Student Report
Name of the University: Tecnológico 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 all the information we needed over email not too long after we got accepted to
the school, like how to choose the courses we wanted to take, etc. It was no difficulties and if
we had any questions they were very helpful and quick at responding at the international
office.
Applying for a visa
- How did you apply for your visa, what did it cost and did you have difficulties?
When living in Mexico for less than 180 days there is no need to apply for visa. When we
came to the airport in Monterrey we got a visa for 180 days, categorized as other, by
showing our acceptance letter from the school.
Travel
- How did you travel to your destination?
We had a flight from Oslo to New York, stayed there for five days, and then we flew to
Monterrey through Houston.
Housing
Housing is provided by the university, but we were recommended to live in Torres tec or
Villas tec, which is an apartment complex which is located about ten minutes from the
school. Almost all of the international students live here, which makes the environment
amazing. We rented an apartment in Torres tec, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Costs
- per month:
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
2800 NOK
0 NOK
1500 NOK
200 NOK
-
Culture and language
- Did you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
All the teachers and students in our courses speak English, but those who work in the
cafeteria etc. only speaks Spanish.
- How were the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
There was a lot of possibilities to get to know the country and culture because of the student
organizations ISE and Intergrate. They have a lot of events and trips which are amazing!
Recommended!
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
- The school
The school is a lot bigger than BI Oslo, it is a campus with about twelve buildings, a lot of
cafeterias, a gym, etc. The study structure is a whole lot different with about twenty
students in each class, and weekly quizzes, presentation, homework, etc. You are working
the whole semester to reach 100% where one partial can count for example 15%, and you
pass if you get over 70%.
Course registration
- When and how did you register for courses?
We registered online during July. There is no problem changing the courses during the
first week, as long as the course you want is approved by BI and there is a spot free for
you.
- When did the add/drop period end?
The add ended after the first week of classes, while the drop ended on the 1st of October.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
Late July
10th of August
23rd of November
24th- 8th of December
16th of November
-
Arrival
- the introduction week
The introduction week is nothing like fadderullan, there are no arranged parties etc, it is
more about tours of the campus, the city, etc. But if you join ISE or Integrate in what they
have to offer, you are going to have a lot of fun! They have a lot of parties, trips, etc., and
they are all so including and fun people to hang out with. A lot of our best friends when
leaving Monterrey are the “staff” in ISE.
The International Office
- As an exchange student, did you receive sufficient and relevant information?
The first week we had a class with the international office where we got all the
information we needed throughout the semester, how to act out in the city and all the does
and don’ts. We also got all the information we needed on our self like, e-mail, login code
to blackboard and school site.
The international office was very helpful throughout the semester with everything it might
be, they came with us to the hospital, police. They also sent out information mail on what
was going on so we could experience as much as possible in Mexico.
Promoting BI and Norway
- What kind of activities were you involved in to promote exchange to Norway at your
exchange university?
We were not involved in any activities to promote.
Social activities
- How was the relationship with native students and that among exchange students?
The relationship between native students and exchange students were really good, all of
our classes where mixed, and also in the groups ISE and integrate there were both native
and exchange students.
-
Are there any special activities, student organizations, and gatherings for exchange
students?
Yes, as mention above they have two groups for gathering students, ISE and integrate.
They both arrange trips over the weekends, parties, kitchen race (where everyone cooks
for each other).
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
- Describe the teaching style
The teaching style in Tec is very different for teacher to teacher. Each week we had
classes we needed to attend, we could at most have six absents in each course. We had
mostly theoretical lectures and we had to work a lot in groups for homework. In class the
culture where informal, but when we had an oral performance it became formal, was
normal to put on nice suit and dresses.
- How is the level and workload compared to that at BI?
The learning process is quite different from BI, at Technologico de Monterrey we had
homework and quizzes every week, and also three partials throughout the semester. At the
end we either had a final exam or a final project.
Course materials
- Describe the course materials used
The course materials used the most was PowerPoint in every class, in some of the subjects
we also had books.
Exams
- Was the exam based on the course materials or on the lectures?
The exams was based on the lectures and materials we had gone through the semester. We
had three partials and an ending exam or final project that was covering everything we
had been through.
-
How was the course evaluated?
o Final exam
o Mid-term exam
o In-class quizzes throughout semester
o Small assignments and/or papers
o Presentations
o Group work
o Class attendance
o Class participation/debates
o Activities outside of the classroom
The courses was evaluated from all the above, plus a week called semana i. It’s a week we
could learn different languages, go on trips to learn about the Mexican independence history
etc. This weeks grade was 5 % of every course evaluation.
Library and technology
- Describe the facilities
The school had two libraries and they had study rooms with computers for the students to use
as they pleased. They school also had language labs where you could sign up and practise
your languages.
Description of courses
Course code & name
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
Three partial
exams and one
ending final
exam/project.
None
Approved
as
Elective
CF2015 Análisis de la
información financiera
Bachelor
None
Elective
HI1007 Español
lengua extranjera
Bachelor
None
Elective
TI2000 Gestión de las
tecnologías de
informacíon
Bachelor
None
Elective
TI1012 Tecnologías
de informacíon para
los negocios
Bachelor
Three partial
exams and one
ending final
exam/project.
Three partial
exams and one
ending final
exam/project.
Three partial
exams and one
ending final
exam/project.
Three partial
exams and one
ending final
exam/project.
None
Elective
NI3010
Administración
estratégica
internacional
Comments
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
This semester has been an amazing time in our lives that we will never
forget. We have meet some good people we will be friends with for the rest of
our life, we have seen some breath-taking places and seen the school system
through new eyes. We have grown in academic and human sense.