By Sasha Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: April 11, 2012
Students are taking advantage of the outbound international program offered though UFV international. UFV international offers extensive programs through partnerships with many universities all over the world.
UFV student Kate Nickelchok is going to be attending Glamorgan University in Wales in the coming fall semester.
“I’ve been wearing a permanent smile since finding out I would be traveling to Wales! I’m excited for the chance to live and learn abroad.”
The program Nickelchok is studying abroad with is called Tradewinds, an exchange offered through UFV’s business department. Though there is much potential for the application process to be complicated, Nickelchok said that despite the process being a bit slow, she has received a lot of help and cooperation.
“The application process was surprisingly simple. Applying to study abroad was easier than trying to register for courses!”
“Although the process is sometimes slow, it is smooth and I’ve been really happy with support I’ve received on both sides of the pond … Since I was accepted into their program I’ve been impressed at their outreach ensuring I get the right visas and accommodation”
Another UFV student, Amy Van Veen, is currently studying in Germany at the University of Münster. Van Veen is in a different study abroad program, studying Diaspora Literature.
“The options for our particular program are within the English Seminar section of this university. This means that all our classes, papers and presentations are completely in English – a handy thing for a person who didn’t know a word of German before this semester,” Van Veen noted.
Also, before the courses began, they were given the opportunity to take a two-week intensive German course, where they learned the basics of the language.
“We are then able to continue this course without additional cost throughout the semester, which is something I am definitely taking advantage of.”
In this program, the York University and the University of Münster partnered with UFV for the study abroad program. Van Veen explained that after the semester, upon completing the literature courses and the German course, UFV students will be returning for the winter semester with full-time UFV credits.
Van Veen is so far pleased with her experience with UFV international. “The support here at the University of Münster is tremendously well-organized. There are specific departments, contacts and events held particularly for international students because it’s a program that runs every semester.”
However, because this is a newer program, there were a few complications that arose as things carried on. “Since Canada, though, is somewhat outside of this network and therefore seemingly new to the process, there were a few things that were not communicated and basically not known until we were in the thick of it here in Germany.”
Small things, such as setting up internet, and figuring out phones and banking, were issues that Van Veen noted she has had to work out by herself – things that administrators wouldn‘t necessarily know.
“One way this could have been improved, I think, is for previous international students at UFV to act as a support or at least put together some sort of a handbook for future students.”
This, Van Veen said was the extent of her complications. “Other than that, there’s not much else other than my inability to ride a bike, which is a tragedy for someone living in the cycling capital of Germany and I’ve only had one questionable food experience when I accidentally ate veal sausage.”
For more information of UFV’s study abroad program, and to find out what study abroad program you are eligible for, go to UFV international’s homepage at http://www.ufv.ca/international.htm or email any questions to StudyAbroad@ufv.ca.
