University: Vancouver Island University

City: Nanaimo

Country: Canada

Continent: North America

Field of study: business administration

Study type: semester abroad

My semester abroad at Vancouver Island University, organized by MicroEdu, was a complete success!

The application process was super easy, all you have to do is get the necessary paperwork, fill out the form and send it all to MicroEdu. After a few weeks, the university has accepted you and you can start taking care of everything else. I applied for a place in the Western Student Residence and got a room. I shared a room with a Canadian woman, which worked out really well and she became a good friend. The 28 other students in the house were also very friendly and enjoyed their stay. Of course, the residence also has the advantage that you don’t have to walk long distances or rely on the buses. Check mcat-test-centers.com to see Hawaii Pacific University.

I took 5 courses this semester:

• MARK 160 – Introduction to Marketing
• FNCE 130 – Introduction to Finance
• GLST 200 – Global Economic Issues
• MGMT 192 – Principles of Management
• MGMT 293 – Human Resource Management

It’s definitely more work than at German universities, but it’s also very interesting and due to the elaborations and several exams per course, it’s not too difficult to get a good grade if you invest the necessary time.

I liked the courses MGMT 192 at Sarah Holding and MARK 160 at Bruce Ballam best. Sarah is a very well organized lecturer, has a lot of professional experience (also internationally) and is humorous. Marketing with Bruce is fun and you learn through his experience and teaching in a very comfortable environment.

The relationship with the professors is also generally very pleasant, most of them learn the names of the students relatively quickly, which creates a more personal level. This and the relatively small courses (30-60 students) provide a very good basis for learning the content successfully. Working out case studies in small groups is also helpful and, among other things, makes it easier to get to know your fellow students.

The campus is really big and spread over several levels, which means there are quite a few stairs to negotiate. But with the great views of the mountains and the cute campus rabbits that are everywhere, the effort is quickly forgotten. The university is fairly well equipped and offers many activities and excursions. The gymnasium/gym is very appealing and the kickboxing class was a good activity. In addition, trips to Vancouver, Victoria and Tofino are offered, which are definitely worthwhile. A trip to the Canucks hockey game in Vancouver was really interesting. The VIU also has volleyball, basketball and soccer teams.

However, I was most excited about the music building. There are about 10 rehearsal rooms equipped with pianos. I used this opportunity extensively with friends.

Nanaimo itself is a quieter city, but offers some recreational opportunities. For example, you can take a small ferry to the neighboring smaller islands (e.g. Newcastle Island) and go for a hike with beautiful views. Another tip for hiking is Ammonite Falls, which is about a 20-minute drive away. It includes a small climb down to the waterfall, but it’s not a big hurdle.

It takes about 25 minutes to walk from the college to downtown, which is really convenient. There are very good restaurants there, such as Pirate Chips, and you must definitely try the Deep Fried Nanaimo Bar. If you take part in the Scavenger Hunt during the introductory week of the Residence, you’ll even get one for free there;)

All sushi lovers will love Nori’s, I’ve never had better sushi anywhere. It is close to the Woodgrove Center Mall which by the way also has all sorts of shops.

Regarding the introductory week, I can only recommend taking part, it’s definitely worth it ! You learn a lot about the university and get to know the people you spend the semester with. In addition, the physical well-being is also very well taken care of, because there is breakfast with pancakes, scrambled eggs, and much more and every evening a good dinner, which is prepared by the students of the Culinary Arts Program.

If you have any questions or are unsure, you can confidently contact the staff of the International Office and they will give you good advice.

All in all, I can recommend this university with a clear conscience and I wish all other VIU students an equally great time!