Travel Report Carleton University – Winter 2017
424071
PreparingforexchangeIdidmyexchangesemesterinCarletonUniversityintheWinter2017.Theuniversityislocatedin
Ottawa,Ontario,Canada.OttawaisthecapitalcityofCanadaandhasapopulationoflittleover
900000.Beforearriving,IwasalittleworriedthattheymightspeakmostlyFrenchinOttawa,but
itturnedoutthatEnglishwasthemainlanguage.CarletonisaquitebigUniversitywithover
25000studentsandthecampuswasalotbiggercomparedtoAaltoUniversity.
Documentsneeded:
• Youdon’tneedastudypermit/visainCanada,ifyourexchangelastssixmonthsorless.
• YouneedanElectronicTravelAuthorization(eTA)totraveltoCanada.Itcanbeacquired
online.
• CarletonUniversityalsorequirescompletingoneofthesetests(TEOFL/IELTS/CEFRC2)to
proveyourEnglishproficiency.However,IwasabletogetawrittencertificatefromAalto
University’sEnglishlecturerandIdidn’thavetospendfewhundredeurosforthetest.Ihighly
recommenddoingthesame.
AfterbeingacceptedtostudyinCarletonUniversityIreceivedanemailinfopackageandapost
packagefromtheUniversity.Ireceivedmystudentnumberwhichallowedmetosetupa
MyCarletononeaccountwhereIcouldapplyforresidenceandchangemycourses.Iappliedfor
residenceassoonaspossibleandwasofferedanapartmentfromLeedsresidence.Leedsisagood
choiceifyouarelookingtostayincampusresidence,becauseitismeantforthirdyearstudents
andoveranditispopularwithotherexchangestudents.Thewholecampusisalsocoveredwith
undergroundtunnelsthatareconnectedtoallofthebuildingsintheuniversity.Itisvery
convenient,especiallywhenitisfreezingcoldoutside.IfyouaregoingtoCanadaonanexchange
duringthewintertermIwouldrecommendnottobuytooexpensivewintershoesastheyusesalt
tosmeltthesnowanditcanruinyourshoesquitebadly.
TheuniversityalsorequiredmetopurchaseUHIPinsuranceforthetermandthepaymentwas
addedtotheuniversitystudentaccount.ThiswasusefulformeasIhadtoseethedoctoronce
duringmyexchangeanditwaseasyandfree.Carletonalsorecommendedstudentstopurchase
OC-TranspocardthatallowsyoutofreelyuseallofthebusesandO-traininOttawa.
CarletonUniversityislocated15minutesawayfromtheairportandcaneasilybeaccessedwith
busortrain.Irecommendarrivingadayortwobeforetheorientationandifyouaregoingtostay
intheuniversityresidence,youcangetyourroomadaybeforetheorientationtosettleinwithno
hurry.
ExchangestudiesThewintertermstartedonJanuary5thandthefinalexamperiodendedonApril25th.The
mandatoryorientationsessionforexchangestudentswasonJanuary4th.Theyallowedexchange
studentstomoveintocampusresidenceonedaybeforetheorientation.Theorientationsession
coveredthebasicsoflivinginOttawaandstudyinginCarleton.Itwasagoodopportunitytosee
otherexchangestudentsalso.
Aftertheorientation,theISSOorganizedatriptoanearbyshoppingmallsostudentscouldbuy
necessaryitemslikebedsheets,pillowsandhangers.Theapartmentsincampusresidencehad
onlyabed,atableandashelfforclothes.Theresidencealsohadalaundryroomthathadwashers
anddryersthatworkedonyourstudentidcard,towhichyoucouldaddmoneyto.
Thecoursesofferedwerequitelimitedbecauseofprerequisitesneededandmanyofthecourses
werenotavailableforexchangestudents.Thecoursesalsocouldn’toverlapwitheachotherwhich
madeitquitedifficulttogetallofthecoursesneeded.AaltoUniversityrequiredtotake5courses
intotaleventhoughCarletonrecommends3coursesforexchangestudents.5coursesmeantalot
ofassignmentsandgroupworkwhichtookalotoftime.Thecourseswereprobablyabiteasier
comparedtoAaltoUniversity’s,buttherewasmoregroupworkandassignments.
ThecourseswerequitedifferentcomparedAaltobecauseoftheamountofgroupwork.Mostof
thecoursesalsohadmanyassignmentsthatweighted15-30%onthefinalgrade.Thismeantthat
mid-termsandfinalexamsweren’tsoimportantasyoucouldpassbyjustdoingwellonthe
assignments.Mostofmycoursesrequired50%totalpointsofalloftheassignmentsanexamin
ordertopassandsoifyoualreadyhad50%ofthepointsbeforethefinalexam,youhadalready
passedthecourse.
Eventhoughtherewasalotofgroupwork,Ireallyenjoyedit.ItwasagoodwaytomeetCanadian
studentsandworkwithpeoplefromdifferentbackgrounds.Allofmycourseshadmid-termexams
andfinalexams.Therewasa1weekreadingweekwithnocoursesbeforethemid-terms.Thefinal
examsstartedonthe7thofAprilandlastedtill25th.Ihadmylastexamon24thofApril,butsome
ofmyfriendshadtheirlastfinalexam2weeksbeforethat.
BUSI2121BIntroOgranizationalBehavior(6ECTS/undergraduate)ThelecturerwasPh.D.studentanditwashisfirsttimeteachingacourse.Hecouldn’treally
capturetheaudienceandthelectureswerequiteboringbecausehewasjustrepeatingtheslides.
Classeswereheldonceaweekandtheywere3hourswithnobreaks.Thecourseexaminedthe
theoryofindividualandsmallgroupbehaviorinorganizations.Topicscoveredweresuchas
perception,personality,values,motivation,leadership,groupdynamics,communication,conflict,
powerandchange.Thiscourseincludedagroupworkwheregroupswerepresentingatthe
beginningofeachclassaboutoneoftheconceptsthatwillbecoveredinclass.Overallthe
workloadwaslightercomparedtoAaltoUniversity’scourses.
EvaluationCriteria1.ClassPreparationandParticipation15%
2.Midterm20%
3.GroupWork25%
4.FinalExam40%
BUSI2204BBasicMarketing(6ECTS/undergraduate)ThiscoursewasheldmyMarzenaCedzynskiwhowasinspiringandhadbackgroundinbusiness
whichmadesomeofherexamplesmoreinteresting.Thecourseconsistedofweeklylectures,
shortMarketingassignmentsandagroupproject.Topicscoveredonthecourseincluded:
o Segmentation,TargetingandPositioning
o MarketingResearch&BusinessMarketing
o DevelopingandManagingProducts
o Pricing&PromotionDecisions
TheworkloadonthiscoursewassimilarorlightercomparedtoAalto.Iwouldrecommendthis
courseasitcontinuesfromwhere“Markkinoinninperusteet”endedinAalto.
EvaluationCriteria
1. AttendanceandParticipation10%
2. MarketingNewsBites10%
3. MarketingPlan(Groupproject)–Writtenreport
4. MidtermExam20%
5. FinalExam35%
BUSI2701DFundamentalsofIntlBusiness(6ECTS/undergraduate)TheinstructoronthiscoursewasWilliamClementswhohadalongbackgroundininternational
businessandhecouldprovidetheclasswithalotofreallifeexamples.Coursewasinterestingand
wasalsopopularamongmanyotherexchangestudents.Thiscourseexaminedtheconceptual
andpracticalaspectsofinternationalbusinessandthemanagementoffirmsoperatinginan
internationalenvironment.Topicsincludedinternationaltradetheory,internationalbusiness
environment,tradeagreementsandregionaleconomicintegrationandglobalstrategyand
marketing.
TheworkloadonthiscoursewassimilarcomparedtoAaltoUniversity’s.Thereweretwo10page
assignmentsthatwerequiteeasy,butwith4othercoursesatthesametimeitwashecticat
times.Overallthetopicswereinterestingandlecturerwasgreatmakingthiscoursemysecond
favorite.Irecommendyoutakethiscourseasitisalsoanicebalancetoothercoursesbecause
thereisnogroupworkonthiscourse.Boththemidtermandfinalexamhad100multiplechoice
questionsandwerequiteeasyifyoupayattentionduringlectures.
EvaluationCriteria
1. Assignment#120%
2. Assignment#220%
3. MidtermExam20%
4. FinalExam40%
BUSI3007BAuditing(6ECTS/undergraduate)“Thecoursebeginswithanexaminationoftheprinciplesandtheorywhichunderliethepracticeof
auditingfinancialstatements.Inparticular,conceptsofmanagementassertions,auditobjectives,
evidence,materialityandrisk,internalcontrol,auditplanning,andreportingareexaminedand
discussed.Thecoursealsoexaminesauditingasaprofessionalactivity,includingtopicssuchas
professionaljudgement,ethics,legalliability,andtheresponsibilitiesofauditorstosociety.Other
assuranceengagementsarealsoaddressed.”
TheProfessoronthiscourse,MerrideeBujaki,wasgreatandwasabletocapturetheaudience
andexplaineventhehardertopicssothattheymadesense.Thiscoursewasprobablymyhardest
oneasithadsomanynewtermsandphrasesandIdon’trecommenditforexchangestudent
unlessyouareinterestedinauditing.Thecoursehadagroupprojectthatlastedforthewhole
semester,buttheworkloadwasn’ttoomuchtohandle.
EvaluationCriteria
1. Quizzes(2x5%)10%2. Mid-termExamination115%3. Mid-termExamination215%4. GroupProject30%5. GroupProjectPresentation10%6. FinalExamination20%
BUSI3705BInternationalBuyerBehaviour(6ECTS/undergraduate)InternationalBuyerBehaviorwasmyfavoritecourse.ProfessorRojas-Mendezwasagreatlecturer
thatcouldgettheclasstoparticipateanddiscussaboutthethingstaughtintheclass.Thiscourse
wasaboutculturaldifferencesandvaluesthataffectconsumers.Ithadalotofinterestingpoints
thatIhadn’tthoughtaboutbeforeandalotofpracticalexamples.Overall,thiscoursewasmy
favoriteoneandmostinteresting.Iwouldrecommendchoosingthiscoursealsobecausethere
werealotofotherexchangestudentsandnationalitiesonthiscourse.
EvaluationCriteria
1. 2In-classtest(20%/15%)2. “UnderstandingImpactofCulture”project
TeamPaper15%TeamPresentation10%
3. “ICBanalysis”projectTeampaper10%Teampresentation15%
4. ClassParticipation15%
FreetimeandotherinformationThecostoflivingwasquitethesameasinHelsinki.Itwasquiteexpensivetostayinresidence,but
Ithinkitwasworthitbecauseoftheconvenience.Therewasalsoalotofotherexchangestudents
livingincampusanditwasgoodwaytomeetthem.Therewasagym,aswimmingpoolandanice
skatinghallonthecampus.Theyalsoofferedgroupexerciseactivitieslikeyogaforstudents.
Allofthecoursesrequiredcoursebooksandmostofthemwerequiteexpensive.Iboughtone
bookandrentedonefromtheUniversitystore.Idon’trecommendbuyingthecoursebooks
becauseofthehighprice.Youcanloanthebooksfromthelibraryfor2to4hoursatatimeand
that’swhatIdidmostly.Formepersonally,only1bookwasusefulandfortheothercoursesthe
slidesandothermaterialswereenoughtodowellontheexams.
IboughtanallaccessmealplanthatallowedmetoeatintheschoolcafeteriaasmanytimesI
wanted.Typically,Iatebreakfast,lunchanddinner.Breakfastwasgreatwithalotofdifferent
optionssuchasbagels,oatmeal,eggs,bacon,pancakes,waffles,yoghurtsandfruits.Forlunchand
dinnerthereweremanyfoodstationswhereyoucanchoosefrom.Typically,theyofferagood
varietyoffoods,butitcangetquiterepetitivewhenyoueatthereeveryday.Theuniversityalso
hadfoodcourtwithlotofdifferentoptionstochoosefromandmanycoffeeplaces.Itwas
convenienttodepositmoneytoyourstudentcardandpaywithitandyoualsogota10%discount
byusingit.Therewerealotofcoffeeandsnacksoptionsalso,likeStarbucksandTimHortonsand
manyothers.Walmartcouldeasilybeaccessedbybusortrainandithadagoodvarietyof
groceriesandotheritemsneededforthesemester.
TheISSOarrangedmanydifferentactivitiestoexchangestudentslikesnowshoeing,boardgame
nightsandtourstodifferentplacesinOttawa.Ihighlyrecommendattendingasmanyasyoucan.
Otherorganization,CUEx,astudentranorganizationorganizedpartiesandhostedaweeklypub
nightattheuniversity’spubforexchangestudents.TheyalsoorganizedtripstoQuebecand
Torontoforexchangestudents.
Thereweremanypossibilitiesforshopping.RideauCentrewasthebiggestshoppingmallinthe
centreofOttawawithalotofdifferentshops.Therewasalsoashoppingoutletwhichwasone
hourawayfromuniversity.Theyofferedroughly40%discountstobrandclothessuchasCalvin
KleinandTommyHilfigerandIwouldrecommendcheckingitout.ItwasnexttotheCanadianTire
CentrewheretheOttawaSenatorsplayedtheirgames.IfyouwanttogowatchNHLgamesyou
shouldaskforticketsfromISSObecausetheymighthavecheaperticketsforstudentsoratleast
knowwheretogetcheapertickets.CarletonUniversityalsohasabasketballandhockeyteams
thataredoingwellandthegamesaregreattowatch.
TheweatherinOttawacouldchangequickly.Itcouldbe-25onedayandthenextdayitwas+3
rainingwater.Duringmytime,therewehadmuchmoresnowthatusuallyinFinland,butthe
Canadiansusesalttoquicklysmeltthesnowtheroadsandwalkingpathswerealwaysingood
condition.ThepeopleinOttawawereveryfriendlyandsocialandfrommanydifferentcultures.
TravellingDuringmyexchangeItravelledtoMontreal,TorontoandNewYork.Ifyouwanttotraveltothe
U.S.youneedtogetESTAonline.TomysurprisetheflightsfromOttawawerequiteexpensive
comparedtoflightsinsidetheU.S.IusedgreyhoundbusestotraveltoMontrealandToronto.
Theywerequiteconvenientandcostaround60CADforaround-trip.WetraveledtoMontreal
withotherexchangestudentsandrentedanAirbnbapartmentthere.MontrealandTorontowere
alotbiggercomparedtoOttawaandIwouldrecommendvisitingbothcitiesastheyhadalotof
thingstoseeanddofromNHLandNBAgamestomuseumsandshoppingpossibilities.Ifyouare
goingtotravelIwouldrecommenddoingitduringreadingweekandbeforealloftheassignments
andgroupworksstartkickingin.
Finalcomments
IwouldrecommendCarletonasanexchangeuniversity.Ididn’thaveanyproblemsandeverything
workedwell.TheISSOstaffwasveryhelpfulwitheverythingandyoucouldgetinformationfrom
them.ThecoursesofferedweremostlyinterestingandIlearntalotofnewthings.TheUniversity
isalsopopularamongotherexchangestudentsandinternationalstudentsandtherearealotof
peoplewhoareinthesamesituationasyou.Igotalotofnewfriendsduringmyexchangefromall
overtheworldandgreatexperiences.
Overall,IlearnedtoworkbetterinmulticulturalteamsandcommunicatemorefluentlyinEnglish.
Itisalsoagreatexperiencetomovetoadifferentcountryanditwillmakethenextexperiencego
moresmoothly.
Top Related