My Exchange at The University of British Columbia – Vancouver
I went on exchange to the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, in semester 2 2023 (NZ), which was the first semester of 2023 in Canada. It was the best experience I have had in my life so far. I found out about the 360 exchange programme in 2020 through ads on campus, but it wasn’t until COVID lockdown that I looked into it more seriously (I was dying to leave the house, and Canada seemed like a good option). One thing to note for students thinking of doing an exchange, is that there is a lot of research and admin for you to do before the exchange – don’t leave it to the last minute like I did (although it is possible!).
I wasn’t nervous on the plane or when I arrived, only excited, and I believe this is because I knew I wouldn’t be all alone on the other side of the world. Before I left, I met other students going to UBC from UOA through a workshop held by 360 International, and I am very grateful for this as two of my now close friends were the very same ones I met up with on my second day in Vancouver! We spent three days sight-seeing around downtown, going to the beaches, taking the boat to Granville Island, and of course checking out the best shops and brunch spots. It’s a very pretty city! My first impression of Canada was that it looked quite American and the people were polite and kind, but not as friendly as Kiwis. After being back I can confirm that Kiwis are much more laidback and easy going.
The first day on campus blew my mind at the size of it – it is like its own village made up of university students. I really appreciated this, as compared to UOA it felt more like a university experience which I was hoping for after years of online learning. I was lucky enough to get on-campus accommodation in the student halls; I was in Fairview Crescent Residence, which is townhouses made up of flats with 4-6 people on the edge of campus. I loved living here and being so close to my classes, as well as having 3 girl flatmates who were also exchange students. I’d say I was luckier than my friends, one of whom was in the Walter Gage residence with seven others and only one toilet (I had two!), and the other who was in a studio in Marine drive – although it was a new building and very warm, she didn’t like being alone. The housing is a random lottery and there is huge demand for it at UBC, so it comes down to luck. There is one supermarket on the fringe of campus, or a cheaper one about 20 minutes away by bus. The dairy is notably worse than New Zealand and there was no lamb meat to buy, but Vancouver made up for it in the abundance of very good cinnamon rolls. I recommend the one from JJ Bean on campus.
I took three science classes at UBC (in biology and marine science), and I had expected them to be relatively difficult seeing as UBC is a top university. However, I was surprised to find that the classes were a similar level to the science classes at UOA, meaning more time to travel! (I mean study of course..). One thing that was different was the school pride and spirit – like American colleges, it is a big thing and it was very fun to take part in the university sports, notably going to a football match and an ice hockey game (another big thing in Canada). There are also many, many clubs to join. UBC is very international, and I found that I didn’t actually meet that many Canadians, but I did meet a lot of friendly Europeans which was cool to learn more about the different cultures. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of times people thought I had a British or Aussie accent, and I also wasn’t prepared for the amount of Kiwis and Aussies there were, who seemed to flock together!
The highlights of my exchange would have to be the travelling I did. Vancouver is in the perfect position to travel around British Columbia as well as travel down to America and I was lucky to have exchange student friends who wanted to travel too (including ones from UOA). I went to Vancouver Island (by ferry) and did a road trip from Nanaimo to Tofino, a small surfer town. On the way we stopped to see the salmon run and were so lucky to see bears hunting them – the closest bear was about 10 metre from us! Vancouver Island is so picturesque and there are many hikes to do and beaches to see, it really is a must if you’re in Vancouver. Speaking of hikes, Vancouver is a city that is very close to some great hikes, and one that is a right of passage is the Grouse Grind. Just like the name states, you grind up stairs for two hours and regret ever going until you see the view from the top of the entire city which is breathtaking.
I also went on a three day road trip to Seattle, which is so close to Vancouver that it is also a must. About a week later I was back near Seattle on another road trip across Washington state and Oregon during the semester break, but this time we stayed away from the city and focused on the nature. We did hikes in the Olympic National Park, stopped at many beaches down the east coast on the drive into Oregon, and had a fantastic day in the snow at Mount Rainier National Park. I really recommend anyone going to Vancouver to do a road trip into America and see both the cities and the national parks, as it was fabulous. I do also recommend having more than one driver if you’re driving the length of New Zealand as we did.
The last trip I did was to Whistler during the study break before the final exams in December. It’s an hour drive from Campus (or two by bus), so plenty of time to study on the drive there and back. Whistler is a famous ski resort that gets very busy during the ski season, and for good reason. It has a small village that is built right at the base of the ski slopes, so you can ski right up (literally) to the bars and restaurants at the end of the day. If you are a big skier or snowboarder, I definitely recommend getting a seasons pass. If not, like me, it was so much fun going just for one day.
I highly recommend UBC – I wish I was going back!
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
I took three science papers at UBC focused on biology and marine science, and the highlight for me was learning about wildlife and the environment in the context of Canada, as it is so different from NZ. Particularly, I enjoyed learning about the big wildlife that NZ doesn’t have, such as bears.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
I would recommend traveling around British Columbia and America. Vancouver Island, Whistler, Seattle and the national parks in Washington state are places you must visit.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Plan extra time and money to travel around Canada and America before and during the exchange.
- Make sure you have electives, Gen Eds or really common courses to take on the exchange as it can be hard to find courses that match.
- Pack warm clothes and a raincoat. I recommend buying an Aritzia Super Puff down jacket in Canada – they are warmer than any jacket you will buy in NZ and you will look like a local.
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 $15,000, but I spent around $18,000 as travelling is more expensive than I thought. Plan to spend more on travel as you don’t want to run out of money and regret not travelling.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
I learnt that I am capable of much more than I thought I was. I also learnt that it’s easy to make friends when you try, and I now have many friends around the globe whom I plan to visit one day. A big takeaway is a longing for travel and learning new cultures.
