Details

• Canada
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For future outgoing students, my biggest recommendation is to approach the whole process calmly and not let the initial workload intimidate you. At the beginning, the number of documents, deadlines, and formal requirements can seem like a lot, but once you organize yourself and take it one step at a time, everything becomes much more manageable. When deciding where to go, I looked at reports from former exchange students because they helped me picture what everyday life in that city is really like. For me, adapting to a new environment and experiencing a different culture played a major role in the decision, not just the university itself. At the same time, it is important to check the course catalogue carefully and confirm that the university provides classes that fit your degree requirements so you can continue your studies smoothly. In my case, the selection interview was conducted individually rather than in a group setting. During the interview, I was asked several questions aimed at understanding my motivation and suitability, such as why I considered myself the best candidate to be sent to this destination and what added value I could bring to the host university. Preparing for these kinds of questions in advance was very helpful, but it is equally important to answer honestly and present your own personality rather than trying to give perfect responses. Another aspect that made the preparation phase much easier was connecting with other students who were going to the same destination. We found each other through WhatsApp groups, and all students heading to Ottawa met once for coffee before departure. This meeting helped us get to know each other and exchange first information. Afterwards, we created our own WhatsApp group, which turned out to be extremely useful throughout the entire process. Whenever someone had a question, discovered new information, or needed advice, it was shared there. Often, someone would also remind the group about upcoming deadlines, which helped everyone stay on track. Overall, even though the preparation phase can feel uncertain at times, especially when you do not immediately have all the answers, it is important to stay patient and trust the process. In the end, everything comes together, and the experience abroad is absolutely worth the effort.

2. Accommodation

Before deciding on accommodation, I read many exchange reports from former students, and almost all of them strongly recommended staying in Marchand Residence. Based on these experiences, I decided to choose Marchand as well, and in hindsight it was definitely the best decision. Living there made it very easy to meet people right from the start, since most exchange students stay in the same building and you are constantly surrounded by others. Friendships form naturally because you see each other every day, whether in the hallways, at meals, or when meeting before going out. I had a single room, which I would highly recommend. It gives you a bit of privacy and a place to relax when you need some time for yourself, especially since you spend most of the day socializing anyway. The bathrooms are shared with the floor, which at first sounds unusual, but they are cleaned every day, so they are always well maintained and this was never an issue. The building itself is not the newest, but it is absolutely sufficient and everything you need is there. There are common rooms where students regularly gather, making it easy to connect with others. Another important aspect is the mandatory meal plan, which initially felt restrictive, but in reality it helps a lot with socializing because you often go to eat together and naturally meet new people. Overall, choosing Marchand Residence made settling into life in Ottawa much easier, both socially and practically, and I would make the same choice again without hesitation.

3. Academic life at host university

The University of Ottawa is a large university, and the size of the campus reflects that. It is quite spread out, and sometimes you have to walk up to 20 minutes from one building to another. Sports and student life play a very important role at uOttawa. Students have access to two gyms as well as a wide range of facilities such as a swimming pool, sports halls, and several outdoor fields. In addition to that, there are many student clubs that you can join, which makes it easy to get involved and meet new people. I personally participated in intramural soccer, which took place once a week and was a great way to stay active and connect with others. There are also many drop in activities where you can simply join whenever you feel like it. I would definitely recommend trying these, as they give you the chance to explore new sports such as pickleball that you might not have tried before. Most of my courses were held in the Desmarais Building, which is home to the Telfer School of Management. It is a modern building and located very close to Marchand Residence, making it very convenient to get to class. Telfer focuses on business related subjects, so there are no traditional economics courses such as macroeconomics or microeconomics, which is something to keep in mind when planning your course selection. In addition to my major in Administration, I also had the opportunity to take a course in English as a Second Language. This was a great complement to my business courses, as it allowed me to further develop my language skills in an academic setting. The course was taught by Professor Reza, who created a very engaging and supportive learning environment. His teaching style made the classes both interesting and highly instructive, and he placed a strong emphasis on practical application, which helped me gain more confidence in both written and spoken English. In terms of teaching style, the courses differ quite a bit from WU Vienna. There is a strong focus on group work and continuous assessment, and you often have weekly assignments or projects to submit. While this means you have to stay organized throughout the semester, it also reduces the pressure of midterms and finals because a large portion of the grade is already earned during the term. Overall, I found the workload to be more evenly distributed compared to WU.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Ottawa is available, but we did not use it very often. A single ride costs around 4 CAD, which can add up quickly. Since we were usually traveling in groups, we often used Uber instead, as it was cheaper when splitting the fare and also more convenient, especially during the winter. In terms of safety, Ottawa felt like a very safe city overall. Occasionally you see homeless people in the downtown area who may approach you and ask for money, but they are generally friendly and never caused any problems during my stay. A large part of social life takes place in the dining hall, because this is where you naturally meet people from your residence. Many evenings we would go there to eat and then stay for one or two hours just talking, laughing, and spending time together. It became a central meeting point and an important part of daily life. Ottawa itself is not a very large city, but for one semester it offers plenty of things to do. There are many sports events, parks within the city and nearby, and several museums, some of which have free entry on certain days. Visiting Parliament is also highly recommended, as you can join a guided tour and learn more about Canadian politics. Many students also take the opportunity to explore the region. Renting a car with friends makes it easy to visit places such as Montreal, which is about two hours away, or Parc Omega, where you can drive through the park and feed animals from your car. Another popular trip is skiing in Mont Tremblant, which has a beautiful village atmosphere. It can get extremely cold there. When we went skiing temperatures dropped to minus 26 degrees, but it is definitely something you should experience at least once. You can also travel by bus or train to Toronto and visit Niagara Falls, which is a must see. In mid October there is a Reading Week, which many students use for traveling. I personally went to California during that break, while others took the opportunity to visit destinations such as New York, which is only about a two hour flight from Ottawa, or traveled to Mexico or Miami. This break is a great chance to see more of North America while you are already there. For nightlife, there are several clubs and pubs that students like to visit. One of our favorites was Heart and Crown, especially on Wednesdays when they host karaoke night, which was always a lot of fun and a great way to meet people.

6. Testimonial

My exchange in Ottawa was a unique mix of academic experience and an incredibly strong sense of community, especially through living in Marchand Residence where friendships formed immediately. The campus offered many opportunities to stay active through sports and student activities, which made it easy to connect with both international and Canadian students. Traveling during the semester, including Reading Week and trips to places like Montreal and Mont Tremblant, made the experience even more memorable. I would highly recommend doing an exchange semester, especially in Ottawa, as I met amazing people there and we are still in contact today.