Details

• Canada
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I can recommend to meet with students fro HEC that are doing their exchange at WU Have a look at the courses that you can do, so you get everything accredited Make sure you plan in advance - short time often is very stressful and a lot more expansive Think about how many credits you need and what your expectation is - if you need credits it is a great opportunity, because courses are easier abroad For the interview, do not stress, focus on being authentic and being ambitious about the exchange - look up your interviewer on linkedin and adjust your answers accordingly

2. Accommodation

Horrible! Good luck finding something in North America. I had a look on AirBnB, but when you are on your own or only with one other person it is going to be very expensive. I was lucky enough to have a contact in MTL, where I could live in a shared flat. If you do not have any contacts I would recommend student residence - I know it is a bit expensive, but it is easy to meet people, locations are often okay and the accomondation itself is okay. Expect the bare minimun tbh - most of my friends were not housing the best and paying a lot - we are super privileged in Vienna. And take the more expensive accomondation if the location is better. Location and safety matter most imo. It def depends where you are heading, but if you go to MTL either Pleateau, Mileend or Downtown. BIG NO: Snowdon, Cote-de-Neige, Griffintown...

3. Academic life at host university

Again, we are priviliged with the WU Campus. HEC has two builidings in Cote-de-Neige and they are 15min of a walk from each other. Another building is in downtown - I can recommend that to study, if you need a library. All courses are easier than at WU - less effort and everything is more towards the finals - you are pretty free for 3 months. If you need credits I can recommend to do 36 ECTS (I really did bare minimum and got straight A's). The classes are a lot of debates and talking, a bit of content, but rather practical than theoretical. Overall the educational level is definitely lower than at WU - which is good for you! Most of my professors and classmates were really kind. It is way more personal than at WU.

5. Every day life in the host country

The public transport is very limited, make sure you life on the the line. It is safe, but there are a lot of homeless people everywhere, on any form of drug - it really is a big problem. Plateau is wonderful in the summer and the areas around as well, there is a lot to do if you like art, thrift shopping, bars, cafes... There are def events in the summer, not comparable to Vienna though, but I recommend to follow a few of the IG pages. You can use the CEPSUM gym, personally I did not like it, I would invest the time and money to go to another studio, especially because you can make local friends.

6. Testimonial

The best part obv was the traveling. The nature in Banff, Yoho, Japser... is insane. I had a wonderful cabin trip with a big girls group and many more. I swear, do yourself the favour and travel as much as possible! Do not focus too much on uni, try to make friends, include yourself into a nice community and live life!! This is really a one time (maybe in your masters again) chance. The brochure and everything gives good information, I do not know about the housing tips though.