Name of the University: DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
Name of the student: Nghi Luong
Exchange semester: Spring 2009
1. ACADEMIC INFORMATION
General Information about the School
 McMaster University is located in suburban Hamilton, which is the 9th largest city
in Canada, approximately an hour away by bus from Toronto.
 McMaster has a long-standing reputation as Canada’s “most innovative”
universities. http://www.topuniversities.com/schools/data/school_profile/default/mcmasteruniversity
 As a business/commerce student you will belong to the DeGroote School of
Business. The university is huge compared to BI as it offers education within
disciplines such as engineering, medicine, marketing, social science etc.
 McMaster University has approximately 15000 students and about 1300 students
at DeGroote School of Business. The University has its own GO bus station with
frequent departure.
The Teaching situation
 All courses are taught in English and are pretty easy to follow. In most classes the
instructor expects everyone to participate in discussions as it has a greater learning
outcome as well as it will affect your total grade.
 There is usually a TA (Teacher’s Assistant) in each class where you can ask for
help, in some courses they are in the class marking the students on their
participation.
 The amount of work really depends on the courses you take. However, I found it
pretty intense with weekly assignments, quizzes, group work, presentation, midterms and final exams. But you will always have time for fun and travel as well.
 The university is approaching the "McMaster Model" - a student-centered,
problem-based, interdisciplinary approach to learning. I found the teaching in
most of my courses to be more practical oriented rather than theoretical. Real life
cases are applied to theoretical framework. For example, in 4MC3 New Product
Development, our group worked closed with a company in order to develop a
marketing plan (launch plan) for its new product.
 The professors as well as the Canadian students are very approachable and
friendly. You will probably find most of the Canadian very effective when
working together with group projects.
 In most courses WebCT (except the course 4MC3) is used which is equivalent to
Blackboard as BI. On WebCT professors will post all the lecture notes, important
news, course outline etc. It is wise to frequently check the WebCT.
Required Literature
 All books used at DeGroote are in English and are fairly easy to read. In some
courses there is both mandatory and recommended literature and in some courses
you have to download certain articles or read web pages for the lectures.
 I found the PP-slides, lecture notes as well as the textbook very helpful when
studying for the midterms and final exams. I would recommend in 2FA3 Intro to
Finance and 3QC3 Production and Operation Management that you do as much
problems solving/ calculations you can.
Exams
 The final exams as well as midterms were all MC, multiple choices. In 4MC3, it
was no final exam, however we had to write a final report and a final presentation.
 In Canada you have to pass a test with at least 50% of the total mark.
 The exam period starts April 8th and lasts until April 28th.
Other
 There are 4 libraries at McMaster University. Mills Memorial Library
(Humanities and Social Sciences), Innis Library (Businnes/Commerce) in the
DeGroote building, the H.G. Thode Library of Science and Engineering, and the
Health Sciences Library in the Health Sciences Centre.
 All students have easy access to all the libraries, however, most
business/commerce students are to be found in Innis as it has all the business
books, and there are even textbooks you can borrow for few hours.
 Innis has one quiet study area and 8-10 group rooms, which can be booked for
max 2 hours. Compulsory course literature, laptops and computer accessories
(mouse, headphones etc) can be borrowed for max 2 hours using your student
card.
 There are 15-20 stationary computers, which can be used for as long as you like.
However, most people have their own lap-top, which can easily be connected to
the wireless internet at the school.
 I used to study both in Innis and Mills. Mills Library is the biggest and during the
exam period, one area is open 24/7. There are also more computers in Mills.
 The McMaster Student card can be used to rent books, functions as a bus-pass,
and remember to bring it with you to midterms and final exams. If you loose the
student card, you have to pay $30 CAD to get a new one. One incident, I was
going to write my final exam, when I suddenly realized that I’ve lost my student
card. During the exam, I was pulled out to make a temporary student card. It can
only be used once and cost $30 CAD, which was charged to my student account.
REMEMBER, before leaving back home; check at the Student Accounts and
Cashiers that you pay your payments for the money you owe. If you still have
money in balance, you won’t get your transcript.
 You can use the Library card to print out stuff. There are printers stationed in
every library. The card can be bought in every library for $5, and money can be
added to the card through a machine.
 All distribution of information (schedules, grades, cancellations) is made online.
Description of Courses
Course name:
2SO3 Communication, Negotiation and Group Skills
2FA3 Introduction to Finance
3BC3 Human Resource Management
3QC3 Production and Operation Management
4MC3 New Productive Development
Prereq.
Basic Marketing
Basic math and calculation
Basic Marketing
Basic Marketing
Basic Marketing
Commerce 2SO3: Communication, Thinking and Group Skills
This course is divided into 2 Modules where each module is worth 50% of the total
grade. it is a fairly easy, interesting and fun course that requires students to participate
in order to get some learning effect. This course teaches you how to build effective
negotiation skills through group discussion, group presentation, in-class activities and
exercises, which is a great way to interact with other students in the class.
MODULE 1
Participation (Attendance and Role Preparation) 5%
Mid-term Exam 45%
Total 50%
MODULE 2
Participation 5%
Presentation 10%
Final Exam 35%
Total 50%
Commerce 2FA3: Intro to Finance
This Course introduces the basic concepts and models of modern financial theory.
Major topics includes; the time value of money, the tradeoffs between risk and return,
security valuation and capital budgeting. The workload is fairly heavy, it is online
quiz’s almost every other week, 2 midterms and 1 Final Exam. It is encouraged to
solve problems and ask a TA for help if needed. (TA= Teacher’s Assistant)
Course components and weights:
Best 5 of 6 Short WebCT Quizzes 10%
Midterm #1 25%
Midterm #2 25%
Final Exam 40%
Total 100%
NOTE: The McMaster standard calculator (Casio FX-991) is only allowed during
examinations in this course.
Commerce 3QC3: Production and Operation Management
In this course you will learn how to understand the strategic importance of operations
and about supply management and quality control. Two professors taught this course.
The first term was taught by one professor, which was more theoretical based, the
second term was taught by another professor which was more calculation-based.
Course components and weights:
Midterm #1 30% or 25%
Midterm #2 30% or 25%
Final Exam 40% or 50%
Total 100%
Commerce 3BC3: Human Resource Management
This course provides a basic knowledge of the key aspects of managing human
resources in domestic and multinational organizations, emphasizing the link between
human resource policies and practices and organizational strategy. Materials in the
midterms and final exam are based on the textbook, lecture material, PowerPoint-
notes and discussion in class. In addition to midterms and individual essays, this
course also gives you a great opportunity to work with other students through HRM
Simulation. It is a group project where each group makes different Organizational
decisions done online. All the groups are competing with each other to be the most
effective organization. You will get points for how well you do in the HRM
simulation and also based on the final report.
Course components and weights:
Exercise #1 (individual) 5%
Exercise #2 (individual). 5%
Mid Term Exam Multiple Choice Exam (individual) 30%
HRM Simulation HRM Simulation Project (group) 25%
Final Exam Multiple Choice Exam (individual) 35%
Commerce 4MC3: New Product Development
This course is about the management of new products from idea through to product
launch. The course has a strong practical and applied orientation, which consists of a
combination of lectures, case discussions, videos, class exercises, a client report and
presentations. Cases and presentations are graded on the basis of teamwork. Also, in
the class there is a TA (Teacher’s Assistance) who takes notes on the students’
participation. Active participation in this course will provide you with the opportunity
to gain practical tools and approaches. Furthermore, this course will enhance your
ability to communicate your ideas, solutions and recommendations (both oral and
written).
Course components and weights:
Test #1 Multiple Choice / Short Answer Test (individual) 20%
Group Presentation Client Project Deliverables and Timelines (group) 5%
Test #2 Multiple Choice / Short Answer Test (individual) 20%
Group Presentation Client Project Presentations (group) 15%
Group Final Report Client Written Report (group) 30%
Participation In-class participation and contribution (individual) 10%
= Total 100%
2. PRACTICAL INFORMATION ON THE SCHOOL AND THE EXCHANGE
EXPERIENCE
Information before you left
 I received the information package in June that included information regarding the
insurance, important deadlines, pick-up form, information meetings for
international students and also a certificate saying you are accepted at McMaster
University, which you need to show the immigration authorities when you arrive.
The university web site is confusing and was hard to find relevant information.
Overall, no problems which could not be overcome. It is required that you have
some sort of insurance. Most international/exchange students at McMaster
University have the UHIP insurance, but I signed up with ANSA.
Visa Procedure and travel experiences
 There is no need for visa if you are staying there less than 6 months.


I got my ticket for about 5800 kr round-trip. I flew with Air Canada through
London Heathrow and landed at Pearson Int. airport in Toronto. It’s also possible
to fly to Hamilton Int. airport which is 30 min away from Hamilton.
A shuttle bus picked me up at the Pearson airport, which drop me right outside my
house. McMaster University will provide you the transportation only if you have
signed the pick-up form. When you arrive at Toronto airport just ask someone for
directions to this pick-up service, they will not pick you up at the arrival-area.
Academic Calendar
 I came to Canada on 2nd of January and my first day of school was 5th of January.
 Last day of the semester was 28thth of April
 Last day classes was 6th of April
 Examination period is from 8th of April to 28th April
Reception
 First day at school I went to the Office of Registrar (Gilmor Hall) to register and
didn’t have any problems expect from finding where to do different things. Be
aware of long queues and come early. The admin. Office open 09.30 am.
 The University has a buddy-system, and if you want one you need to ask for it.
Remember to sign up for this before deadline. Thanks to my buddy, the first week
went by pretty smoothly and she showed me places of the campus.
Housing
 You can either live on-campus or off-campus. Most graduate students live off
campus and it’s also cheaper as you don’t have to pay for the meal plan. All
exchange students live in same building on-campus and can therefore be a good
opportunity to mingle. Also it’s not guaranteed that you will get accommodation
on-campus as it’s decided through lottery.
 In the information package you find a link to search for housing off-campus which
I used to search for accommodation. You have to find it yourself, as the school
doesn’t help you.
 www.macoffcampus.mcmaster.ca
 I lived off-campus, but you could say it was almost on campus as it was only
100meters away. Usually it is not that hard to find housing off-campus. I sent a
mail saying I was interesting in subletting a room, few days after the person
replied and the room was then mine. I also know some got their house after they
came to Canada. You just have to look around.
Costs
 I paid CAD 400 per month all furnished for housing off-campus and shared the
basement with 2 other Canadian students. There were 8 students all together
included me who lived there. Electricity and other expenses came additionally.
Books are cheaper here as I bought used books. I think I paid around CAD 300 for
books needed in 5 courses. It is a good idea to search for used ones at the Tank
(bookstore). The books can be sold back to the bookstore at the end of the
semester, but the money you get back is so little that it’s almost not worth to sell it
back.
The International Office
 The International Office is located in Gilmore Hall. This is where you register
when you arrive and get your student card. If you have any further questions of
courses contact the Administrative office located in the DeGroote Business
building. The international office arranged a free lunch for the 2nd term
international students few days after the school started again after Christmas
break. They also arranged various activities such as pizza and bowling nights.
Social Activities
 There is a student organization called The Outdoor Club that arranges various
outdoor activities everything from trips to Niagara Falls, NY, Montreal to
canoeing, hiking etc. There are various people who join this club, not only
exchange students. It is a great opportunity to travel, experience and see new
things as well as to get to know other people. Highly recommended.

http://macoutdoorclub.ca/

There is a cool student pub called the Phoenix located not far away from
DeGroote building. After a day at school you can treat yourself with a great
burger and a pitcher while enjoying the atmosphere with your friends. There are
also different activities such as pool, dart, table football that are free to use.
Sometimes they even have karaoke nights. You can also watch games from the
TV.
Once you are settled and get to meet people, it’s not hard to make friends. We
were a group of exchange-students and Canadians that did social activities
together. There is not an International student-group (like INSA at BI) that will
arrange things for you, you will have to DIY (do-it-yourself)

Culture and Language
 I had no language problems with the faculty or other students but there are many
international students from Asia who may have accent hence a bit difficult to
understand.
 You will find it is very multicultural there. There are students with different
background and a lot of international students. Most Canadians know how to
speak French as well.
 My first week alone in Hamilton was a bit tough, as I didn’t know anybody and I
arrived to the house with nobody there. I arrived the 2nd of January and people
were still home for their Christmas break and the school was closed. But things
started to get much better and easier by the time.
 Near Campus it is a great hiking trail and waterfalls to visit or you can go to local
pubs etc.
 My impression of the Canadians is that they are very laid back, easy to become
friends with, very helpful and one of the greatest thing is that they are open
minded and volunteer in things that are of importance to them.
 Being a Business/Commerce student in Canada means you have to bring a nice
suit or outfit. Canadians are very formal in their clothing when going to a
Conference or having a presentation. Any happenings that are business related,
they usually dress up nicely.
Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
 I have always believed that traveling and studying abroad is a great asset not only
professionally, but also personally. Even though I have been on exchange before,
my exchange semester in Canada definitely is unique. It added value and
increased my network as well as it has changed my perception of how I view
things. It’s highly recommended to go for exchange to experience another culture,
language and to get to know people from all over the world. This would be the
time of your life.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me
Nghi Luong
nghi_lu@hotmail.com