Transfer into Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Transfer is usually possible, although space can sometimes be limited. As a result of your transfer you may have to backtrack quite a bit to meet your new program requirements. To apply for a transfer you must contact the Undergraduate Chair, and cc. J. Brown the Program Assistant outlining your current academic discipline and standing, your future academic objectives, and why you want to transfer. In order for us to review your transfer request we require permission from you to access your latest transcript. Acceptance is typically based on academics and the availability of space in the program.
Take a Professional Industrial Internship Year
(Applied Science and Career Services pages)
We believe that industrial experience is a very valuable part of an engineering education, therefore we will support an internship application from any student in good standing providing they meet the criteria on the application form; note that a review of the students academic transcript is necessary for this request. Forms and detailed information can be found in Career Services, and when the student has completed their part of the form they are to be dropped to the attention of J. Brown in the MECH Office who will request the approval of the Undergraduate Chair. The student will then be notified that the forms are ready for pick-up for delivery to the Internship Office.
Take an Academic Exchange Year
Approved Academic Exchanges that are applied for and approved by the Faculty Office are a great way for students to travel and see the world, at the same time being able to work on completing their program degree requirements at Queen's. Details can be found here on the Applied Science Exchange page. If you decide to go away on an exchange, you should ensure that you plan your courses carefully and try as best as able to cover the core requirements for the year you will be away. Note that it is typical that approved exchange students who go away for one or both terms, are typically concerned with not being able to find all their courses, especially their core option courses at the exchange school that ideally match their program required courses at Queen’s. If this is the case, you may wish to look for equivalent technical elective and complementary study courses at your exchange school instead of core to try to avoid too many missed courses in your Queen’s program alleviating a program overload on your return. Another route you may choose to take is to take a lighter exchange course load and on your return take approved summer courses (typically comp study courses).
It is imperative that you apply for these substitutions plenty in advance of your exchange departure to ensure the approvals are in place prior to your course registration at your exchange school. It is also important to request a few more courses than you expect to take as many times after arriving, curriculum and timetables change making it difficult, or sometimes impossible, for students to take all the courses they once felt they could. Having a few more courses acts like an insurance for any surprises you may encounter on arrival at your exchange school.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
On your return there is no guarantee the core courses you require from a different program year level do not conflict with other courses they may choose to take …. especially the case if third year courses have been held off until the students fourth year. You will most likely have to be quite creative in creating your timetable but it generally always works out.
It is required that all students look at the detailed course descriptions at the school of their exchange and try to match them up with as many Queen’s courses as possible, and clearly indicate which, in their opinion, could be requested to the Academic Progress Chair as direct substitutes. Note that it is the students responsibility to obtain the approval of the Queen's course instructor prior to the package being submitted. Once complete, please bring the detailed course descriptions and all pertinent information requested on the signed substitution applications (one application for each requested course) to J. Brown (or send via email) and I will meet with the MECH Undergraduate Chair who will then sign off at dept. level. Once this task has been completed, the COMPLETE substitution package is sent up to the Faculty Office, and if approved by the APC, an email letter of approved substitutions will be sent to the student for their exchange. Note that the application processing fee is waived for all approved exchange students.
Link to the substitution application is here:
I also have a binder tediously compiled by Ms. Shane in the Faculty Office of previously granted substitutions at many schools of exchange that can be viewed. Note though that regardless of any recent prior approvals, all requests must be requested on a new form for your individual exchange as course curriculums change frequently.
Last, but certainly not least, most students can manage to graduate in the four years if they wish, but many choose to enjoy their exchange to the fullest, take a lighter course load while away, and come back for a fifth year, or a half year, to complete their program requirements. Students are encouraged to consult their Year Advisor or Undergraduate Chair with any concerns they may have regarding their program requirement path with respect to their exchange.