An exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger for allowing a flow of exhaust gas therethrough and a transfer of heat between the exhaust gas and a heat exchange fluid and a heat shield for shielding heat from exhaust gas flowing from an inlet of an exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger toward a plurality of conduits disposed downstream from the inlet are provided. The heat shield includes a heat shield body and a plurality of apertures extending through the heat shield body and configured to be aligned with a plurality of conduits of the exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger in a direction of flow of the exhaust gas through the exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger.