6 reviews
4.98 / 5 based on 6 reviews
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pamela w
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel, Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Down town Calgary is loaded with art galleries and cafes, but for the best spots to hang out head for Kennsington near the ACAD campus. For a cheesy night out go to Electric Avenue which is lined with pubs and clubs, and for the true Calgary (cow town!) experience 'Cowboys' is a must!!!!
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pamela w
Housing
Type of housing: With a family
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why?
Living with a family was the most amazing experience of my life so far. I was part of the community and felt like I was living in an american/canadian sit-com. I met more people than if I lived in Uni halls and I've now got a second home and family for life!
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Personal comments
There was limited accomogation on campus as more people choose to flat. It was small and very busy all the time. I had a lot of friends there but they did not venture out far from home. It was also very expensive, with NO meals included and not many shops near by to but things.
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pamela w
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Government assistance
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
Telephone - all local calls are free in Calgary, so phoning friends was easy, and the family I lived with put some of my home(scotland) numbers on a dicount scheme with the telephone company, so I got 25% off all those calls!
Accomodation and food - came together with the family I lived with and was less than my rent on my flat at home, mostly I ate with the family of they left stuff for me. I got home made pancakes and maple syrup when I got every weekend!!
Travel - I spent a lot of time travelling at weekends to places in Alberta - its such a huge country, you've got to be prepared for the cost of going long distances. Travel to and from college was either with the C-train (very cheap and quick) or I got a lift so not much expence there.
Overall - I spent more money than I would at home because I travelled so much and did alot of stuff outwith Calgary. I also stayed in Canada a few months extra and moved into a flat up in Banff(in the middle of the Rockies) so I spent a lot living there and also I went snowboarding every day which bumped up the cost - well worth it though!!!
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Food, Telephone, Housing:
was more expensive than at home.
Nightlife:
was the same price as at home.
Overall, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Don't open a bank account there - its just as easy to use travellers cheques and the banks have all kinds of weird charges and conditions - there are plenty of places to change you travellers cheques, both on campus and Downtown.
If you are going to spend some time snowboarding or sking then try and buy your lift pass at the end of the summer - I got mine in september and it was under half price (5 days up there and it was paid off!!)student discounts apply as well.
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pamela w
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
All in english so no problem with the language. Having a Scottish accent everyone wanted to speak to me and was so helpful in showing me how things are done and taking me places.
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pamela w
Overall
I wish I had known...
If I had know that I could have finished off my schooling there I would have tried to do that!
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Calgary is a great city to go to for any university - you have everything you want in one city and the mountains right beside it. ACAD is one of the best art colleges in North America and have the best tutors and students that I've met!!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Travel light - everyhting is cheaper out there - so you can buy lots!
Youth Hostels are the way to meet people outside of Calgary and there is loads to see in Alberta!
Try and link up with a family to stay with, you'll have plenty of friends in halls anyway so its good to have both.
A night in 'Cowboys' is a must!!!
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pamela w
Academic
Course recommendations
Tell them you are an exchange student and you get into pretty much any course you want, regardles of your degree choice at home. Anything from papermaking to glassblowing, photograpy to weaving! Great choice of stuff to do.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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