Details

• Canada
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Tips for the Application Process at WU The interview carries significant weight in your overall score - and it's where you can make the biggest difference. When you consider the scoring system, moving up a grade level through your GPA alone requires enormous effort, whereas a strong personal impression can shift your assessment much more easily. Prepare thoroughly: articulate clearly why you want to go to your specific university and demonstrate that you've done real research - what courses you plan to take, how the experience fits into your academic and personal journey, and what excites you about the destination. Interviewers notice when someone has gone beyond surface-level motivation. Tips for Preparing Your Semester Abroad Course Registration at UBC The application and course registration process at UBC can be overwhelming. There are multiple systems involved - Workday (UBC's administrative platform), Go Global emails with Google Forms, and separate login credentials that aren't always straightforward. For example, I had to reset my password before I could log in for the first time, as no initial password was ever sent. If any of this sounds confusing, that's because it is. My strongest recommendation: reach out to a former UBC exchange student early on. Having someone who's been through the process saves you hours of frustration, especially since the official documentation can be outdated. On the bright side, UBC professors are very responsive. If you need clarification on course content - whether for your own interest or for the pre-recognition notice (Feststellungsbescheid) at WU - just send them an email. They're more than happy to help. When it comes to course selection, don't be intimidated by upper-level courses. Level 4 and Level 3 courses are not necessarily harder than lower levels - it depends entirely on the specific course and professor. I took Level 4 courses that were significantly less work than some Level 3 ones, so choose based on your interests rather than the course number. One difference to WU: you won't find past exams floating around online, as UBC takes academic integrity regarding exam materials very seriously. That said, most professors provide mock exams or practice questions themselves, so this shouldn't be a concern. Travel & Arrival I highly recommend combining your exchange with a trip through the US beforehand, given the proximity. I flew from San Francisco to Vancouver, and the process was very uncomplicated. The only document you really need as an EU citizen is an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Canada. If your stay is shorter than six months, a study permit is not a must-have and would only add unnecessary cost - I didn't have one and never needed it. Though, there are some things you can't do without it. No student job (do you really want to work during your exchange semester?), no Canadian ID card (use your passport), no Canadian bank account (Revolut is better regardless), ... Getting from the airport to UBC is straightforward: take the SkyTrain, then the bus, and you're right in front of campus. If you're traveling with heavy luggage, an Uber or Lyft from the airport costs around EUR 20, which is very reasonable. Practical Setup Tips Some orientation sessions recommend opening a Canadian bank account and getting a Canadian phone number. I'd advise against both - the process is tedious, and the costs aren't worth it for a single semester. Instead, use Revolut or a similar service for international payments, and get an eSIM for data (I used Nomad). For a phone number, a US number with Wi-Fi calling (also works with mobile data!) works perfectly well and is much cheaper - I used Tello for that purpose. This combination of eSIM plus US number was both cost-effective and reliable throughout my stay. Some services require you to use a phone number with +1 country code, thus the recommendation to get an US phone number. (You don't even have to go there to get it, just get it online) Regarding health insurance: UBC requires you to enroll in MSH insurance, but I'd strongly recommend getting additional travel insurance on top. My own experience with MSH was not great. Just make sure your travel policy covers stays of your full exchange duration, as many standard policies only cover trips up to a certain number of days. Getting Around Vancouver If you plan to drive, sign up for Evo (a local car-sharing service) well in advance. The registration process takes several days and requires documentation of your driving record. Once approved, you can even pick up an Evo directly at the airport - a convenient option for your first week, makes getting all the stuff for your apartment a whole lot easier. Evo is very cost-effective for longer trips, sometimes even cheaper than Uber. For shorter distances, though, I'd stick with Uber or Lyft, since you avoid any liability from driving yourself.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation Search Experience Finding accommodation through UBC's dorm system was straightforward - the university handles most of the process for you. I was initially assigned a dorm room, but decided to look for a private apartment instead, as I preferred not to share a space with strangers in what are generally fairly basic living conditions. Opting out of the dorm was uncomplicated, and I received a full refund of the application fee. Finding a private short-term rental, on the other hand, was a completely different story. The options are extremely limited, since most landlords aren't interested in leases shorter than a year - and those who are charge a significant premium for it. I searched primarily on Craigslist (Canada's equivalent of Willhaben), which had the most listings. The process involved virtual tours scheduled during Canadian daytime hours, which often meant the middle of the night in Austria. On top of that, many of the property viewings and communications were conducted by agents who were difficult to communicate with clearly. The biggest hurdle was proving creditworthiness without a Canadian credit score. We ended up paying double the standard deposit to secure the apartment - technically not permitted under local tenancy law, but it was the only way the landlord would agree. I ultimately rented a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Westbrook Village for around CAD 4,500 per month and shared it with a friend. Location, Safety & Proximity Westbrook Village turned out to be one of the most beautiful places I've ever lived. It's perfectly safe - I never felt uncomfortable going out at any time of day or night. There's a bus stop right in the village that gets you to the UBC campus in about 10 minutes, and you can even walk to university along tree-lined sidewalks through a quiet, green neighborhood. Tips I Wish I'd Known If you want a stress-free and affordable option, go with the university dorms. Most of the friends I spoke with were satisfied with theirs - they got exactly what you'd expect from a typical dorm experience, nothing exceptional but nothing bad either. Everything on the private rental side is significantly more expensive, harder to arrange from abroad, and carries real risks - including scammers who may never return your deposit. That said, I personally loved having my own apartment and the extra comfort it provided, so it comes down to your priorities and budget. One last thing: bring Canadian-to-European plug adapters. It's easy to forget, and you'll need them from day one.

3. Academic life at host university

Campus Facilities UBC's campus is breathtaking - it's essentially a self-contained city with everything you need for daily life, from shops and restaurants to service providers of all kinds. The recreational facilities in particular are outstanding. A semester membership at the REC North Gym (UBC's newest fitness center, basketball courts, running track and more) costs under CAD 60 and also gives you access to the UBC Aquatics Center for swimming, sauna, and steam bath. There's also a dedicated climbing center on campus, and just beyond the university grounds you'll find beautiful walking paths and beaches where you can take a dip. You won't lack for anything. Academic Culture & Teaching Style The academic standards at UBC are very comparable to WU, though the structure of the semester differs noticeably. Each course typically has two 1.5-hour sessions per week, so with four courses you're looking at eight lectures per week. On top of that, many courses involve regular homework, two midterm exams, and a final - all compressed into a shorter timeframe, especially in the winter semester. It's intense, but very much doable. One thing that's actually more convenient than at WU: late submissions are typically only penalized by a small percentage deduction rather than rejected outright, which gives you a bit more flexibility in managing your schedule. Course Recommendations I took four courses and can highly recommend two of them: COMM 387 - Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity is an excellent choice if you're interested in the quantitative side of PE investments, covering both the investor's and the receiving company's perspective. Very hands-on and practically relevant. ECON 333 - Economic History of Europe from the Paleolithic to the Industrial Revolution was the best course I've ever taken on the subject - and I say that as someone who previously had no interest in history whatsoever. The professor's storytelling ability was extraordinary; every lecture felt like watching a documentary unfold. The workload is manageable: around 50 pages of reading per week, no essays or homework, and your grade is based entirely on exams. If you stay attentive in lectures and keep up with the readings, the exams are very doable. I went in with virtually no background in history and came out with one of my best grades. The learning curve is steep in the best possible way - everything is built from the ground up.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public Transport Public transport in Vancouver works well. UBC provides you with a transit pass (U-Pass) that covers all of Metro Vancouver, so getting around the city is easy and affordable. For trips further afield - like day trips to the mountains - Evo car-sharing is a great complement. You can rent a car for a full day including gas for around CAD 110, which is excellent value if you're splitting with friends. Safety The area around campus and Westbrook Village feels very safe at all times. The same goes for most of Vancouver's city center, though you will encounter some visibly troubled individuals and drug addiction in certain downtown areas. They usually don't threaten you, but it can be an unpleasant atmosphere if you're not used to it. Social & Leisure Activities The variety of things to do is genuinely hard to overstate. You're close to the beach, close to the city, and close to the mountains - so in any given week you could go swimming, attend cultural events downtown, or disappear into the backcountry for skiing or a multi-hour hike. I especially loved the trips organized by the Varsity Outdoor Club (VOC), which I'd highly recommend joining if you enjoy spending time outdoors. Beyond that, UBC's student clubs host events of all kinds, so whatever your interests, you'll find something that catches your attention. Sports & Gym The campus sports facilities are exceptional and cover virtually anything you could want. For the gym, I'd recommend sticking with the REC North - don't be discouraged if it feels impossibly crowded during the first two weeks. Around 60% of people drop off after that initial rush, and from then on it's perfectly fine to train there, even during busier hours. There's no need to sign up for the more expensive Gold's Gym on campus, which actually has a smaller variety of equipment. One practical tip: rent a locker at the REC North for the term. The day-use lockers can all be taken during peak times, and having your own guaranteed spot makes life much easier.

6. Testimonial

My exchange at UBC was a lifelong experience that I'd recommend to anyone who wants to see the other side of the world and immerse themselves in a culture that feels familiar yet surprisingly different from Austria. Exploring the Canadian wilderness and encountering bears on trips with the Varsity Outdoor Club were some of my happiest moments abroad. And on long study days, stepping into Pacific Spirit Regional Park to take a breath made the whole academic journey feel lighter.