Fanshawe is a college of applied learning. This method of learning may be different from what you experience in your home country and may take some adjustment to understand the expectations, learning requirements, and evaluation methods. This section will help you prepare to succeed before your arrival!

Language of instruction

All classes at Fanshawe College are taught in English. It is not possible to take post-secondary classes and English for Second Language (EAP) classes during your exchange semester so all students must be prepared to study in English.

For undergraduate classes it is recommend that exchange students have a minimum IELTS overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands. For post-graduate classes it is recommended that exchange students have a minimum IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands.

Time in class

The number of hours you’ll spend in class each week vary by area of study and by specific courses. You may have 2, 3, or 4 hours of class per week per course. A full-time course load is between 4 and 6 courses. You may also have online course work, such as discussion assignments, required each week.

Workload and Assignments

Active learning is expected in all Fanshawe programs. You will have projects, assignments, lab work, and presentations in all of your courses. These practical aspects of your program provide opportunities to demonstrate and apply your knowledge.

The number of assignments, tests, and projects vary by course but in general, you can anticipate at least one small assignment worth 2%-10% per week in each of your classes. It is common for most courses to have a midterm and a final project and/or exam, in addition to small weekly assignments.

Credit System

Course credit units are a value assigned to a course based on the total number of hours of the course and the methods of evaluation and delivery of the course. Individual courses tend to be valued between 2-5 credits, with 1 Fanshawe Credit being equal to 2 ECTS.

For each course you complete at Fanshawe, you will receive a letter grade which corresponds to a grade point.

Letter Grade System effective September 2005

Letter

Numeric Range

Grade Point

Comment

A+

90-100

4.2

Distinguished

A

80-89

4.0

 

B+

75-79

3.5

 

B

70-74

3.0

 

C+

65-69

2.5

 

C

60-64

2.0

 

D+

55-59

1.5

 

D

50-54

1.0

Marginal

F

0-49

0

Unsatisfactory

 

Course Selection

Exchange students who have been nominated by their host institution and accepted to Fanshawe College will be contacted directly with information on how to select their courses for the term. Generally speaking, exchange students are able to select courses across a number of programs within their academic area, with some exceptions. Exchange students are not permitted to select courses from multiple academic schools.