GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Student Report
Name of the University: HEC Montréal
Exchange semester: Fall 2012
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
HEC Montreal prepared everything very well and there was no problem getting the
information needed. Through Facebook they made a housing exchange group for all of the
international students – this made it easy to find others to live with, and get all the necessary
information about where to live, how to get in contact etc.
HEC had also organized a group of students – the exchange team. The exchange team sent us
e-mails about what to expect of the welcoming week, and was also very helpful in any
questions concerning the exchange semester.
Before arriving in Montréal you must apply for the different courses you would like to take.
This is easily done through their web site – just remember the deadline.
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
For Norwegian students studying one semester in Canada there is no need for a Visa.
Travel
Oslo – London – Montréal
At the airport we were welcomed by the exchange team, and they had organized cabs for us to
get safely to apartments/hotels.
Housing
The university does not provide housing, but they have organized teams to help exchange
students find suitable apartments. Before leaving Norway we got help through Facebook and
when arriving they had included “apartment hunting” in the welcoming week agenda for those
who did not yet have one.
Costs
Concerning rent there are a range of different opportunities and thereby also different prices. I
got an apartment with 3 others in a generally well-located place, and paid approximately 3500
NOK per month. You will also need a Metro/Buss card for four months, which is around 1000
NOK for the whole stay.
The books are more expensive than in Norway, though I used the library and thereby did not
need to purchase every book. There is also the possibility of renting books instead of buying
them.
In general you get more for your money in Canada than in Norway. Than again you may also
find a lot more things to spend your money on.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Culture and language
The exchange team made several trips possible for the exchange students that enabled us to
learn and understand the culture – and there were also conferences at the school in the
beginning of the semester. You can also sign up for an intensive French course the first week.
Despite the fact that HEC is a French speaking school in general, there was no bigger
difficulties studying there as an English-speaking student.
Cultural and social effects from the exchange experience
The exchange experience is most definitely an advantage for personal development and future
career possibilities. Through the semester you learn to surround yourself with people from all
over the world, as well as you get good practise on your English. Group work is well
appreciated in the school and therefore also a big part of the semester. Hereby you get good
experience and references that are well appreciated in today’s working environment.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The University is located a 20-minute buss ride (or metro) from down town Montréal. The
school is divided in two buildings, both with different classes and an own cafeteria. HEC
pursue a pragmatic approach as well as they pin course material up to today’s world. Through
the semester every course has several assignments, group works and presentations – where
everything counts in on your final grade. The workload is more continuous throughout the
semester than back in Norway.
Course registration
You will have to register for courses before the arrival. HEC provides with good and
informative e-mail on how to do this. Through the e-mails you get guided in how to use their
web page for adding/dropping courses.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
15.08.12
23.08.12
14.12.12
07.10 – 20.10
01.12 - 14.12
22.10 – 28.10
Arrival
The faculty was well prepared for our arrival. The first week was full of activities and
seminars that enabled the exchange students to get to know the city and each other. Dinners,
clubs, spa, scavenger hunts, sports day and sightseeing were just some of the activities they
had prepared for us.
Promoting BI and Norway
We participated with our own BI boot at the International Affair at the school. This day we
got to hand out brochures promoting Norway and our school to the other students at HEC.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Social activities
The exchange team had different activities and gatherings throughout the whole semester.
- Tuesday nights at ZAZ bar
- Thursday: welcoming drinks at the school followed by HEC’s official bar
- Trips: Boston, Cuba, Toronto, Quebec
- Sports: Hockey, curling
- Different sightseeing trips located in the Montréal area
- VIP nights at different clubs
- The Exchange Gala
Needless to say all of the exchange students got to know each other very well. Regards to the
native students you have to take some initiative of your own in order to get to know them.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
You are able to choose if you want to take your courses in English or French. I took all of
mine in English and did not have any problems with the language or the teachers. At BI we
often have one exam that counts 100% for our final grade, this is not how it is done at HEC.
Participation, hand-ins, quizzes, teamwork and presentations are all graded throughout the
semester and then summed to a final grade in the course.
Course materials
In class the professor usually used power point slides when going through course material.
Besides the books given in every course we got different cases and articles in class to discuss
in comparison with the course literature.
Exams
The exams were based on both the course material and the lectures.
The final grade was evaluated from
o Final exam (written)
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
Library and technology
- Do students have easy access to the library and its resources?
Yes
- Were computers provided around campus/in the library?
Yes
- How is technology used in teaching or to distribute information?
E-mail, student web
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STUDENT REPORT
Description of courses
Please list below all the courses you took while on exchange, including as many details as
possible. Your comments are extremely useful for BI and for future exchange students,
include information on the level of difficulty, relevance to your studies, if the course was
practical/theoretical, any enrolment issues, etc.
Course code & name
Master/
Bachelor
Bachelor
Exam form
Prerequisites
Mid-term: 3 hr
Final: 3 hr
International
Management
Bachelor
Information
Technologies in
Organizations
Bachelor
Strategy in
Organizations
Bachelor
Small Business
Management
Bachelor
Mid-term:
presentation and
discussion in
grop
Final: 3 hr
written
Six quizzes on
computer
Final: written 3
hr.
Mid term: 3 hr
written
Final: hand-in
group work
Hand in group
work
Final: 3 hr.
written
Group
presentation,
literature and
exercises
Group work
and
discussions
International
Financial
Management
Approved
as
Bachelor
Elective
Computer
Simulation
games
Elective
Litterature,
group work,
simulation
game
Group work
on self-chosen
small business
Bachelor
Elective
Overall a great exchange semester! Thumbs up for Canada, Montréal.
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