want to study in the United States as a Killam Fellow.· Discuss what you hope to accomplish during your exchange in the United States and how the experience fits your current interests and future goals.
· Highlight any experiences demonstrating your ability to adapt to other cultural settings, a willingness to share with or learn from others of different national identities, and your ability to serve as an ambassador for Canada.
· Provide a unique statement.
Abroad term, expected graduation date, references and host school preferences – in a Word document, please provide:
a) Preferred abroad term, e.g., Fall term 2026, Winter term 2027, One academic year (Be aware that preference will be given to students requesting a single-term placement)
b) Month and year of completion of your current degree program
c) Name and email of 2 people who have agreed to provide an academic or a professional reference (at least one of them should be academic, e.g., a SMU professor)
d) Information about your top 3 selection of host institutions:
1) 1st pick of an American university partner (see list here) and a preliminary list of 5-6 courses you are interested in taking (see the partner website)
2) 2nd pick of an American university partner (see list here) and a preliminary list of 5-6 courses you are interested in taking (see the partner website)
3) 3rd pick of an American university partner (see list here) and a preliminary list of 5-6 courses you are interested in taking (see the partner website)
What happens after December 5, 2025:
The Global Learning Office will contact applicants who are receiving SMU’s nomination and will ask them to submit a complete Killam Fellowship application online by December 15, 2025. Guidance and instructions will be provided.
Number of students to be nominated by SMU for Direct Exchange:
Up to 3 full-year candidates (or 6 one-semester candidates)
In March 2025, selected candidates will be determined by an independent adjudication committee comprised of faculty members from participating universities and senior officials from the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America (“Fulbright Canada”). The committee will rank all candidates based on their proposed program of study, their personal statement, their record of academic achievement, and their letters of reference.
In April 2026, selected candidates will be notified of the result (and the matching of the selected candidates with host institutions).
Credits and tuition
Academic credits may be earned to the extent that they are applicable to your SMU degree. Book an advising appointment with your academic advisor to review which of the remaining program requirements may be completed on a transfer-credit basis and how the Letter of Permission Request Form works for the transfer of credits. You will pay SMU tuition at SMU for the transfer credit hours.
Please note:
The selection is highly competitive. Not all applications will be selected. Even if your application is chosen, you may not be given a placement at one of the preferred schools.
Your exchange study at an American partner is only possible when chosen as a Killam Fellow.
Questions?
Contact the Global Learning Office at Miyuki.arai@smu.ca.
