Hi all!

I'm thinking of applying for an international exchange next year, and I'd like to know more about other McMaster students' experiences with international exchanges. I know I can hear a lot of great stories from students who are part of the committee at McMaster University, but I'd like to know if there's anything other than just wonderful things about it. Really, I just want to know more before making a decision.

That being said, I would love to hear ANYONE'S international exchange experiences.

If it matters I'm thinking of applying to Australia, England, and Amsterdam or perhaps Scotland.

Thanks!

Did you decide to go on exchange? I'm thinking of going on one as well.. Do you have any tips or advice that helped you make your decision? What's the difference between exchange programs and study abroad programs? If anybody else has any advice or stories to tell of their exchanges, please post thanks

I think studying abroad, you just go. Exchange programs you switch with a student from where you are going to study.

Not sure about University, but in High School we didn't have to pay for housing because the students slept at each other's houses.

My friends who did exchanges (France, England) had to pay for their own residence. One stayed in res, one rented an apartment in lieu of staying in res.

Originally Posted by lorend

My friends who did exchanges (France, England) had to pay for their own residence. One stayed in res, one rented an apartment in lieu of staying in res.

I guess university is different then.

I would love to go on an exchange =)
Is there a list of places to go on exchange for engineering students? ( I can only find the ESAP for Russia and Brazil but I was thinking of going to France, Korea or China)
Also, is it possible to do an exchange for the summer term or does it have to be 8 months/during the school year?

Me too! It would be awesome! Probably the study abroad program is much easier than an exchange in my opinion! What are the costs in general? I guess residence is the most costly aspect of the whole thing.?

Originally Posted by starlight

I would love to go on an exchange =)
Is there a list of places to go on exchange for engineering students? ( I can only find the ESAP for Russia and Brazil but I was thinking of going to France, Korea or China)
Also, is it possible to do an exchange for the summer term or does it have to be 8 months/during the school year?

Here is a list of all the Exchanges possible.

http://www.mcmaster.ca/oia/programs.htm

There are some in France, Korea and China for engineering. Although Korea and China are just for mobility only. But anyways, it lists the countries, if it's undergrad or grad, if it's in english and who you have to contact. So it's very useful.

ok thanks everyone for the help. i also found some more information on mcmaster's and other universities' website.

Starlight, check out this website for more info: http://oisa.mcmaster.ca/WSAguide/goingabroad.cfm. Mac has exchange agreements with various universities around the world, which are all listed here: http://www.mcmaster.ca/oia/programs.htm. but you can also study at other universities not listed, however you have to organize it yourself and pay tuition at the university you will be studying at (this is the "Study Abroad" option). whereas, if you do an Exchange Program, you pay tuition at mcmaster.

Not only residence will be expensive, school fees will also be expensive as you will be considered a foreigner, and most universities required foreigners to pay at least twice if not thrice the amount of standard school fees (if you were a local student).

Originally Posted by sara_h216

Me too! It would be awesome! Probably the study abroad program is much easier than an exchange in my opinion! What are the costs in general? I guess residence is the most costly aspect of the whole thing.?

so if you do the exchange program, you pay tuition to mcmaster. if you do the study abroad option, you pay tuition to the overseas school (which would likely be much more expensive being an international student). then on top of that is obviously your housing, food, entertainment costs that you'd have to pay regardless, and then flights.

Originally Posted by Stan

Not only residence will be expensive, school fees will also be expensive as you will be considered a foreigner, and most universities required foreigners to pay at least twice if not thrice the amount of standard school fees (if you were a local student).

In the end it should only be twice as expensive. Tuition is normally 3 times as high, but supplementary fees are so high that it normally reduces the total payment to 2 times as much. But yeah, it's because of international students that local students can attend university at a much lower cost. Imagine if there weren't any international students! :o

Originally Posted by merissa

so if you do the exchange program, you pay tuition to mcmaster. if you do the study abroad option, you pay tuition to the overseas school (which would likely be much more expensive being an international student). then on top of that is obviously your housing, food, entertainment costs that you'd have to pay regardless, and then flights.

Ohh I see the difference now, Thanks!
And thanks Jeremy for the link.

Originally Posted by merissa

unless you go to a uni that has an exchange agreement with mac, then tuition will be the same as it would be if you stayed at mac

Well yeah, because of the agreement. It's most likely because students from the university abroad come to McMaster so neither University looses out. Or both Universities loose out depending on how you look at it XD