Bridge Transition Program

CMU is proud to present the Bridge Transition Program, which offers comprehensive support for all new undergraduate international students transitioning to Canada. Designed with international student success at its heart, the Bridge Transition Program meets the needs of international students throughout their first semester in Canada.

This one semester program is designed for all undergraduate international students between the ages of 17 and 25, and includes full room and board in dormitory housing during the program. The program is mandatory for all international students who have not previously studied in Canada or the United States. It is optional for international students who have previously studied in Canada or the United States.

Core Program Elements

Three university classes over one semester (9 credit hours). If students want to add additional classes, they will be required to pay additional tuition and fees for those classes.
Weekly Bridge Workshops to be completed in the student's first semester of study. These workshops have been designed to help international students transition to studying and living in Canada.
Tools for academic success, including 25 hours of tutoring over one semester.
Double occupancy room in Poettcker Hall for one semester (see video below). Students can select other dormitory housing options, including single occupancy, for an additional fee.
Full meal plan for one semester
Access to immigration consulting
Dedicated international student supports
Student leadership opportunities
Opportunities to apply for on-campus employment
Opportunities for connection to an employment agency and support for newcomers

Program Cost

To learn more about tuition and fees for international students, please visit our tuition and fees webpage.

Tuition Deposit

Bridge Transition Program students must pay a $10,000 CAD tuition deposit to receive their Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from CMU. These documents are both required to apply for a Canadian study permit.

This tuition deposit covers the cost of our mandatory health insurance, allows registration for classes, and secures a spot in on-campus housing.
It will be applied towards tuition and fees for the first semester of study; the remaining balance will be due when the student arrives on campus.
It can be paid online after submitting all required transcripts and receiving an Eligibility Letter from CMU.
It is non-refundable, unless the student shows proof of a study permit denial. If their study permit is denied, students can request a refund of their tuition deposit minus a $100 CAD administration fee. Please do not pay a tuition deposit if you do not intend on studying at CMU.
If a student defers their admission, their tuition deposit will remain on their account to be applied in a future term.

Fall Tuition Deposit Deadline

June 30: $10,000 CAD

Winter Tuition Deposit Deadline

October 31: $10,000 CAD

View other payment deadlines here.

Admission Requirements

Students enroling in the CMU Bridge Program:

Must be admitted to CMU.
Must have received a Canadian study permit "Letter of Introduction." Confirmation of permit must be provided to CMU by uploading a scan/copy to the student application portal.
Must have paid their tuition deposit (see above).

Study Permits

NEW UPDATE:

As of January 22, 2024, most students must include an attestation letter from the province or territory where they plan to study with their study permit application.

If you apply without an attestation letter, your application will be returned to you unless you are:

a minor child in a primary or secondary school (kindergarten to grade 12)
a student in a masters, PhD, or other post-graduate program
a student applying to extend your study permit

Please refer here for more information.

Students enroling in the Bridge Transition Program:

Must have received a Canadian study permit "Letter of Introduction". Confirmation of permit must be provided to CMU by uploading a scan/copy to the student application portal. The deadline to upload your "Letter of Introduction" is August 15 (fall start) and December 1 (winter start). Students unable to submit study permits by these dates must request to defer to the next semester.
Follow the application guidelines set out by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Study Permit Applications

To start your study permit application and create an online account:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires students who are minors to have a permanent resident or Canadian citizen custodian in Winnipeg. Minor students must find their own appointed person to serve as their custodian. CMU faculty and staff are unable to provide custodianship support for any of our minor students. We also cannot advise or assist students in seeking custodians.

To learn more about minor student custodianship, please refer to IRCC.

How to Apply

Printed from: www.cmu.ca/admissions/international/bridge-program

"The workshops truly helped me to understand a little bit more of how Canadian Society works, the ways that it is similar and also the ways that it is vastly different from anything we are accustomed to, it has helped shape a very positive but also realistic view of what social, professional and academic life is like in Canada."

— Isabella Hernández (Ecuador)

"The Bridge Program has been a transformative journey marked by presentations, reflections, and personal growth. It has not only broadened my academic horizons but also equipped me with the skills and mindset necessary for success in a dynamic and interconnected
world. As I step forward from this experience, I do so with gratitude for the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the bridges built toward a future of endless possibilities."

— Shusmita Shovona (Bangladesh)

"The bridge workshop has been an amazing experience for me as a new international student and has especially helped with an easier transition into school. I appreciated the assignment and Zoom meeting we had before school started because through the meeting, I was able to get an idea of what the supervisors for this class would be like, as well as make friends with people before stepping foot on campus. After the first meeting online, I felt a wave of anxiety leave me and I suddenly was not so worried about moving to CMU. Because of the bridge workshop, I saw familiar faces on orientation day and had people I could talk to and express my feelings about the whole new experience, with people who were going through the exact same struggles as I was."

— Ethel Walemba (Thailand/Uganda)

"The Bridge workshop in overall was a highly useful course that provided a lot of resources to help us, international students integrate and have a smoother transit in Canada and at CMU. I am incredibly grateful to the Bridge staff for every resources they provided during this course for it aided me in learning a lot of things about CMU and opened new paths which I would love to explore during my journey at CMU."

— Trisha Boodhoo (Mauritius)

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