Welcome frosh, to Waterloo Engineering, where we try to help your career, long term, to be the best possible for you. And what has international exchange got to do with this? If you have lived most of your life in Canada, with just a few trips overseas for holidays or to visit relatives, you can really win by going on exchange to a foreign country and being totally immersed in their environment. The experience is often life-changing; it can open your eyes to the outlook, traditions and culture of your host country and to many peoples around the world. You will meet other exchange students from all the continents when you are at one of our partner universities for your 3A or 3B term (or both!). You will make life-long friends and contacts from around the world.
International Exchange is a privilege which we offer to students who have completed 2B and satisfy a number of other criteria. So why think about it at the beginning of 1A? It’s a great opportunity that deserves to be high on your list of things to plan for. It needs preparation, organization and forethought. If you plan ahead you can be among the 15% of your class who can go on this major adventure and learning experience.
We have exchange programs with almost 80 top-tier universities in about 30 countries around the world. You need to evaluate which best suits your needs; some of our exchanges are restricted in numbers, some are open only to certain disciplines of engineering, for some you need to learn the language spoken in the country and used for instruction. In some of our exchanges it’s easiest to go for a one-term exchange; in others two terms, or even a full year including a work term is best. All this is a part of planning for your future career, which could take you anywhere in the world. To get started, visit our website, www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~exchange for a wealth of detailed information and all the contacts you need to help you in the process.
If you’re concerned about money, more and more scholarships and bursaries are becoming available to help. Normally exchange students lose no time on exchange and graduate with their class.
Finally, exchange is great for fun, travel and adventure. You will visit parts of the world that stay-at-home students may never experience. Don’t take my word for it; talk to students who’ve gone, or read what they have to say. For example:
“I wouldn’t have traded my experiences for the world. My time on exchange was great: I got to go traveling and backpacking, got to meet some fantastic people from all over the world, and I graduated on time with my class and my friends! … If you are even just considering an exchange, I recommend without the slightest reservation that you go. Waking up and looking forward to every day in a new country… that’s just not a feeling that you get [if you stay at home]!” – Matthew Lee, Systems Design
Doing an exchange was probably the best decision I have ever made. I learned so much about engineering (of course), but also about European culture and history, and simply interacting with people of an entirely different background. The time and distance away from home, and the completely different lifestyle was definitely not easy to adjust to, but these aspects made the whole experience worthwhile. – Winnie Tse, Mechanical
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