Exchange Report

My biggest piece of advice: start your paperwork early, but also check what actually applies to you, as an American, I didn't need a Canadian study permit or CAQ since my exchange semester was under six months. That saved me a step other international students had to deal with, but I'd still recommend double checking your own citizenship's requirements early, since assuming you're exempt without confirming could bite you. For travel, I flew directly from Vienna to Montréal. Winter semester exchanges mean you'll likely be arriving in the middle of a Canadian winter, so pack properly. I underestimated just how cold it gets (temperatures around -30°C during orientation week!) and had to buy proper winter gear once I arrived, which I probably could have sorted out cheaper before leaving. Other things worth doing early: set up your Canadian phone plan or an eSIM, check whether your home insurance/health coverage extends abroad, and get familiar with HECs academic calendar so you know registration deadlines in advance.

I lived at Alma, a private student residence about 30 minutes from HEC's campus by metro. I booked it a few months ahead through their website. Good rooms fill up fast for the winter intake, so I'd recommend applying early. It was a solid choice: being surrounded by other students made meeting people easy from day one, and the metro connection to campus was reliable, plus it was close to groceries and everyday essentials.

Honestly HEC Montréal caught me off guard in a good way. The classes were easier than what I was used to at WU and in US, but way more interactive. Profs actually wanted to talk to you, not just lecture at you. That kind of access made a difference. It's easy to get motivated when your professor actually knows your name and asks how you're doing. Campus itself is modern and well set up, and the vibe is way more chill than competitive. If you're picking courses, go for anything with an international or intercultural focus, that's where you'll meet the most interesting mix of people, both other exchange students and locals Course recommendations: American Political Institutions and Business Practices - Super Easy Operational Issues of International Trade - Moderate Social Innovation in the International Area - Easy Conflict Management - Easy

Public transit in Montréal is solid. I relied on the metro daily for my around 30min commute to campus from Alma, and it's reliable even in the winter. Get a transit pass early, it'll save you money over paying per ride. Safety wise I felt comfortable pretty much everywhere, even walking around at night. Montreal has a real student city energy, so you're never far from other young people. Socially there's a ton to do - bars, live music, and a really active exchange student community that makes it easy to find people to explore with. I used weekends to travel and saw Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Banff, and Vancouver, which was honestly one of the best parts of the whole semester. If you're into winter sports Montreal's proximity to ski resorts is a huge plus too.

Five months at HEC Montreal ended up being one of the best parts of my whole degree. I grew personally and academically, made friends from all over the world, and got to explore Canada properly (Québec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Banff, Vancouver). If there's one thing I'd tell future students say yes to everything, even to -30°C