Student Report
Name of the University: Tecnologico de Monterrey
Exchange semester: Fall 2015
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
- When and how did you receive information from the exchange university, and did you
encounter any difficulties?
We received information from the school by email in May. They told us that we were
accepted to Tecnologico de Monterrey, we just had to send over a copy of our passport
and give some information about our self to the school. They were very helpful and
quick with answering the emails.
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
- How did you apply for your visa, what did it cost and did you have difficulties?
We just needed a student visa because we only stayed for one semester. That is
something that they give you at the airport. We had heard that it was important to have
the acceptance letter from the school and the proof from “lånekassen” ready to show
in the airport. It was no problem to get the visa, but something important is to not
loose it caused it is needed when exiting Mexico.
Travel
- How did you travel to your destination?
We travelled in airplane. It took around 17 hours. We transferred in Dallas.
Housing
- Was housing provided by the university? If not, did you receive support from the
school?
We came in contact with a student organization called ISE (international student
embassy). They helped us with finding an apartment in “Villas Tec”. ISE helps a lot of
exchange students with housing, mostly in “Villas Tec” or “Torres Tec”. That is
apartments which is located around 15 minutes walking distance from Tec and almost
all the exchange students live there, and also a lot of Mexicans who are not from
Monterrey. You can also rent from rentatec.mx
Costs
- Approximately how much per month did you spend on rent, books, food,
transportation, and other personal expenses?
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
2500 NOK
0 NOK
2000 NOK
300 NOK
NOK
Culture and language
-
Did you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
In Tec, almost all the students, the people who work in the international office and
teachers know English.
-
How were the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
It was very easy to get in contact with the Mexican people and therefore also
experience the Mexican culture. The school also had many events that we could attend
and we took a course called “Mexican culture” where we learned more about the
history of the country and also about Mexico today. People outside of TEC do not
speak a lot of English, so it is a good idea to know some words before arriving.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Please describe:
- The school
The school is huge. There are many different buildings, but you get a map when you
arrive so you don’t get lost. There is a main cafeteria as well as various other places to
hang out and eat like for example Starbucks and Supersalad. The school area is fenced
in, and you get a student card, which you need to be able to get in to the area. All of
the entrances are employed with guards.
Course registration
- When and how did you register for courses?
We had to submit the courses within 30 July. You do this through the account you
create on Tec’s webpages. Don’t worry, you will receive a detailed e-mail with all the
necessary information. The course selection process opens at 1 July.
-
When did the add/drop period end?
During the first week you can add and drop courses as you wish. The only requirement
is that the course is not full. If you want to add Spanish courses you need to be sure
that your Spanish level is right, and you have to take a test through Tec to find out
your level. The Spanish classes get quickly full, so I would recommend to select
classes early.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
1.08-2015
10.08.2015
5.12-2015
20.11-15 – 5.12-15
16.9 independence
day, 16.11 public
holiday
Other:
Arrival
- Describe the introduction week
During the introduction week there is several events. One event from Hi Tec and a lot
from ISE (student embassy). You get to know the school yard, how the Tec system
works, and there is a lot of parties where you get to meet all of the exchange students.
The International Office
- As an exchange student, did you receive sufficient and relevant information?
There was no lack of information. We got all necessary information through e-mail
and through Facebook groups.
Promoting BI and Norway
- What kind of activities were you involved in to promote exchange to Norway at your
exchange university?
We were part of the flag hoisting ceremony, and in general we promoted BI and
exchange to Norway to everybody. After this semester there were a lot of Mexicans
applying for exchange to Norway.
Social activities
- How was the relationship with native students and that among exchange students?
The social activities was one of the experiences that made this semester so great. Due
to the fact that all of us lived at Villas or Torres Tec (really close to each other) made
it even better. The student organization ISE arranges a lot of great parties and you get
to know all the exchange students. The natives you get most contact with is the
persons living in Villas Tec or Torres Tec and in general are part of the ISE.
-
Are there any special activities, student organisations, and gatherings for exchange
students?
There are several different activities to be part of. There is a lot of activities organized
by Tec but also from the ISE. There are several trips exploring México, which is great.
You get to se how the locals live in different parts of México and experience the
culture.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
- Describe the teaching style
The teaching style is very different from BI. Most classes consist of 20-40 students
and the classrooms are small. Most of the lecture is a combination of PowerPoint’s
and writing on the board. In almost all of the classes there is 3 exams and projects to
hand in with a following presentation. It depends on the teacher, but during the week
you have to write reports and do homework that have to be delivered before class. You
grade is being evaluated with a combination between exams, projects, homework and
class participation. One big difference between Tec and BI is that the teachers take
absence at Tec. The classes can either be 2X1,5hours or 1X3hours during a week. You
can have total 6 absences of the 1,5hours classes and total 3 absences of the 3 hours
classes. Some teachers are strict and you will fail the course if you exceed the absence
but others does not care.
-
How is the level and workload compared to that at BI?
The workload is really different from BI. At BI you can choose yourself if you want to
study during the whole semester or study hard before your final exam. At Tec you
have to study during the whole semester due to the fact that you have 3 partial exams
and homework/cases that have to be delivered.
Course materials
- Describe the course materials used
At Tec you don’t have to buy any books. All of the lectures is based on Powerpoint,
which will be posted on Blackboard (similar to Its´learning). The exam is based on the
Powerpoints. For the projects you are applying the theory from the classes and
contribute by your own research.
Library and technology
- Describe the facilities
We never used the library, but we have heard from other students that it was good.
The facilities are really good at Tec, and there is wifi all over campus.
Description of courses
Please list below all the courses you took while on exchange.
Course code & name
Example:FIN123
Finance
Project Evaluation,
FZ2016
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
Approved
as
Elective
Comments
4-hour written
exam
4 Partial exams,
1 project
None
Finance from
BI
Elective
Good
teacher, not
to heavy
workload.
No lectures
only final
project.
Self study
course
Easy
course, not
to heavy
workload,
but one big
project.
The teacher
was
difficult to
understand.
Heavy
workload.
Heavy
workload,
and
difficult
materials.
Very
advanced
English.
The teacher
went way
too fast
International Strategic
Management NI3010
Bachelor
No exam
1 Project
None
Elective
Management and
Business Model
Innovation AD1005
Bachelor
3 Partial exams,
1 Project
None
Elective
Doing Business in
Latin America NI3029
Bachelor
3 Partial exams,
2 Projects
None
Elective
Introduction to
Mexican Culture
H1011
Bachelor
3 Presentations,
3 papers to be
delivered
None
Elective
Spanish as a Foreign
Language 1A HI 1007
Bachelor
3 exams,
3 oral exams
None
Elective
through
Spanish if
you don’t
know
anything
from
before. Not
heavy
workload
and easy
exams.
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
It has been a great experience coming to another country, Mexico, to see how they live and
study. The study experience here is vastly different from the Norwegian way. In Tec de
Monterrey you have to go to class to not fail the course, and you also get loads of homework
that all affect your final grade. This was really a challenge to get used to, and to be honest I
prefer the way its done at BI at home. Because there you can focus on one thing, instead of a
hundred assignments that all seem kind of small and meaningless.
The social aspect of studying here is amazing, we have got to know so many new people from
all over the world. A big part in this has been the International Student Embassy (ISE) as they
create events, trips and parties for the students and it helps you create friends for life. I highly
recommend for new exchange students to contact ISE on their webpage as they provide help
with housing and airport pickup completely for free.
All in all this has been a great semester that we will never forget, and it has helped us create a
wider network of people for future job opportunities.