Experience report
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795023
Daan Driessen
D.A.J.Driessen@gmail.com
Autumn 2013
2013-2014
Université Laval
Canada
Introduction
In this report I am going to share my experiences that I have gained throughout my exchange. During the
exchange program I went to Université Laval, Quebec Canada. I was able to broaden my ways during the
exchange in academic terms, social environment, and most important international experiences.
Quebec is an old French-speaking city which is situated in the eastern part of Canada. Quebec differs from
most of the Canadian cities because of the French influence. The city has a lot of history and it can be found
throughout the whole city. For example, Château Frontenac, a hotel that is situated in the center of Quebec
and has a great view on the Saint-Lawrence River.
Admission, arrival, housing
I began my trip with a flight from Amsterdam to Montreal. After my arrival at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau
International Airport, I found a hotel nearby the train station. I stayed a few days in Montreal to taste the
incredible sphere of traveling. On my first day I experienced a little jet lag and woke up very early in the
morning. I explored the city and went to the Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame. This is the history museum of
the famous ice hockey team. After three days I continued my journey via train to Quebec City. Traveling with
the train is very easy in Canada and is organized in a way the Dutch Railways could learn from. When I arrived
in Sainte-Foy (Quebec) I took a cab to the university dorms to find myself a room.
The rooms were already booked in advance and I could choose one on the spot that suited me best. However
there was no difference in size of rooms, I took a room on the ninth floor. After a while I came to the
conclusion that choosing a room on such height was not a smart idea. Namely, there was only one elevator for
the whole dorm and in the morning a lot of people had to go to the university and took the elevator. On the
other hand, the good aspect of living in a dorm is the people you meet. For example, when you are going to
cook, you are never alone and most of the times we ate with a lot of people. Next to that, each room had a
phone which was free to use within the department of Quebec, this made communicating with other students
very easy.
Location of university/city
Université Laval is located in Sainte-Foy, this is a major suburban neighborhood in the western part of Quebec
City. Because I lived in a Dormitory, it was only a five minute walk to classes. When you take the bus to
downtown Quebec (this is a 25 minute bus ride), you will find many little restaurants and old pubs where you
can have a good diner/lunch. Most of the places are a bit expensive but there are a few restaurants that are
payable for students and have such a nice things on the menu. You can find many different sorts of dishes, but
Poutine is a typical Quebecois dish and a must eat when you go for an exchange to Quebec.
We usually went one or two times a week to clubs. There are a few clubs and pubs in downtown Quebec that
are really great in the weekend. On Thursdays the pub in the university is a nice place to go. However, going
out to a restaurant or pub was very expensive and you had to pay a minimum of 15 percent tip on the things
you ordered.
The sporting area was located on the university, and it had everything you could wish for. The complex has
three indoor football fields, eight Squash fields, two Olympic swimming pools, a big football stadium which has
12.750 places and many more. Université Laval has the best Canadian university football team and it was
wonderful to taste the sphere during a game.
Academics
During my application I had to choose five courses, these courses had to be approved by Tilburg University
before going on exchange. One course I chose was denied because I already did a similar one. I finally took the
courses Venture Capital, Human Resource Management, Development of Global Markets, Strategy of
Internationalization and International Marketing. These courses seemed to have the most added value to my
study at Tilburg University. The way of teaching at Université Laval was different from the one at Tilburg
University. The classes I had were given in small classes with around 40 students. The workload was almost the
same except for the group assignments. At Université Laval I had an assignment for every course. The big
difference with Tilburg University was that all the courses had mandatory lessons which you had to follow.
The campus of the University was very wide and big. Luckily, I had all my classes in the same building and it
was only a five minute walk from my room. The campus also had an underground network that is used during
the winter. Every building is connected with each other so that you could stay inside.
Social life
The business administration faculty (FSA) of Université Laval organized many activities for the exchange
students. The first week after my arrival in Quebec, there were several things organized such as the opening
game of the Football team, a boat party, Rafting and many parties at night. The FSA also organized multiple
trips to many big cities, for example: New York, Boston, and Toronto. The trips were really good and it helped
the students to get to know each other even better. I met a lot of nice people which I am still connected with. I
have travelled to many other cities on my own to see the beautiful landscape of Canada. For example, I have
been to Tadoussac to see whales, the Niagara Falls, and many different national parks to do some hiking trips
Living costs
During my exchange period I spent a lot more than I had expected beforehand. Quebec is really expensive and
as I said before, the tips are additional on everything you buy in pubs/clubs and restaurants. I planned a lot of
trips to cities that sometimes took me 10 hours to get there. To finance my stay and trips I worked for several
years which gave me the opportunity to do all the things I wanted to do, I also received the normal student
grant from the Dutch government of 270 euros. Next to that I had a reimbursement for my public transport
card of 90 euros. Below you can see the monthly costs:
-
Housing: 250 Euros
Food and going out: 450 Euros
Transport: 30 Euros
Books: 300 euros
Miscellaneous (trips etc.): 300 Euros
TOTAL: 1330 Euros
Culture
During the exchange I did not experience a ‘culture shock’, of course there are some differences in culture but
they are not very notable. For example, the prices in supermarkets, restaurants and bars are listed without the
Value Added Tax. This means that when you are looking at the prices, you have to count an additional 15
percent extra. Another difference is the tip that you have to give to waiters. When you are going for a night
out, and you want to buy the first round, you should give the waiter a big tip, when they notice it, they will
come to you sooner next rounds.
Quebecois people have a strong cultural identity and they are very nationalistic to their own state. The FrenchEuropean influence is strong in Quebec and they see themselves as different from their neighbors. I have
travelled to a lot of cities both in western Canada as in North America and the differences are very notable.
They people in these cities are very open and are eager to get to know you.
Personal development
During my exchange I learned a lot of new things, especially on personal development I experienced some
differences. Being on your own in a different country and continent makes you more aware of yourself and it
gave me a feeling of getting thrown in at the deep end. If I could do it all again, I would do it in the very same
way. It was an experience I will never forget. The new friends I met, the cities I have been to, and the trips I
made. The most important lesson I learned about myself during the exchange is that I am more independent
and more pointed to the goals I want to achieve.
Tips for future students
I would definitely recommend an exchange period to everyone and therefore I would also recommend
Université Laval as host university! I really enjoyed my time in Quebec and I did things that I could only dream
of. I personally think that it is not about the destination, but about broaden your ways and meet new people.
This all gives you an experience that you will never forget.
Besides don’t worry too much before you leave. Only prepare the most important things such as VISA, finance,
courses, and room. All the other things will work out when you are in Quebec. The people at the university are
very helpful and they will ensure you that everything will run smoothly. If you have any questions, don’t
hesitate to contact me, it is very helpful to ask people about their experiences.
A picture is worth a thousand words