My Exchange at The University of British Columbia
I found out about 360 International through my university. The accommodation process for my host uni was somewhat difficult as right before leaving, we were told that the on-campus accommodation was full and we had to find housing ourselves. This was very difficult especially in Vancouver where there is a housing crisis, and ended up costing almost double what the on-campus housing would have cost.
The orientation at the host university was a very positive experience as I was able to meet many other exchange students who I ended up spending the whole semester with.
As law is postgrad in Canada, the classes were more difficult than back home and the course load was higher. Academically it was a very stressful semester due to this.
The campus itself was amazing and had a lot of food options and places to explore and to study.
Overall it was a very positive experience as I met many cool people and was able to travel a lot, however there were definitely many challenges that I had not been expecting.
The cost of living was also much higher than expected, definitely higher than in Auckland.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
The study spaces are very nice and there are many to choose from.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
Definitely cannot miss out on watching the ice hockey.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
Expect it to be very expensive. Try not to compare yourself academically to the local students. Be open to making a broad range of friends.
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 for around $300NZD excluding rent and this turned out not to be enough. It is important to remember that you will be doing a lot of activities and these tend to be expensive.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
It is important to be open to other ways of living life, especially as you meet so many other exchange students who all do things so differently.
Notes from 360 International
Cities and universities worldwide are facing increasing pressure on the housing market, particularly for student accommodation, and on-campus accommodation will only be guaranteed by select partner universities, as indicated on their respective Fact Sheet. If you are considering an exchange at UBC, it’s important to note that a limited number of spots are reserved for exchange students in UBC’s on-campus housing. Due to very high demand, on-campus housing is not guaranteed, and only about 50% of exchange students will receive an offer to live on campus, as indicated in the UBC Fact Sheet. We advise future and prospective exchange students to take this into consideration in their planning.