Student Report
Name of the University: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Exchange semester: Fall 2014
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 exchange university around april-may the semester
before we would go on exchange and as for the application process and other
information, we did not encounter any difficulties.
- You can also contact Integrate Monterrey on facebook that will gladely help you with
pick up for from air port for free, finding housing, give a small tour and whatever you
want. They are really there for you no matter what.
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
- How did you apply for your visa, what did it cost and did you have difficulties?
There is no need to apply for visa since you are given 180 days upon entering the country
which is sufficient for one semester. If you are going to stay longer than 180 days (6 months)
it is possible to go across the boarder to the US and get a new visa when entering into Mexico
again.
Travel
- How did you travel to your destination?
We travelled with British airways starting with the first flight from Oslo to London, then
London to Dallas and then Dallas to Monterrey.
Housing
- Was housing provided by the university? If not, did you receive support from the
school?
Housing is provided by the university, but we were recommended not to take use of those
because of their strict rules. We lived in one of two apartment complexes, calles Torres Tec
(the other one called Villas Tec) about 10 minutes from the university which most of the
international students live as well as Mexican students. The apartments in Torres have three
bedrooms and two bathrooms while the ones in Villas Tec has three bedrooms and three
bathrooms.
Costs
- Approximately how much per month did you spend on rent, books, food,
transportation, and other personal expenses?
Rent
Books
Food
Transport
Other
2400NOK
100NOK
2000NOK
200NOK
NOK
Culture and language
- Did you have any language problems with the faculty or other students?
Everybody at the university speaks English so there was no problems in communicating with
the faculty or other students.
- How were the possibilities to experience the country and the culture?
There was many possibilities to experience the country and the culture, this is because of the
two organizations, International Stuendt Organization(ISE) and INTÉGRATE, which are
organizations that help international student enjoy their stay in Monterrey. These groups
arrange several trips during the semester, through all over the country,
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Please describe:
- The school (location, size, study structure, special academic areas etc.)
The school is much bigger and flatter in structure than BI, and there are even animals as
peacocks, ducks and deers on campus. When it comes to the study structure, there is a huge
difference from what we are used to in Norway. There is homework for every class and
weekly quizzes as well as partials three times in every course during the semester.
Course registration
- When and how did you register for courses?
In the introduction week at some point we went to the office of the person who helps
international students and chose our courses. Some of the courses we wanted was alredy full,
so we had to choose different than what we had gotten approved from BI, but there was no
problem getting them approved. We would recommend looking at when the classes are and
plan your schedule, for instance, you do not want classes Thursday or Friday morning.
- When did the add/drop period end?
We are not sure, because we didn´t drop or add any courses after the introduction week, but
since they take attendance and have homework every week, we would not reccoment waiting
too long.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
09.07.14
04.08.14
25.11.14
25.11-12.12
Arrival
- Describe the introduction week
The introduction week is nothing like BI Fadderullan, but on the other hand is every week
more like Fadderullan. We did not attend introduction week very much because we had
already been there for a month, but there is city tour, campus tour and other useful
activities. For the introduction more like Fadderullan you should go to the organizations
Integrate and ISE, they will show you Monterrey the fun way.
The International Office
- As an exchange student, did you receive sufficient and relevant information?
Yes. Mexcians are in general very helpful and you can ask about anyone about anything. If
you dont find your way to the classroom the first person you ask will most likely walk you to
the door and then bring you to a bbq after class. When it comes to information about school
and other stuff, we can’t remember having any trouble with it. Sometimes it is a little difficult
because the people who work there don’t speak English, but then a random by-passer will
translate for you.
Promoting BI and Norway
- What kind of activities were you involved in to promote exchange to Norway at your
exchange university?
Not really anything. If someone asked us about it we were honest and told them what is
was like, we did bring one of our friends back to Norway for exchange so at least we got
1.
Social activities
- How was the relationship with native students and that among exchange students?
Great! Mexicans are supereasy to make friends with. They always want to know about you,
abing you to parties and help you with whatever they can do. They love showing you Mexico
and are very nice and trustworthy.
- Are there any special activities, student organisations, and gatherings for exchange
students?
Yes, many. ISE and Integrate make it superfun to be an exchange student in Monterrey, and
they arrange trips, parties, talelt competitions, and in general just bring you to a lot of fun.
Whatever you are into you can be sure they will help you find it and come with you.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
- Compared to the more common teaching style in Europe, where we use big
audiotoriums at Tecnologico de Monterrey it is more common with small talk and
discuss with a close relationship with teacher and students. They practice a lot of
group work and presentation. All of this is quite informal with the presentations but
some formality with papers.
- The level was quite easier compared to BI, this may be because of the courses who
where taken. I will say that the workload is more or less the same overall, but at
Tecnologico de Monterrey it´s easier to obtain a passing grade.
Course materials
- The course materials are mostly online information and articles. The professors really
try to help all the students so they don’t need to buy books.
Exams
- Exam based on course lectures or given topic, no books.
- How was the course evaluated
o Final exam could come in all forms, some didn’t have final exam even. 2
courses was a final presentation of the semester big assignment. Multiply
chose exam and written normal exam.
o Some courses had mid term exam in some form, all this depended on the
teacher/professor. They where the boss of the course and if something didn’t fit
in they would remove it.
o There was small in class quizzes
o Small assignments everyweek, but nothing big.
o Presentations is really important in many classes we noticed
o Group work is mandatory it seemed.
o Class attendance mandatory, some classes you can have absence 3 and others
classes 6, but nothing more.
o Class participation/debates is also important for the grade and final evaluation.
Library and technology
- The facilities are really nice, with small parks and big gym areas spread around and on
campus. I would also say that if you look at the whole campus the school is huge.
Description of courses
Please list below all the courses you took while on exchange. Your comments are useful for
BI and for future exchange students, include information on the qacadmic level, challenges,
relevance to your studies, if the course was practical/theoretical, any enrolment issues, etc.
Course code & name
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
Final
presentation
None
Approved
as
Elective
AD – 3002.3 –
Management consulting
Bachelor
Final Pres.
None
Strategy
HI – 1003.1 – Basic
Spanish 1
Bachelor
Video and
written
None
Elective
NI – 1002.6 –
Negotiation skill and
International trading
Bachelor
Written and
multiply choices
None
Elective
AD – 2011.3 –
Innovation, markets
and technological
development
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
Comments
It was a
good class
with a
excellent
professor,
some work
every week.
Same
professor as
in AD2011.3.
quite giving
class
Spanish,
was not that
learning ful
because of
the
environment
This was a
quite self
explaining
course and
the
professor
was not the
best.
- It was a Life Experience.