Details

• Canada
• MASIMC-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

When preparing for your exchange semester, it’s a good idea to plan your finances carefully. Kingston is a relatively small city, and most students use weekends to travel and explore other parts of North America, so having enough savings makes the experience much more enjoyable. Since the winter months can get quite cold, bringing proper warm clothing is essential. At the same time, you should also pack some business-casual outfits, as final presentations are taken seriously. There’s no need to worry about making friends. The program makes it very easy to connect with other exchange students, and most people are keen to travel and explore together. Academically, you should be prepared for a fairly busy schedule, with classes on most days and many team-based projects. When it comes to courses, don’t stress too much about your initial selection. You usually won’t know the exact course times beforehand, but changing courses once you arrive is easy, and schedules do not overlap. Finally, it’s worth thinking carefully about your return flight. Courses usually end by the end of November, so either booking a flexible ticket or leaving some extra time afterward for traveling can be a good idea.

2. Accommodation

Finding accommodation is one of the more challenging parts of the exchange, but it’s important not to stress too much about it. Everyone I know ended up finding a good place in the end. Most accommodation is found through Facebook groups, and you will usually sign a sub-lease, as there are no student residence options available for exchange students. It’s a good idea to start looking early, but not too early. Most students found their accommodation between June and mid-July. Be cautious during your search and make sure to avoid scams. It’s also worth noting that many houses are quite old, so don’t expect high standards compared to newer buildings. In terms of location, anything close to or south of Princess Street is ideal. Areas slightly north of Princess Street can also work, as long as they are not too far away. A good rule of thumb is to look for places between the university and the Metro supermarket, as you will likely walk almost everywhere. If you’re not very close to a supermarket, it’s usually not a big issue, as grocery delivery services such as Uber Eats or Walmart are easily available. Overall, Kingston feels very safe, and most areas are suitable for students.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus has a very typical North American layout, with most buildings located close to each other. There are several libraries available for studying, as well as cafés, food spots, and a small grocery store on campus. In addition, students have free access to a large and well-equipped gym (the ARC). Academically, the program is very team-based, with many group projects throughout the semester. However, since the exchange takes place toward the end of the MBA, many full-time MBA students are more focused on job searching than on performing exceptionally well in group work. Grading is harsher than in SIMC, but achieving an A+/A/A- is definitely possible and transfers as a grade of 1 at WU. One important point to keep in mind is that most other exchange students are graded on a pass/fail basis. If you care about your grade, it can be helpful to communicate this to program management before groups are formed. Class attendance is taken seriously, and absences usually need to be justified. Teaching is very interactive, and professors are generally approachable, engaging, and highly knowledgeable in their fields, which makes classes interesting and enjoyable to attend.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Kingston is free for students, and you can use your student card to access local buses. However, the city is very walkable, and you will likely walk most places. Uber prices are similar to Vienna, and availability is high, so waiting times are usually very short. Traveling to larger cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal can be quite expensive, especially by train. For cheaper options, it is worth checking long-distance buses such as FlixBus or Megabus. Many students also travel together to reduce costs. Kingston is generally very safe, and you will mostly encounter other students, especially around campus and in residential areas. There are many social events organized specifically for exchange students, making it easy to meet people. In addition, the MBA program regularly hosts networking and social events. For leisure and sports, students have free access to the campus gym and can join sports teams or intramural leagues. The university also offers a wide range of affordable classes on campus, which are fun and easy to join. Queen’s University is very sports-focused, and there are frequent games of school teams that students can attend. Beyond campus life, traveling is a big part of the exchange experience. Road trips and short flights are great for exploring the surrounding region or other parts of North America.

6. Testimonial

What made my exchange truly special were the people. I met students from all over the world who were excited to explore, travel, and make the most of the experience together. I’m incredibly grateful for the friendships I built and for all the places I had the chance to discover along the way.