Name of the University: DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
Name of the student: Thea Brenden, Fabian Berg, Ragnhild Hoel Robertsen.
Exchange semester: Spring 2010
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
General Information about the School
McMaster University is located in suburban Hamilton, which is the 9 th 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, it was pretty intense with weekly assignments, quizzes, group work, presentation, mid- terms 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. The teaching in most of my courses tends to be more practical oriented rather than theoretical.
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 ELM is used which is equivalent to Blackboard as BI. On ELM professors will post all the lecture notes, important news, course outline etc. It is wise to frequently check the ELM.
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.
The PP-slides, lecture notes as well as the textbook are very helpful when studying for the midterms and final exams. It’s recommended 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 4ME3, it was no final exam, however we had to write a final report and we had a final presentation.
In Canada you have to pass a test with at least 50% of the total mark.
The exam period starts April 10th 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 4 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.
We studied 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, at the gym, 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. 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: Prereq.
2FA3 Introduction to Finance Basic math and calculation
2AB3 Managerial accounting 1
2KA3 Information systems in Business
3BC3 Human Resource Management Basic Marketing
3QC3 Production and Operation Management Basic Marketing
4MD3 Business Marketing
4ME3 Sales Management
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 2AB3 Managerial accounting 1
An introduction to concepts underlying the use of cost accounting information for managerial planning and control and for inventory valuation. The nature and analysis of costs and the usefulness and limitations of accounting data for decision-making, including ethical considerations, will be discussed.

Course components and weights:
Midterm 1: 30%
Midterm 2: 30%
Exam: 40%
Commerce 2KA3 Information systems in business
This course emphasizes the strategic role of information systems in modern business. Topics include: the technical foundations of information systems, the impact of information systems on business operations and decision-making and the processes that are required for successful implementation of business information systems.
Course components and weights:
Assignment 1: 10%
Assignment 2: 10%
Midterm 1: 40%
Midterm 2: 40%
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 4MD3 Business Marketing Management
This course is designed to prepare you for the unique challenges facing the practicing business marketing manager. Topics covered include: the nature of business marketing, the behavior of business buyers, segmentation of business markets, business products, and the promotion, distribution and pricing of business products. For the sake of interest and maximum learning the course carefully avoids undue overlap with your earlier marketing courses.
The course consists of two types of activities; in- class and out- of- class. In- class include lectures, discussion cases and guest speakers. Out- of- class include preparing a case text before class, and you have to carefully analyze each discussion case before class.
Required course materials: Dwyer and Tanner, Business Marketing, Third Edition, McGraw-
Hill Irwin.
Components and weights:

Individual work class participation 15% term exam 25%
Small- Group Work hand in case 15%
Large- Group Work
Written project report 35% project presentation 10%
TOTAL 100%
Commerce 4ME3 Sales Management
This course focuses on examining the essential functions of a Sales Professional in today's business environment. With the emerging nature of global and fiercely competitive markets, the onus is on the sales team within most business organizations to provide that vital edge.
Importantly, almost one in five business students find placement in the sales function upon completing their undergraduate studies. It is critical, therefore, for the commerce grad to prepare to take on this challenge when faced with it. The course introduces students to key theoretical framework for a sound foundation in the "science of selling" and allows for enough opportunity to experience the practical application of this theory in a controlled setting.
Required course materials: online sales training website. ($ 100 CAD)
Components and weights:
Participation in Class Discussion 20%
Leading Class Discussion on a Topic 5%
Completion of Jb Shadowing Report 15%
Sales Role Play- Interim 15%
Sales Role Play-Final 30%
Performance in Online Learning Project 15%
TOTAL 100%
2. Practical Information on the School and the Exchange Experience
Information before you left

We 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 overcomed. It is required that you have some sort of insurance. Most international/exchange students at
McMaster University have the UHIP insurance, but we signed up with ANSA.
Visa Procedure and travel experiences
There is no need for visa if you are staying there less than 6 months.
We got tickets for about 9000 kr round-trip. We flew with KLM through Amsterdam, 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 us up at the Pearson airport, and dropped us off at campus where we’re going to live during the semester. 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
We came to Canada on 2 nd of January and our first day of school was 4 th of January.
Last day of the semester was 28 th of April
Last day classes was 9 th of April
Examination period is from 10 th of April to 28 th April
Reception
First day at school we went to the Office of Registrar (Gilmor Hall) to register and we 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 mentor-system, and if you want one you need to ask for it. Remember to sign up for this before deadline. Thanks to our mentors, the first week went by pretty smoothly for each of us.
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 if you don’t want to live on campus. We chose to live on- campus. Two of us were places in Bates and one of us in Wallingford, a female building. We had to pay for a meal- plan, and we recommend choosing the smallest meal plan as possible since you lose the money you don’t spend during the semester. You can use your meal plan on almost all the food places at school. We paid around $3500 CAD for housing included meal plan.
Costs
Since we lived on campus we mostly used our meal plan when we bought food. Water is expensive at school, so we bought 12 pack of water at Fortinos to save some money. The water tastes a little chlorine, so we chose to buy instead. Food is generally cheaper than in
Norway, so are shoes and clothes. Books are cheaper here as we bought used books. 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. (Maybe 25% of the price you gave when you bought the book).
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 othe 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.
The first week in Hamilton was a bit tough, as we didn’t know anybody and we didn’t know the school area and system. We arrived the 2 nd
of January and people were still home for their
Christmas break and the school was closed. We had to stay at a hotel the first night since school didn’t open before 3 rd
of January. We went to school to move in on campus the next day, and the housing residence office is located in May Key Building. If you choose to live on campus you have to bring a pass photo, if not you won’t receive you keys!!!
Near Campus it is a great hiking trail and waterfalls to visit or you can go to local pubs etc.
Our 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
We have always believed that traveling and studying abroad is a great asset not only professionally, but also personally. This exchange has added value and increased our network as well as it has changed our perception of how we 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 will be the time of your life.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us:
Thea Brenden: theabre@hotmail.com
Fabian Berg: fabianberg@hotmail.com
Ragnhild Hoel Robertsen: ragnhild_hr@hotmail.com