Learning and travelling It's possible with an exchange
Always wanted to travel the world? An exchange program may be your ticket.
Going on an exchange to another country allows you to pursue your post-secondary studies while experiencing the rich cultural landscape another country has to offer. An exchange is a great way for students to gain independence and confidence. For Western Ivey student Sabrina Bruno, an exchange to England really pushed her outside of her comfort zone. “Going on the exchange not knowing anyone else really pushed me to be independent.”
The Right Exchange
The first step in pursuing an exchange is connecting with Fanshawe's International office (E2025) to see what countries they have agreements with. Students can research through the MyFanshawe portal by selecting the Student Resources tab and scrolling down to the International section. The site lists countries being offered, and some exchanges are program-specific. For example, at Fanshawe the majority of the exchanges are offered to students in the Business program. However, Fanshawe College International Student Life co-ordinator Kim Rowe said this doesn't mean that you can't go on an exchange if your program isn't listed.
“Not every program has an exchange agreement; however, if you find an exchange on your own, you can pitch it to your program co-ordinator, and there's a good chance it could be approved,” said Rowe.
Don't be discouraged if your program isn't listed on the International Exchange options on the Fanshawe website; it is constantly being updated. Your best bet for the most current information is to consult the International Centre Office.
There is a lot of preparation to do before you can start packing your bags. Attending orientation sessions held by the International Centre at Fanshawe will be helpful in preparing you for what to expect and help in your decision.
The Challenges
Before making a decision about where to go, do your research. Culture shock is one of the biggest reality checks students have during exchange programs. The country's culture and laws are a few of the things you should learn about before going. Throwing yourself into a country you know nothing about may make challenges, such as language barriers, extremely difficult, especially if you are alone on the exchange.
The weather is another thing you'll need to take into consideration, said Bruno. “Everyone told me about the weather in England, and I thought I could handle it until I started living there. I barely saw the sun for weeks on end.”
Other challenges students have faced are the different teaching styles offered by foreign institutions. The majority of the exchange options offered through Fanshawe are to European universities and the workload is a different, said former International Office employee Krista Vogt. “Here at Fanshawe, you have a lot of small assignments week after week. Over there, you may have lectures for months until you have an assignment worth 70 per cent due.”
The Academics
Many institutions require you to meet certain academic criteria before allowing you to go on an exchange. Proving you are a student who is in good academic standing is vital in showing you can handle the pressures and challenges associated with going on an exchange. Some schools may even require a minimum grade point average — you'll need to check this when applying.
For some exchanges at Western, the credits students earn through exchange programs are considered a pass or a fail and are not factored into their grade point average. This doesn't mean you can get away with doing the bare minimum, though; for some programs and in special circumstances, such as Bruno's case, maintaining her marks while on her exchange was crucial to her advancement at Western.
“Ivey expects students to maintain a very high average and because I deferred my acceptance until the year following my exchange, I needed to maintain the same average as opposed to having to just pass my courses,” said Bruno.
This was made particularly difficult as Bruno went to Manchester University in England for her exchange. The English academic system is far different from the Canadian post-secondary system. Amy Sparrow, who graduated from the University of Southampton in England and completed an exchange program at Huron University College here in London, said that an 80 per cent is very hard to achieve in England and is the equivalent of a near-perfect grade in Canada.
Dr. Paul Nesbitt-Larking, a political science professor at Huron University College, studied in England for his undergraduate degree. “I think there is still in the British system an expectation of greater independence on the part of the students. There is a less detailed prescription for course work and assignments, and a greater expectation that students will do their own research.”
Adapting to this learning style can prove challenging, especially for Canadian students. “Canadian students are often devastated with the grades they are getting,” said Nesbitt-Larking. “If you get a 70 in Britain, that is exceptional,” whereas, here in Canada, a 70 is considered average at best.
Preparing yourself for the expected challenges that come with studying in another country will help you be successful in your studies.
Bruno also noticed a difference between the two systems. “In England, you have a lot fewer contact hours with your professors and it's much more independent and research-focused.” She also said one of the most difficult things was the limited office hours professors held and the lack of teaching assistants. “If I had a question I needed to ask, there were no TAs and office hours for professors were very infrequent.”
Nesbitt-Larking attributed this to the pressure on British faculty members to be excellent researchers. “Research is assessed in a very competitive way, and faculty is less available and they feel a less sense of responsibility towards students.”
The Right Time to Go
For students considering exchanges, Western University exchange co-ordinator Lise Laporte said students are encouraged to go on an exchange during second or third year and not in their final year.
“We encourage students not to pursue an exchange during their final year as it is tricky to find places with similar compulsory courses that match up with their degree requirements.”
Fortunately for Fanshawe students, before an exchange is approved, all credits are preapproved for diploma programs so there won't be any surprises upon your return, as some of Bruno's friends had upon their return from their exchange.
“Some people I knew who went on exchanges came back and were having difficulty with the credits they achieved on their exchanges. This was because the University wasn't recognizing them as equivalent courses for their degree and was categorizing them as electives. They didn't have enough compulsory credits to advance to next year.”
Vogt said students are highly encouraged to speak with their program co-ordinator to work out any issues with credits. Depending on the faculty at Fanshawe, the academic requirements may vary for going on an exchange, this is also applies to when you may go during your diploma program.
The Finances
Many universities and colleges that offer exchanges also have available scholarships and bursaries that can be applied for to help fund your exchange. These can help significantly in reducing costs. An advantage of going on an exchange while in school is that you pay your tuition fees to your home institution and don't pay international fees, which can cost twice as much as normal tuition. However, you are expected to cover all other expenses, including accommodation, food, flights, health insurance, visas and more. An exchange is not cheap and these expenses will add up.
Having a safety net such as a line of credit to use while away will help you. Prior to leaving, contact your bank to make sure your credit and debit cards work in the country you are planning to study in — the last thing you want is to find yourself in a foreign country without means to pay for anything.
If you are choosing a European country, it could be to your advantage if you plan on travelling to other countries. Countries in Europe are very close together, so it makes for fairly inexpensive and easy travel. “I travelled to 18 countries during my eight-month exchange because everything is so close, travelling and airfare are pretty cheap,” Bruno said. “When I went to Italy, my return airfare was $100 Canadian.”
The Bottom Line
A cultural exchange might be one of the most valuable experiences you will have as a student. It allows you to challenge yourself academically and improve your independence and confidence, which will go a long way in helping to prepare you for the workplace. It will set you apart from other candidates at job interviews showing you are a well-rounded individual who is capable of adapting and handling challenging environments with success.
Not only is the experience good in pushing you outside your comfort zone, at Fanshawe an exchange allows you to experience both the practical side of your diploma at home and a more theory-based learning environment abroad. This powerful combination is helpful in expanding your knowledge and adaptability of different learning environments. Challenge yourself and have fun while doing it on an exchange.
Going on an exchange to another country allows you to pursue your post-secondary studies while experiencing the rich cultural landscape another country has to offer. An exchange is a great way for students to gain independence and confidence. For Western Ivey student Sabrina Bruno, an exchange to England really pushed her outside of her comfort zone. “Going on the exchange not knowing anyone else really pushed me to be independent.”
The Right Exchange
The first step in pursuing an exchange is connecting with Fanshawe's International office (E2025) to see what countries they have agreements with. Students can research through the MyFanshawe portal by selecting the Student Resources tab and scrolling down to the International section. The site lists countries being offered, and some exchanges are program-specific. For example, at Fanshawe the majority of the exchanges are offered to students in the Business program. However, Fanshawe College International Student Life co-ordinator Kim Rowe said this doesn't mean that you can't go on an exchange if your program isn't listed.
“Not every program has an exchange agreement; however, if you find an exchange on your own, you can pitch it to your program co-ordinator, and there's a good chance it could be approved,” said Rowe.
Don't be discouraged if your program isn't listed on the International Exchange options on the Fanshawe website; it is constantly being updated. Your best bet for the most current information is to consult the International Centre Office.
There is a lot of preparation to do before you can start packing your bags. Attending orientation sessions held by the International Centre at Fanshawe will be helpful in preparing you for what to expect and help in your decision.
The Challenges
Before making a decision about where to go, do your research. Culture shock is one of the biggest reality checks students have during exchange programs. The country's culture and laws are a few of the things you should learn about before going. Throwing yourself into a country you know nothing about may make challenges, such as language barriers, extremely difficult, especially if you are alone on the exchange.
The weather is another thing you'll need to take into consideration, said Bruno. “Everyone told me about the weather in England, and I thought I could handle it until I started living there. I barely saw the sun for weeks on end.”
Other challenges students have faced are the different teaching styles offered by foreign institutions. The majority of the exchange options offered through Fanshawe are to European universities and the workload is a different, said former International Office employee Krista Vogt. “Here at Fanshawe, you have a lot of small assignments week after week. Over there, you may have lectures for months until you have an assignment worth 70 per cent due.”
The Academics
Many institutions require you to meet certain academic criteria before allowing you to go on an exchange. Proving you are a student who is in good academic standing is vital in showing you can handle the pressures and challenges associated with going on an exchange. Some schools may even require a minimum grade point average — you'll need to check this when applying.
For some exchanges at Western, the credits students earn through exchange programs are considered a pass or a fail and are not factored into their grade point average. This doesn't mean you can get away with doing the bare minimum, though; for some programs and in special circumstances, such as Bruno's case, maintaining her marks while on her exchange was crucial to her advancement at Western.
“Ivey expects students to maintain a very high average and because I deferred my acceptance until the year following my exchange, I needed to maintain the same average as opposed to having to just pass my courses,” said Bruno.
This was made particularly difficult as Bruno went to Manchester University in England for her exchange. The English academic system is far different from the Canadian post-secondary system. Amy Sparrow, who graduated from the University of Southampton in England and completed an exchange program at Huron University College here in London, said that an 80 per cent is very hard to achieve in England and is the equivalent of a near-perfect grade in Canada.
Dr. Paul Nesbitt-Larking, a political science professor at Huron University College, studied in England for his undergraduate degree. “I think there is still in the British system an expectation of greater independence on the part of the students. There is a less detailed prescription for course work and assignments, and a greater expectation that students will do their own research.”
Adapting to this learning style can prove challenging, especially for Canadian students. “Canadian students are often devastated with the grades they are getting,” said Nesbitt-Larking. “If you get a 70 in Britain, that is exceptional,” whereas, here in Canada, a 70 is considered average at best.
Preparing yourself for the expected challenges that come with studying in another country will help you be successful in your studies.
Bruno also noticed a difference between the two systems. “In England, you have a lot fewer contact hours with your professors and it's much more independent and research-focused.” She also said one of the most difficult things was the limited office hours professors held and the lack of teaching assistants. “If I had a question I needed to ask, there were no TAs and office hours for professors were very infrequent.”
Nesbitt-Larking attributed this to the pressure on British faculty members to be excellent researchers. “Research is assessed in a very competitive way, and faculty is less available and they feel a less sense of responsibility towards students.”
The Right Time to Go
For students considering exchanges, Western University exchange co-ordinator Lise Laporte said students are encouraged to go on an exchange during second or third year and not in their final year.
“We encourage students not to pursue an exchange during their final year as it is tricky to find places with similar compulsory courses that match up with their degree requirements.”
Fortunately for Fanshawe students, before an exchange is approved, all credits are preapproved for diploma programs so there won't be any surprises upon your return, as some of Bruno's friends had upon their return from their exchange.
“Some people I knew who went on exchanges came back and were having difficulty with the credits they achieved on their exchanges. This was because the University wasn't recognizing them as equivalent courses for their degree and was categorizing them as electives. They didn't have enough compulsory credits to advance to next year.”
Vogt said students are highly encouraged to speak with their program co-ordinator to work out any issues with credits. Depending on the faculty at Fanshawe, the academic requirements may vary for going on an exchange, this is also applies to when you may go during your diploma program.
The Finances
Many universities and colleges that offer exchanges also have available scholarships and bursaries that can be applied for to help fund your exchange. These can help significantly in reducing costs. An advantage of going on an exchange while in school is that you pay your tuition fees to your home institution and don't pay international fees, which can cost twice as much as normal tuition. However, you are expected to cover all other expenses, including accommodation, food, flights, health insurance, visas and more. An exchange is not cheap and these expenses will add up.
Having a safety net such as a line of credit to use while away will help you. Prior to leaving, contact your bank to make sure your credit and debit cards work in the country you are planning to study in — the last thing you want is to find yourself in a foreign country without means to pay for anything.
If you are choosing a European country, it could be to your advantage if you plan on travelling to other countries. Countries in Europe are very close together, so it makes for fairly inexpensive and easy travel. “I travelled to 18 countries during my eight-month exchange because everything is so close, travelling and airfare are pretty cheap,” Bruno said. “When I went to Italy, my return airfare was $100 Canadian.”
The Bottom Line
A cultural exchange might be one of the most valuable experiences you will have as a student. It allows you to challenge yourself academically and improve your independence and confidence, which will go a long way in helping to prepare you for the workplace. It will set you apart from other candidates at job interviews showing you are a well-rounded individual who is capable of adapting and handling challenging environments with success.
Not only is the experience good in pushing you outside your comfort zone, at Fanshawe an exchange allows you to experience both the practical side of your diploma at home and a more theory-based learning environment abroad. This powerful combination is helpful in expanding your knowledge and adaptability of different learning environments. Challenge yourself and have fun while doing it on an exchange.
