387 reviews
4.33 / 5 based on 387 reviews
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Anna E
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
For Poutine: La Banquise, for awesome and cheap Sushi: Sago Sushi on St. Denis, for chocolate fondue: Juliette et Chocolat, for clubbing: anywhere on St. Laurent, if you like more alternative places: Foufounes éléctriques on Ste. Catherine and many more...
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Anna E
Housing
Type of housing: A room exchange
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: A room exchange
Why?
Montréal has lots of students going abroad, so you can get good deals on their rooms while they're gone (through e.g. craigslist)
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Personal comments
The university tries to convince you that you're better off getting your housing through them, but you usually end up paying more (except maybe in the dorms) than if you had looked yourself.
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Anna E
Overall
I wish I had known...
Even if you don't mind the cold, the city is kind of depressing in winter. If you have the choice, try to be there in summer or at least in the fall instead of the dead of winter!
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Choose your classes carefully (especially with regard to the work load) and try to travel and also explore Montréal as much as possible! The 5 months went by so fast that I now regret not doing more.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Other exchange students are a great social network, if you don't want to be left out, register on facebook and be available on msn (I refused the latter, I only had Skype. I did ok, but really, everyone has msn, so if you want to stay in touch, you may not have a choice).
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Anna E
Academic
Course recommendations
Sign up for more courses than you need at first, you are allowed to drop courses without consequences until one week after the beginning of the semester. On Master's level, don't take more than three courses, it's a lot of work!
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
The differences between the different courses are glaring, I had my best grade in a course which I really liked and where I didn't have to work much and had my worst grade in a class where I really worked my butt off. Oh, and don't make the same mistake I did: don't choose classes on Friday, you might miss out on some trips organized by the exchange organisation and by individual students.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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Anna E
Languages
Language of instruction: French
Was learning French a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your French?
My level before: At ease in most situations
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I wanted to improve my French a bit, mainly learn some business/academic vocabulary, at which I succeeded. Other than that I didn't improve much, since I usually spoke English with most people, especially my roommate. Also, Québécois French is pretty weird, so if you do not want to be made fun of in France, better not adapt the Québécois French too much;-).
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Anna E
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Government assistance
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
My perception was that I spent roughly the same there as back home, but logically that can't be right since paying Swiss prices would probably be unaffordable for Canadians...it is weird though, the specific stuff that's more expensive in Canada than back home, e.g. Milk or Tomatoes. And of course liquor and cigarettes!
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Telephone, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was the same price as at home.
Food:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Bank transfers are way too expensive, so your best bet is to use your bank debit card from home and withdraw cash at one of the main banks' ATMs (Banque Nationale, etc., for example at HEC's main building). Withdraw large amounts at once, so you don't have to pay the fixed fee your bank charges you at every withdrawal too often. But be aware that you only get 20-dollar bills, so you might be walking around with a pretty thick wallet.
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