Last Update : April 27, 2021

The plan presents the measures put in place at the Université de Sherbrooke to welcome students from abroad. It meets all of Canada's public-health requirements. Moreover, it complements the University's emergency protocol for dealing with the pandemic.

Preparedness Plan for International Students in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF - 186 Ko)

Please note that it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with all of the following instructions and to find out for yourself about the entry requirements into Canada as they may change between now and the time of your departure, depending on the evolution of the health situation in Canada and/or at your departure point.

Study permit holders are exempt from travel restrictions and may be allowed to enter Canada even during the pandemic, as long as their designated learning institution appears on IRCC’S List of Designated Learning Institutions with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan and provided that they also follow all instructions to this effect.

Before arriving

The University is in contact with all international students—both those already registered and those new to the upcoming semester—to inform them of the steps to be taken if coming to Sherbrooke or returning home, as the case may be. In addition, international students who inform us of their arrival date by email at etudiants.internationaux@usherbrooke.ca are matched with a student from the Université de Sherbrooke who can help them prepare and support them during their quarantine.

The following information is always available on the University’s website:

• Instructions and Quarantine Plan (Appendix A), developed by the University and taking into account all Government of Canada quarantine requirements, to guide the student in preparing for quarantine;
• Pre-arrival guide (Appendix B) provides students with options in Sherbrooke and Longueuil for transportation, adequate quarantine housing that complies with public-health guidelines, both on and off campus, delivery of prepared meals, groceries and basic necessities (medicine, personal-hygiene products, etc.);
• Quarantine Rules for Residences (Appendix C), for those who will spend their isolation period at the Université de Sherbrooke residences;
• Traveller’s Checklist (Appendix D), summarizing what to do and what to have on hand before leaving for Canada, upon arrival and during the period of isolation;
• Hyperlinks to the Government of Canada and Quebec requirements:
  • Health Canada
  • Health Quebec
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Travellers must also use the Declaration Form from the University to warn, prior to their arrival, that they are arriving from abroad and are quarantining themselves.

In response to pandemic-related needs, the University’s housing department has set aside 118 single rooms in four residences dedicated solely for student quarantine. These rooms, available to all Sherbrooke students, meet all public-health quarantine requirements.

Instructions and measures have been put in place to protect everyone's health and limit the spread of the virus. Any quarantined person must comply with these instructions. Visitors are prohibited from entering these residences.

When the quarantine takes place in a University residence, the housing department will contact the student before his or her arrival.

Each resident must complete the "Les essentiels de ma vie en résidences" training (Université de Sherbrooke or Estudiantine, as the case may be) before arrival. A section is devoted to the sociosanitary rules and measures in effect in the residences.

In addition, the housing department contacts students prior to their arrival asking them to buy the following:

• a thermometer
• a face covering
• cloths for disinfecting surfaces using the cleaning product provided by the residences once a month

These items may be provided to students upon arrival as required, at their expense.

Appendix C presents the quarantine rules for University residences.

When the quarantine takes place in off-campus housing, the University reminds people of the health measures to follow. A thermometer, face covering, and disinfecting cloths can be provided, if required. The arrival protocol presented in the following section is used to monitor compliance with quarantine instructions.

In addition, a temporary room will be assigned to any person who is symptomatic, requires preventive isolation (arriving from outside of Canada), has had close contact with a positive person, or has received a positive diagnosis.

Upon arrival at the quarantine site, and even before, the Université de Sherbrooke recommends the international student to contact the Université de Sherbrooke student with whom he or she has been matched., who will follow the student throughout the quarantine period. This help will have the following tasks:

• Regularly remind their charges of the quarantine rules and ensure they comply with the instructions.
• Ensure their charges can feed themselves and obtain the basic necessities. 
• Maintain regular contact with their charges to attenuate their feelings of isolation and impacts on mental health.
• Encourage their charges to make daily voluntary declarations with the ArriveCAN app and the University's declaration form if symptoms appear.

This help is essential to the general well-being of the new student, remind him of the importance of screening for symptoms, and guide him to appropriate resources. Indeed, upon arrival and for the duration of their education, international students have access to orientation and psychological support services.

• Students who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the semester must do the following:
• Report the symptoms to the University via an electronic form and then obtain specific isolation instructions.
• Be isolated in one of the single rooms provided in University residences or in their off-campus housing if the latter meets the requirements issued by Public Health.
• Make an appointment at the screening centre to get tested.
• Public Health will make recommendations to students based on the results of their screening tests.
• In case of close contact with a positive case or as recommended by Public Health, students must also be tested and then follow Public Health recommendations.