Details

• Canada
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

One important tip for preparing for an exchange semester is to complete all important tasks and applications early enough to avoid unnecessary stress later. Things like accommodation, insurance, and university documents, so being organized in advance is very helpful. Since I only stayed for one semester in Canada, I did not need a visa, which made the preparation process a bit easier. I would also recommend thinking about course selection early enough and planning the schedule carefully. A well-organized timetable can make a big difference during the semester. The other students and I tried to arrange our courses in a way that gave us enough free time and longer weekends for traveling, which was one of the best parts of the exchange experience. Before leaving, I informed myself about the city, the university, and daily life in advance, which helped me feel more comfortable after arriving. However, apart from the official paperwork and basic preparation, I think it is difficult to fully prepare yourself for an exchange experience because everything is new and different once you arrive. In my opinion, the best approach is to stay open-minded, adapt to new situations, and simply enjoy the experience as much as possible.

2. Accommodation

For accommodation, students can find all available housing options directly on the university website. I would also highly recommend watching YouTube videos of the residences beforehand because it helps a lot to get a realistic feeling for the room layouts and sizes. The rooms are generally quite small, even if they often look bigger in pictures, but most of the residences are relatively similar in size. During my exchange, I stayed in McTaggart-Cowan Hall, which had recently been fully renovated. Besides the townhouses, it was one of the only accommodation options where no mandatory meal plan was required. For me, this was a big advantage because it gave me much more flexibility regarding food and daily expenses. Overall, my floor in McTaggart was quiet and clean, which was important because the bathrooms were shared with other students. In general, I felt very safe on campus at all times. Even at night, it was possible to walk around alone without any concerns, and there was also campus security present. Another big advantage was the proximity to the university buildings. Since I lived directly on campus in Vancouver, I could reach my lectures within just a few minutes, which was a very comfortable change compared to university life in Austria. One important tip I would give future exchange students is to really think carefully about whether they need a meal plan or not. It is also possible to go to the dining hall and do a one time payment. Depending on the residence, it can either be useful or unnecessarily restrictive. The townhouses are usually very social and make it easier to meet new people quickly. In McTaggart, there were more upper-year students, which created a calmer atmosphere. Residences like Courtyard, West/East Towers, and North Towers were mostly filled with first-year students, so they tended to be louder and sometimes less clean.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus at Simon Fraser University is very modern, simple, and well organized. In my opinion, it has everything students need for daily life. There are several cafés, restaurants, study areas, gyms, and other facilities directly on or near the campus, which makes student life very convenient. Academically, I noticed that SFU places a strong focus on independence and active participation. Even in larger classes, professors tried to involve as many students as possible in discussions and activities. Compared to WU Vienna, it felt like a very refreshing change. At SFU, the teaching style was much more practical and interactive rather than purely theory-based. Many classes included guest speakers, discussions about current business news, role plays, and business case presentations that students had to work on in groups. Overall, I also had the impression that entrepreneurship and creative thinking are strongly encouraged. Regarding course recommendations, I would definitely recommend “Introduction to Innovation” for students who are interested in entrepreneurship and startups. I also really enjoyed “Global Business Environment” with AZ because the course covered many current international business topics and discussions. “Introduction to HR” was another very interesting and well-structured course. For the fourth course, I would recommend choosing something that can potentially be transferred back to WU.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transportation in Vancouver is very well organized and easy to use. There is a bus station directly on the Simon Fraser University campus, and the buses connect students to basically all important areas of the city. It was very convenient for daily life and also for trips outside the city. Overall, I personally felt very safe both on campus and in the city itself. Even though there are many homeless people in some areas of downtown Vancouver, we never experienced any problems or unsafe situations. Nobody approached us aggressively, and in general, people were extremely friendly and open-minded. Many locals were also very interested when they heard that we were from Austria, which often became an easy and fun conversation starter. In terms of leisure activities, Vancouver offers almost unlimited options. During the semester, we spent a lot of time hiking, shopping, relaxing in downtown Vancouver, and going out to pubs and clubs with friends. There were also many activities organized on campus, although we spent more time downtown instead. Vancouver is also a great travel hub, we decided to fly to the US and Mexico, basically we travelled every month somewhere. There are also several sports clubs and university sports programs at SFU, but we did not participate because of the time commitment and requirements. Instead, we regularly used the gym on campus, which was very modern, and there was also a newly built sauna that was great after workouts or long days at university. Since the campus is surrounded by nature and beautiful views, it was also an amazing place for jogging and outdoor activities.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester was honestly one of the best experiences of my life, and I would do it again immediately. Even though the beginning can feel unfamiliar and a bit uncomfortable, that feeling disappears very quickly once you settle in and meet new people. What made the experience so special for me was the combination of meeting international students, exploring Vancouver, and experiencing a completely different university culture and lifestyle. It is an experience and a period of life that I will definitely never forget.