Exchange Report

Read all the experience reports as soon as you know your partner university to get a better insight. Next look for exact dates for the exchange semester (start date & exam season), based on this I chose my flights (I would recommend to get a flexible ticket for the return flight). Get information about housing opportunities, insurance and course selection (the exchange team from UVIC will e-mail you about this and were really helpful).

I lived on campus in the Cluster Apartments, which I would definitely recommend to future exchange students. The location is very convenient, as it is close to the lecture buildings and also within walking distance of the beach. The price is relatively good compared to private housing in Victoria. Living on campus also made it very easy to meet people from many different countries, since many exchange students stay there. I shared the apartment with three roommates; we had one shared kitchen and living room, as well as two separate bathrooms, which worked very well. The application phase for on-campus housing usually opens about 2–3 months before the semester, and a spot is not guaranteed, so it is important to apply early. If the Cluster Apartments are full, I would still recommend looking at the other on-campus housing options, as they offer similar advantages in terms of location and student community.

The campus at the University of Victoria has a very different atmosphere compared to WU Vienna. In my opinion it is much larger and more vibrant, with many facilities directly on campus. There is a large sports center, several libraries, many cafés and food places, a bookstore, a pub, and even services such as a pharmacy and a dentist. There is also a cinema and many events organized for exchange and international students, which makes it easy to meet new people and feel part of the campus community. Academically, the structure of courses was somewhat different from WU. Many classes I took, had mandatory attendance, and class lengths varied from shorter 50-minute sessions to longer seminars of up to three hours. In most courses, the final grade was not based only on one exam but also included assignments, participation, and group presentations throughout the semester.

Public transport in Victoria mainly consists of buses. As a UVic student, the U-Pass (Umo bus card) is included in the university’s bus and gym plan, which makes getting around very easy. There is a large bus terminal directly at UVic, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach downtown and around 10 minutes to Hillside Mall. The ferry terminal and the airport are a bit farther away and usually take over an hour by bus. The university also offers many sports and leisure opportunities. The campus gym is very well equipped and includes facilities such as a climbing wall, squash courts, and several outdoor sports fields including soccer, hockey, and baseball. The beach is about a 10-minute walk from campus, and Mount Douglas with a beautiful viewpoint can be reached in about 15 minutes by bus. On weekends we often went hiking in the surrounding nature, spent time downtown for dinner, drinks, or going out, or took trips to places such as Vancouver, Seattle, or Tofino, a popular surf town on Vancouver Island. In general, Victoria is a very safe city. Compared to Vienna, one difference is the higher number of homeless people and drug users in some areas, but they are generally harmless. There are also many opportunities to join clubs and social activities. My friends and I participated in intramural soccer, where we had weekly games against other teams. Similar intramural leagues are also offered in sports such as volleyball, basketball, and softball, which is a great way to stay active and meet new people.

My exchange at the University of Victoria was a great experience, especially because of the beautiful nature and outdoor opportunities around Vancouver Island. The weather during the summer semester was also warmer and sunnier than I expected, which made it easy to spend time outside. I met many great people from all over the world, which was one of the highlights of the exchange. I would definitely recommend traveling as much as possible. I did a roundtrip around Vancouver Island, visited Vancouver and Seattle, and even traveled to Hawaii. At the same time, Vancouver Island itself is already incredibly beautiful and offers nature that is quite different from what you find in Europe. My main advice would be to try living on campus, as it is the easiest way to meet people, especially other exchange students.