Brett (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at McMaster University

I found out about the 360 International program through email notifications sent by the University of Auckland. This was what sparked my curiosity. My first thought when arriving in Toronto was “what a remarkable city”, I spent 4 days there exploring the city before moving into my flat in Hamilton. I would recommend Canada to anyone wanting to travel there, people are generally very welcoming. I have spent my time in a student flat near McMaster University, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and have made some great friends in the process. The teaching at McMaster University was excellent, however, it took a bit of adjusting to as it was still fairly different from teaching at the University of Auckland. The cost of living was very similar to that of Auckland, rent, food, and utilities were all very similar. Mainly I did a lot of travelling to nearby cities and towns including Niagara Falls, the workload was higher than expected so I didn’t manage to do as much travelling as I would have liked however, I am still very much pleased with how things turned out.

Q&A

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

The main highlight of the academic experience at my host university was being taught by Lydell Webb, he is a structural engineering professor. He was extremely welcoming to exchange students.

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

I would recommend exploring Toronto and visiting Niagara Falls

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

• Definitely pack warm clothing, Canadian winters are not to be taken lightly.
• Be ready for an adjustment period in the first month or so, often you are running on adrenaline for the first week but as that wears off it can be challenging to keep positive. The feeling of being away from home can be daunting however it doesn’t last long.

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 12,000 NZD, flights included. This was more than enough for a 4-month exchange.