Even before I started my Master's degree program, I knew that I wanted to spend a semester abroad. The opportunity to study in another country for a semester was one of the decisive reasons for choosing accadis as my university of choice. I had already heard many great reports from friends and acquaintances who had spent a semester abroad, which aroused my curiosity and made me want to gain my own experience.
Thanks to the Freemover program in the Master's degree program, I was free to choose destinations worldwide. I chose Canada for several reasons. The main reasons were my desire to study in a country where English is spoken as a native language, to get to know a culture outside of Europe and to discover the breathtaking nature.
Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University (TRU for short) is located in Kamloops, a small town in southwest Canada, about a four-hour drive from Vancouver. The university is named after the two rivers North Thompson River and South Thompson River, whose confluence can be admired from the university's slightly elevated campus grounds.
TRU offers numerous Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in various disciplines, which is why the campus is home to a diverse mix of students with different areas of interest. There are several student accommodations on campus, which allowed me to reach the lecture room within a few minutes' walk.
In addition to the academic part, TRU offers exciting leisure activities. TRU students enjoy free admission to the university's soccer, volleyball and basketball games, the on-campus swimming pool and sports classes that cover everything from cardio workouts to yoga. Typical Canadian catering on campus is provided by Tim Hortons, Subway and a restaurant.
Courses and lectures at TRU
The range of courses on offer at TRU is very extensive - I had a wide selection of courses to choose from. In the end, I chose: Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Principles of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and Leadership and Management Accounting. Of course, some courses were more interesting than others, but overall the very diverse course content offered me a good variety.
Despite the large student body at TRU, there is a familiar atmosphere in the lectures thanks to the relatively small study groups, which I liked. This makes it easy to ask questions and contribute to the lecture. This was not only welcomed by the lecturers, in many modules oral participation even made up part of the overall grade.
It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between the Canadian and German education systems. Apart from some similarities, the main difference between the two education systems, in my opinion, lies in the structure of the examination(s). While in Germany the grade for a module is often manifested in a single examination, the final grade in Canada is made up of numerous smaller examinations.
Tips and tricks
There is no general recipe for success for a successful Semester Abroad - everyone should use the time to gain their own experience. Nevertheless, I would like to pass on a few tips that I gained from my time in Kamloops.
- Use the LEAP program: It's worth checking the website regularly to see what activities TRU offers through its LEAP (Leisure Exploration Activity Program) organization. Here you will find very cool events especially for TRU students, ranging from hiking trips to ice hockey games to skiing lessons, and priced far below the normal prices for such activities.
- Explore Canada's nature: Canada's nature is simply enchanting and Kamloops is ideally located to travel to highlights such as the Rocky Mountains or Vancouver Island. That's why my tip is to use long weekends to hire a car and explore the surrounding area. Even the drive to the sometimes slightly more distant destinations is an eye-catching experience and the countless lakes, forests, rivers and mountains are a dream for anyone who enjoys spending time in nature.
- On-campus living: A personal tip from me is to live on campus. The ideal location close to the lecture buildings, but also within easy reach of downtown Kamloops, gives students a high degree of flexibility and the opportunity to reach the most important locations on foot or by bus. Student accommodation is also one of the best places to make friends and use the communal areas (kitchen, games room, etc.) to spend time together.
The bottom line
My expectations for the Semester Abroad in Canada were high, as described above, but the experiences and impressions that I was able to gather in Kamloops over the last few months have surpassed everything. The university, the city, its nature and the wide range of leisure activities all impressed me and formed a very good overall package. I am now one of those people who tell other people about the great time I had during my Semester Abroad, but I can only recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad to go for it and gain their own experiences.
Nils Radunz, International Management M.A.