"The study abroad experience was extremely rewarding... one of the best years of my life." - Evie Hempstead
Studying abroad was something I always dreamed of doing and was top of my criteria when searching for universities. I love travel and so the ability to continue my studies while satiating my desire to travel was a very attractive opportunity for me! Despite already having made the move out of my family home in Northern Ireland to come to Glasgow, many of my school friends also made a similar move and I wanted to spread my wings. I was keen to gain new experiences and immerse myself in a new culture. I also felt studying abroad would allow me to learn more about law on a global scale and develop a deep understanding of societal contexts in which legal systems operate. Despite facing some challenges, the experience was extremely rewarding and I learnt a lot about myself!
In conducting research into destinations, I based my preferences on English speaking countries with a similar culture to the UK, drawn to the idea of a ‘home away from home’. Canada stuck out to me due to its seasonal climate, diverse landscapes and beautiful scenery, as well as the many travel opportunities. McMaster University was the perfect location and provided the best of both worlds, situated on the western tip of Lake Ontario, making it ideal for anyone who loves the outdoors and being a one-hour drive from the vibrant city of Toronto! It also neighboured the US and popular tourist destinations such as Niagara Falls. McMaster University is a prestigious educational institution with many famous alumni and its excellent academic record also impressed me. It is a campus university, which was very helpful in enabling me to settle in quickly and adapt to the new environment as everything I needed was right on my doorstep, including a free and impressive gym, cafes, restaurants, shops and various study spaces. I was fortunate enough to be able to secure accommodation on campus, which was costly, but very convenient and worthwhile. A prerequisite of living on residence was to purchase a meal plan. This meant I was able to purchase meals and snacks from any of the on-campus eateries at a discounted rate- therefore, I did not have to tackle the prospect of cooking, grocery shopping or washing dishes. My accommodation did provide basic kitchen facilities, so I had the option to store food and I had my own room with shared bathroom facilities. Many others opted to share a room for a lesser price, however, I found having my own space and privacy to be very important as the year progressed. Arranging to live on campus was one of the best decisions I made!
I also undertook various other administrative tasks in preparation for studying abroad including applying for my study permit, organising health and travel insurance, opening a Canadian bank account, entering contract with a new phone network provider and making travel arrangements. Tackling each of these tasks simultaneously and under time constraints allowed me to develop my organisation and time management skills. The whole experience of travelling solo and planning the move instilled within me a profound sense of independence. I found the application process for the study permit to be particularly confusing and stressful! I also found it difficult emotionally having to say goodbye to all my family and friends for a whole year! Despite these initial hurdles, as soon as I got on my flight, my fears quickly morphed into excitement, and I knew I had made the right decision!
My first impressions were that it was very sunny, very sporty and everyone was very friendly! The campus had many impressive sports facilities such as a track, pool, football and soccer pitches, tennis courts and a 3 storey gym! There was a high emphasis on sports as well as a broad variety of societies to join at the freshers’ fair- from chess to acapella society- I made the most of every opportunity and tried out for dance club, synchronised swimming and the university musical!
Despite being a western and wealthy country, I still experienced a sense of culture shock. Canada is extremely multicultural and the difference in the demographic composition was striking. I was inspired by the diversity of the student body and the emphasis on inclusivity, equity and progression at McMaster, which was reflected within the country. The facilities were extremely accessible for those with disabilities, and they celebrated ethnocultural and religious diversity such as recognising various cultural holidays and supported the founding of diverse societies such as the Bollywood society. As I was living on campus, my floormates were all 3 years younger than me and so I was worried we would not have a lot in common, however they were all very welcoming and our community advisors (CAs) arranged weekly meet ups to discuss any queries and concerns! The Wellness Centre also provided reassurance and mental health support. The exchange team at McMaster were very proactive and the orientation ceremony allowed me to meet other exchange students from the UK and all other parts of the world, whom I had a lot more in common with. It was at this point that I became acquainted with some of my current best friends and met 2 girls from University of Glasgow, who I didn’t know before! We attended various social events organised by the exchange team, a trip to Walmart various and other freshers’ events. From here, I settled in very quickly and Canadian trademarks such as Tim Hortons coffee and Boston pizza became fast favourites!
I quickly fell into a daily routine, attending classes, using the sports facilities, studying at the libraries and meeting friends at one of the many eateries! Living on campus meant everything was walkable and we received a bus pass which allowed us to travel around Hamilton for free and to Toronto for a discounted rate. We used this mostly on weekends to explore the city and go to bars and nightclubs. One of the downsides of living on campus was the lack of nightlife; the drinking age in Canada is 19, so the social culture was a big change from home! Despite this, many social events took place on campus such as football games and fairs – as well as frat parties at student houses nearby, most weekends- to which we became avid attendees! The stricter alcohol policy also allowed me to explore other pastimes such as hiking, lake swimming and debating. I also often spent weekends travelling or on trips with other exchange students!
I have had many memorable experiences whilst in Canada including spending thanksgiving with my mother’s second cousins in Pickering, celebrating ‘Homecoming’ – the start of the football season festival, frat parties, watching my first ice hockey and baseball games, visiting Niagara Falls and the CN tower. I have also been able to make the most of my time here in Canada, seeing as much of the country as possible– often writing essays on long bus journeys – to Montreal, Quebec, Niagara, Toronto and fitting in an amazing road trip around the coast of the US at the end!
You must be wondering how I afforded all of this, which leads me on to one of the biggest challenges I faced whilst studying abroad- cost! Although tuition fees are the same and my student loan covered these, accommodation, flights, numerous costs associated with international travel such as visa fees; the general cost of living adds up. It is very important to budget. I took on a part-time job whilst studying, working as a kitchen porter at one of the restaurants on campus. This was a rewarding experience, where I was able to experience working life as well as student life in Canada and met a diverse range of individuals from various backgrounds. As well as providing me with a supplementary income, it allowed me to save for travelling, and gave me a sense of routine and responsibility. However, it is important to maintain a good work life balance and make sure you don’t allow work to prevent you from taking once in a lifetime opportunities. I made sure to clarify my availability to my employer from an early stage. It was also a complex process to obtain status as a working individual in Canada, requiring me to open a Canadian bank account and obtain a Social Insurance number (SIN)- but I would say it definitely helped me to stay on top of my finances. On hindsight, one thing I wish I had done differently was to apply for more study abroad scholarships, this might have helped cushion my income.
Study Modules
Despite not having a law school, being classified within the Social Sciences faculty allowed me to study interesting modules which enhanced my understanding and knowledge. These offered insights into human behaviour and institutions which are critical for comprehending broader implications of legal decisions and gaining a more holistic understanding of justice system helped me to decide what area of law I wanted to focus on in my final year of studies and going forward. For example, studying ‘force, fear, crime and punishment’ provided me with insights into the injustices and key areas for reform within western criminal justice systems.
In terms of choosing which classes to take, it is important to make sure credits are equivalent to honours at University of Glasgow (guidance on credit transferability is found on Moodle and on course catalogues at your host institution). Ensuring my timetable was transferable was stressful and time-consuming and I am very grateful to Steven McKinnon (International Mobility Officer at UofG) for being very patient in dealing with my bombardment of emails shuffling and reshuffling my choices until they eventually satisfied the requirements!! The exchange team at McMaster University were also very helpful, allowing drop-in sessions 24/7 to chat with your Advisor and waiving any prerequisites as they saw fit.
Studying in Canada provided me with a different academic experience. My university placed a lot more emphasis on participation in seminars and often favouring group work over examination-based learning. Working with a diverse range of individuals and engaging in class discussion opened my eyes to various cultural perspectives on topical issues. For example, when studying Canadian Society, Health and the Law, I gained knowledge on the significance of cultural preferences in health care and of migrant worker frameworks such as SAWP. I also learnt much of the rich heritage of indigenous individuals in Canada, which make up 5% of the national population, as well as learning about the history and importance of bilingualism.
I believe that Canada’s reputation for politeness and tolerance enhanced my moral values, making me more accepting of and sympathetic to social and ethnic minorities and their experience of otherness, especially in the UK, where marginalisation is much more prominent. I feel I have gained a much broader political perspective and am now more informed to contribute to topical discussions in both academic, professional and informal settings.
Summary
Overall, I loved my exchange to Canada and could not recommend it highly enough for those of you considering this option. Any challenges were outweighed by the numerous positive experiences and I can confidently say this has been one of the best years of my life.
