Vancouver Island University

At a glance

Where, who, when

Full name of host university: Vancouver Island University (VIU)
City, Country: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Homepage of the host university:http://www.viu.ca/
Degreeprogramme at FH Aachen: Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty 8
Start and end of the stay abroad: 17/08/2023 - 22/12/2023
The semester abroad was completed in: 5th subject-specific semester
Author of the experience report: Tim Binder

Assessments:

Quality of the programme content: 2,3
Study conditions / facilities at the host university: 2.0
On-site support and assistance: 1.0
Campus: 1.0
Transport links to the campus: 1.3
Food on campus (dining hall/refectory): 3.0
Sports facilities: 1.3
Leisure activities: 1.0
Bars / discos / nightlife: 2.3
Quality / cost of living: 3.0
Contact with locals: 2.7

Preparations

Why did you choose Canada for your semester abroad? I wanted to go to an English-speaking host country that I had never been to before. Of all the countries I chose, Canada and its nature inspired me the most.
When did you start your preparations? I started my preparations in March. It is advisable to prepare the Learning Agreement in good time so that the courses that can be credited are known as soon as you have to register the courses at the host university.
What formalities had to be completed before travelling? An eTA (travel visa) must be applied for online, which is issued directly after payment of 7CAD. There is compulsory health insurance from the university, which every student automatically takes out as soon as they register. However, it is advisable to take out additional German international health insurance for the period, as the benefits of Canadian insurance are quite meagre. This is particularly important if you fly to Canada well before the semester or stay longer after the semester.
Do I have to pay fees at the host university? Yes, the fees are directly related to the number of courses taken. You must take at least 9 Canadian CP, which corresponds to approx. 18 ECTS or three courses. The cost for three courses is approximately 6700 CAD.
Did you receive a scholarship to finance your stay abroad? Yes, I received the PROMOS scholarship from the UAS.
Which way of travelling to the host university is recommended? What are the approximate travelling costs? I would recommend the direct connection from Frankfurt or Zurich with Lufthansa or AirCanada to Vancouver. There are also some flights with a stopover in the USA, but the price difference was quite small compared to the direct flight. From Vancouver there is the Hullo Ferry since the end of 2023, which takes you from Vancouver to Nanaimo within 70min. The costs depend heavily on when you book, but in total around 900-1500€.

On site

Where is the best place to live and what are the average housing costs? Everything between the university and downtown is very popular and you can easily get anywhere from there. It is also very nice to live along the coast to the north at Pipers Lagoon or Neck Point Park, but there is no bus service after 10pm and it can take 1 hour to get to university.
How was the search for accommodation? There is a hall of residence, but it is difficult to get a place there. There are external "halls of residence" outside the university, but these are extremely expensive (~1100 CAD/month). Otherwise, you can look for rooms online via Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or Places4Students. The price is around 600-1000 CAD/month. Overall, it is very difficult to find a room in a central location at an affordable price.
What is cheap/expensive?
Expensive: Actually everything, especially food and restaurants.
Cheap: Outdoor activities, there are often free campsites in the countryside.
Climate / local situation: What items of clothing or other utensils should be included in your travelling suitcase? I was in Canada from August to December. In August and September it was a constant 25-30°C and very sunny. From October onwards it became more autumnal, but still with plenty of sunshine. However, according to all the locals, this was a rare exception, everyone warned from mid-September that it would be very grey and wet in autumn and winter. I was probably particularly lucky with the weather this year. However, you should always take a good rain jacket with you. The temperatures on Vancouver Island are comparable to those in Germany, even in winter. However, if you want to go further into the mainland in winter, you can also expect temperatures below -20°C there.

About the host university

Overall, how was the quality of the courses and lectures?
How are the facilities at the host university? Some of the buildings and technology are a bit outdated, but there is everything you need to study. There is a dining hall (Mensa), Library, Starbucks, group study rooms, a stationery shop...
Are there any special features on campus or anything that should be mentioned? The terrace of the dining hall (Mensa) is very nice. It's a great place to sit in the sun before or after a lecture, have a coffee and enjoy the view of the sea and the Coast Mountains on the mainland. I rated the dining hall with 3.0 (see above), because the food on offer is the same every day. There are rice bowls, wraps, burgers and snacks. The dishes are delicious, but not very varied and very expensive (e.g. veggie bowl 15 CAD).
How many hours a week did you have on average? 10
Did you have personal contact with the professors? Didyou also receive help outside of lectures? Yes, all professors were very helpful and you could simply approach them in the corridor or after lectures with any questions.
Are there special introductory courses for visiting students (or an Erasmus week, for example)? Yes, there is an introductory week during which some events are compulsory for all international students.
Did you have specific contact persons at the foreign university? The International Office is the contact for all organisational questions.
What are the transport links to the campus like? The transport links are very good, there is a bus stop with many lines in the centre of the campus.
What are the sports facilities on campus like? There is a gym, professional football, volleyball and ice hockey teams, as well as fun teams for indoor football and volleyball.
Do you have to pay for the sports programmes? Yes, but the prices are reasonable.

About the courses and lectures attended at VIU

Course: Statistics I
Lecturer: Eric
Credit: 3 CP
Teaching format: Lecture + practical training
Form of assessment: 4x midterm (11.25%), final exam (25%), homework, practical training reports
Is the course recommended? Yes very much
International Business
Lecturer: Paul Cleaver
Course load: 3 CP
Teaching form: Lecture
Form of assessment: Final exam, group work
Is the course recommended: Yes
Corporate Finance
Lecturer: Andy Linn
Credit: 3 CP
Teaching form: Lecture
Form of assessment: 2x Midterm (30%), Final Exam (40%)
Is the course recommended: Yes

Leisure activities

What leisure activities does the study location offer? Great offer with outdoor activities such as surfing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, rafting, skiing, climbing etc. Unfortunately, a large part of this "Outdoor Recreation" programme was discontinued by VIU at the beginning of 2024.
Name a few local attractions in the city!The park down by the water is beautiful.
Which tourist attractions in the surrounding area should you have visited? Victoria is a beautiful city on Vancouver Island with many students, the Rocky Mountains are worth a trip, Tofino is a great place to go surfing, Cape Scott Provincial Park is very nice for multi-day hikes.
Are there any restaurants, bars or museums worth mentioning nearby? There are a couple of nice bars in the city ("The Nanaimo Bar", "The Vault Cafe" or "Old City Station Pub"), and there is also a pub on campus with various events.
Are there any special features of the local cuisine? The vegetarian and vegan options are very good in most restaurants and everyone has to try poutine at least once.

Final considerations - Conclusion

How would you rate your stay abroad overall? I was very satisfied with my semester abroad at VIU. I experienced a lot, travelled a lot in nature and met new friends.
Did you choose the right time for your semester abroad? Yes, the winter semester is a good time for a semester abroad in Canada, as you only miss the September exam period at the university. It is possible to write the summer semester examinations before the semester abroad, then the examinations in Canada in December and then the winter semester examinations at the UAS in February/March. This means that you definitely don't "lose" a semester in your study plan, even if you only take a few modules abroad.
Have you made new friends? I made good friends who were also German exchange students.
How did you cope with the local language? The semester abroad definitely helped me to improve my English.
What advice would you give to other students on your degree programme who decide to spend a semester abroad at this foreign university? The best decision I made during my semester abroad was to buy a car with friends in order to be mobile. The transport connections in Nanaimo itself and to Vancouver are good, but you need a car to get to the countryside in the north of Vancouver Island or on the mainland.