Alexa (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at Queen’s University

I found out about the 360 International Exchange programme through a friend who had completed an exchange a few years earlier. I was finding myself in a sort of rut and was wanting a new experience and a change of scenery. I decided to apply to Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, because of the small-town experience, as well as the community aspect the school is so known for.

When I arrived to Kingston, it was everything I hoped it would be. Coming from the Kiwi Winter into Canadian Summer is so refreshing and lovely! There were so many activities to do, with some of my favourites being the summer markets, paddle boarding on the lake, visiting Wolfe Island, and swimming at the Pier. The pier is where all Queen’s students go to swim at the lake. One of my favourite parts of my experience at Queen’s was the Orientation Events. Queen’s has the largest student-run orientation programme in all of Canada, and it really shows! To name a few events, there was ‘Pizza at the Pier’, ‘Paint Party’, ‘Tamming Ceremony’, ‘Salsa in the Square’, and the list goes on! These events made making friends so much easier, and I met people in that week that I can now call some of my dearest friends.

Regarding accommodation, I did not have the option this year to live in residences, so had to find accommodation on our own. This was the most stress-inducing part of the exchange, but I got very lucky and was able to find someone to sublet off while she was on exchange, and have lived with 3 Canadian girls, who made my experience so exciting. The student housing district in Kingston is very close to the campus and the downtown area, with everything you need within a 20-minute walk. It is also completely full of students, so feels very safe. I would recommend to anyone coming to Queen’s to try and find accommodation as close to the university as possible, as this is where everyone is, so it is much easier to get around and see friends when living a few streets away from each other.

As Kingston is a smaller town, I was able to make many weekend trips to nearby cities in Canada and North America, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, New York City, Boston and Connecticut. Travelling to new places with new friends has been one of my favourite parts of my exchange, and I would recommend to everyone to try to see and do as much as possible, as it goes by so fast!

Regarding academics, I have found my courses to be really interesting and thought-provoking! They have been held in a similar way to that of UoA, which helped adapt. One of the nice things about the exchange is the pass-or-fail GPA rule. This meant that a bit of the pressure of getting high marks was taken off, and I was able to enjoy my time more. One of my favourite things about Queen’s University is the range of areas to study! My favourite place is the Douglas Library ‘Harry Potter’ room because it resembles Hogwarts!

One thing I was not ready for was how quickly the whole exchange would go! It truly feels like yesterday I arrived in Canada and all of a sudden it is time for me to pack up my things. I would recommend to anyone going on exchange to not have the mindset of ‘I’ll get round to doing that fun trip or going to that social event’ because time truly does fly, and you don’t want to end your trip with the regret of having not done everything you could.

I would recommend going on exchange to anyone and everyone! I have grown so much as a person, and have had the most incredible experiences. It is such a unique experience, that only so many people can say they have accomplished.

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

– The teachers and faculty were all very approachable, and I had no issues with asking questions and setting up meetings for clarifications on assignments, structure of the courses etc.

– I completed quite a lot of group projects, and the communication

– The equivalent ‘canvas’ at Queen’s University is called OnQ, which I found easy to navigate and get used to when arriving.

– Queen’s University have an international centre that hosts so many different activities and social events which was a great way to meet people!

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

– My favorite trip I made was to Quebec City in December. It is the most gorgeous Christmas town, and is decorated so beautifully! Also, the main language in Quebec is French, so it feels like you have traveled to a different country!

– Check out an Ice Hockey and Baseball Game!

– While the weather is nice, go check out all the Lakes! Canada is full of them, and it is so nice to go for a swim!

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Take advantage of every opportunity you have! Join that team sport, go on that last-minute trip, and say yes to everything!

2. Make sure to keep in contact with everyone you meet while on exchange! You meet so many people in the first week and it’s so easy to lose contact but don’t!

3. It can get very busy very quickly with all the traveling, events and activities so do find some downtime amongst the craziness!

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?

I budgeted $10,000 NZD for my exchange and it worked out pretty much to be perfect! It definitely depends on how much travel you want to do, whether you are going to eat out a lot etc. I found it hard to budget before arriving as I wasn’t sure how much things would cost but found it much easier after a few weeks of figuring out the cost of living. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of spending on things you may not need so it is good to keep yourself accountable. Equally, you are only on exchange once so let yourself enjoy it!

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

One thing that I developed massively throughout my exchange was my independence. The thought of traveling to a new country on my own, and having to meet new people and start a life here was very daunting, but to see what I have accomplished on the other side is so rewarding!

Read more about Alexa’s time at Queen’s University on her Ambassador Profile here!