Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
A major highlight was definitely the academic side of my exchange. Although I ended up swapping a course at the start of the semester and the enrolment processed proved a bit stressful, it definitely all worked out in the end. One main objective I had before coming to UBC was to take as many unique courses as I could. The regular course load at UBC is 5 courses which also made is even easier to take a true variety and diversity of new courses while overseas. All of my professors had quite different approaches to teaching, but all were equally approachable and passionate about the subjects they were teaching which made the entire semester that much more enjoyable and rewarding.
My Exchange at The University of British Columbia – Vancouver
The main reason I chose UBC for my exchange was because Vancouver was a city I knew I would enjoy since I had spent time there many years prior. Because of this, the main novelty of my exchange experience was definitely studying at and visiting UBC for the first time, meeting new people on campus and rediscovering Vancouver as an adult.
The atmosphere at UBC is quite different from UoA, mostly because UBC’s campus feels like studying in your own little city as opposed to a university. The university has beaches within walking distance, an array of cafes and study spaces to try out, a rose garden and even two botanical gardens that are free for students to visit. Exploring the campus day-to-day with friends was a memorable experience on its own. Some of my favourite memories were going to the on-campus ice cream shop called Rain or Shine since they’d always have such fun and unique flavours to try. The on-campus bookstore is also a great one-stop shop for university merch and memorabilia to take home once your exchange ends.
Moving to Vancouver for my exchange was a whirlwind. The most intimidating aspect was making friends since I had heard through word of mouth that making friends in a busy city like Vancouver was difficult. If you end up living off-campus as I did, I would say your best bet is to mingle in your classes since – as cliche as it sounds – most people are in the same boat as you and looking to meet new people too. Two of my closest exchange friendships ended up starting in my History class when the three of us sat next to each other in the first week of lectures. If you are nervous about meeting new people, I’d also try reaching out to other UoA students who are going on an exchange to UBC with you. The Orientation period at UBC is very brief (only one day), so everything can feel like it’s passing in a flash. I found it nice to be in contact with other UoA students before Orientation. It took a bit of pressure off trying to meet and connect with as many new people as possible in one go.
Being in the last year of my bachelor’s degree, trying something new, academically, while on exchange was also at the forefront of my mind. Even though I did not go into my exchange with the specific course selection I was hoping for, the fact that I had to go with some of my second choices made my experience all the better since it pushed and challenged me academically. For example, as a Global Politics student, Security Studies was a subject area I decided I was not interested in early on in my degree, purely based on assumptions of what I thought it would entail. Even though the Security Studies course I took at UBC was different and challenging, the way the professor taught the course made the subject engaging and it was easy to understand how what we were learning in class could be used to decipher real-world challenges. This was just one class where I was able to envision in real time how I could potential apply what I was learning across the remainder of my degree at UoA.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Take advantage of the abundance of study spaces at UBC! My favourite buildings to study in were IKB Library, Koerner Library and the Life Sciences Centre.
- Although seeing a Canuck’s game was very fun, if you are on a budget, I would highly recommend keeping an eye out for UBC’s varsity games timetable. I was able to attend UBC’s Homecoming football game and some UBC hockey games at a very affordable price.
- If you can, I’d recommend arriving in Vancouver a couple weeks in advance so you can take advantage of BC summertime! Summer in Vancouver is super beautiful since forests, beaches and the mountains are so close by. The BC Ferry service also sails to so many surrounding islands and coastal towns. I took a day trip to Bowen Island in the summer which was the perfect little day trip!
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
- My favourite place in Vancouver is definitely the Seawall! It’s a really beautiful walking and biking track that lines the coastal downtown area. A super beautiful path to complete in the summer to stop by the beaches and equally relaxing in the winter or autumn.
- Grouse Grind was absolutely the hardness hike I have ever done, but rewards you with an amazing view at the top! If you are up for a challenge, I would highly recommend doing this on a clear day (and with a friend so you have someone to motivate you along the way!).
- Solly’s Bagelry is may favourite little food spot in Vancouver. If you get a chance to pop in, you can’t pass up getting a classic cinnamon bun or one of their bagels – specifically with dill cream cheese.
- Attend a Canucks game at Roger’s Arena! Being in the high-energy environment of the arena was so much fun.
- Blue Chip is a cafe at the heart of UBC’s campus with the absolute best cookies (I recommend the Smarties or Java cookie). Great Dane Coffee is also a must-visit with great scones and chai lattes!
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
Aside from rent, food was probably my most major expense. Vancouver has a massive array of grocery stores to choose from. I personally found No Frills to be the cheapest. I also found it helpful to shop there since its rewards card program allows you to earn rewards at No Frills and Shopper Drug Mart (a pharmacy chain that’s great for purchasing hygiene and household products on the cheaper side).
Other middle-ground supermarket options I would recommend are: Safeway or Save-on-Foods.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
My most valuable takeaway is definitely the knowledge I was able to gain through my studies at UBC. A lot of the courses I got to take while on exchange were some of the best and most insightful ones I’ve completed thus far in my degree. I would say my favourites were Security Studies, Global Environmental Politics and another on the World History of Human Rights. A robust knowledge of global human rights was something I felt like I was missing from my degree for a while so the fact that I was able to explore that specific topic in depth while abroad was super rewarding! If you are studying Humanities or Social Sciences, I’d definitely recommend giving UBC a consideration for your exchange semester.
Is there any advice you could share about accommodation options at your host university and/or in the local area?
Finding housing in Vancouver is known to be quite competitive and expensive because there are so many students. One piece of advice I would give is to definitely not lose hope if you get put on UBC’s accommodation waiting list/ housing lottery. I only got off the UBC waiting list in mid-August, but at this point I had already accepted an offer to live in an off-campus apartment. As alternatives, I’d definitely recommend joining UBC accommodation Facebook groups as soon as possible, creating a group chat with other UoA students going to UBC, reaching out to any acquaintances you have in Vancouver or talking to previous UoA students who went to UBC for possible housing connections.
Do you have any advice on what mobile phone apps and/or phone plans that were useful in your host country?
Another tip I would recommend is to keep in mind that Canadian prices appear cheaper before you convert them to NZD! Downloading a free currency converter app was a great tool to use on the go.
One aspect that I had to adjust to upon arrival was the fact that Vancouver Transport does not have a transport app like Auckland Transport does. I ended up relying solely on Google Maps for bus times which worked just as well.
One expense that I underestimated before arriving was the cost of my phone plan. Canadian phone plans are quite expensive due to Canada’s telecommunications oligopoly. I ended up settling for the cheapest phone plan I could find on short notice (at ~28 CAD/ month). If I could go back, I would have done a little bit of research beforehand or perhaps purchased an e-sim which I have heard can be more economical.