Student Report
Name of the University: McMaster University
Exchange semester: Fall, 2014
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
HELFO (health insurance)
Make sure you bring documentation that shows you are covered by HELFO which means the
Norwegian government will cover your medical costs in case anything happens while you are
abroad. The documentation should be sent automatically by mail to you after applying for
student stipend/loans at laanekassen before going on exchange, but doublecheck with the
exchange office if you do not receive it. If documentation of HELFO is not provided to the
international student service center (ISS) at McMaster University they will demand that you
pay for UHIP which is Canadian health insurance. The deadline for handing in the HELFO
documentation is usually a couple of weeks into the semester. ISS prefers the documentation
in paper form but should also accept a PDF copy of the document.
Entering into Canada and the US (ESTA/Visa/Admission letter)
To enter Canada all you need is the admission letter from McMaster which is sent to you once
the application is approved. This functions as a Visa at the border and will grant you access to
Canada during your semester.
If you have a connecting flight through the US or you are planning to visit the US at some
point during your exchange you need to apply for ESTA. ESTA is a so called visa waiver
program which means that you do not need to apply for a regular American Visa.
You apply for ESTA online and it should be pretty straightforward, but if you have any
problems you can contact international office at BI or at McMaster University.
The application process
All the information from the school during the application process is through e-mail.
Choosing subjects is pretty easy, as they are described quite well on their internet site and you
have an add/drop week when you get there. Add/drop week means you can change subjects
once you get there as long as there are spots available in the given course (but make sure the
subjects get approved by BI). Which courses they will offer a given semester varies and is
publicized a bit late compared to BI.
Applying for a visa (if applicable)
This is not necessary in Canada, only thing you need to remember is applying for the ESTA if
you are going through the US.
Travel
We both travelled by plane some time before the semester started. If you find a good deal,
prices can be as low as NOK 2500-3000 one way. From the airport in Toronto (Pearson
International) the cheapest solution is probably to take the bus to Bramalea Station where you
can get on a bus heading to Hamilton.
Housing
Housing is not provided by the university for exchange students from BI. We recommend
every exchange student to live around main campus in the student houses there (MBA
students included).
The quality of the houses varies a lot, and might be a bit below what most Norwegians are
used to. It is however cheap (we paid approximately NOK 3000 a month) and this means you
have more money to spend on other stuff! Macoffcampus is a good site where you can apply
for a bed in student houses.
Costs
Rent in a student house is typically between CAD 400-600, everything included. Our
impression is that most landlords find it inconvenient that you are only staying for one
semester ( this means they have to look for new tenants after only half a year). After having
some difficulties finding a student house, we offered to pay them an extra month of rent as
compensation for this.
Food at the grocery store is a bit cheaper than Norwegian prices. Eating at fast food chains,
restaurants and buying beer is however a lot cheaper than Norway. Strangely enough you can
only buy wine at the grocery store, beer and spirits are sold at the LCBO (the Canadian
equivalent to Vinmonopolet). Books were pricey, and you are not able to recover the cost
when you sell them. Transportation is not that expensive, and rarely used if you live around
main campus (Bachelor students have a stamp on their students card which grants them free
fares on buses in Hamilton).
Culture and language
All the professors, students and inhabitants are fluent in English, as this is their native
language. As long as your English is allright, you will get by fine. The Canadian culture is
unique, but in a way somewhere between Norway and the US. Compared to Norwegians they
are much less reserved, and willing/interested in getting to know new people. We found the
openness very nice, as you got to take part in their culture and make new friends fast.
Hamilton has a great location in close proximity to cool places in both Canada and the US
(Niagara Falls, Toronto, State of New York, Chicago, Montreal to name a few)
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
McMaster main campus is situated west of central Hamilton. Main campus is big, with a lot
of facilities. The area is quiet and almost suburban, and the inhabitants are almost all students.
Several student bars are available both on and off campus. House parties/keggers reminiscent
of American college movies are frequent. Expect to play beerpong and flip the cup.
Hamilton downtown is a typical rustbelt town with some social problems. In certain areas
downtown there are more drug addicts and crazy people that talk to them selves than
“normal” people. The secret is to know where to go; King William Street has a few good
cafés and bars, and Toronto is only an hour away with the GO bus. Motown at Club Absinthe
on Wednesdays is something you ought to experience. Hess Village is also a cool area, the
closest equivalent to Youngstorget in Norway. Toronto and Montreal is truly one of the better
cities in North America, and should be extensively explored.
Undergrads study at the main campus, while grad (master) students have to take a shuttle bus
to the Burlington campus, about 25 minutes away. The shuttle bus is free and runs throughout
the day from the main campus. However, it only goes every three hour (coordinating with
classes).
The Canadian study structure is very different from the study structure at BI. As a student you
have a lot of assignments, group work and presentations in many of the courses. Participation
in class matters and you will get tests during the semester that count to your final grade. There
was a final exam in most of the classes we took, but it only counted 30-40%. The courses are
usually more practical with a lot of cases, and you gain knowledge about a lot of corporations.
Overall the MBA courses are less difficult and require less work than back home at BI, but
this depends on the specific class.
Course registration
We registered for our courses before we got there (around June). We needed to scan a
document similar to the learning agreement over to McMaster. No difficulties were incurred,
as this process is pretty simple.
The add/drop period lasted around a week, and was very helpful, as you could participate in
all the classes.
Academic calendar (May vary so check online before booking flights!)
Arrival date:
August 30.
First day of the semester:
September 9.
Last day of classes:
December 4.
Examination period:
Dec. 7. – Dec. 22.
Any special events/holidays:
Thanksgiving (one
day) and reading week
(five days)
Arrival
It is a good idea to arrive up to a week before classes start, depending on whether you are an
undergrad or doing the MBA. Different academic and social activities is arranged by both the
school and M.I.X (Se facebook page “McMaster International & Exchange Club”) so do your
research, as you want to get a head start on the social scene before classes start to take up your
time.
MBA Bound (for MBA students only)
MBA Bound is a 3 days camping trip where you live in cabins and participate in a range of
social activities. This was an expensive trip, but worth the money. You get to know a lot of
first year students on this trip, but we only had courses with second year students.
The International Office
The international office was very helpful, and they could help you with all your problems.
They respond to your mails straight away, before, after and under the stay. They also updated
us on events and other academic things.
Promoting BI and Norway
Lots of students from all over the world asked us how it was to both study and work in
Norway. We were also asked to come and talk about BI during the Exchange information
session at McMaster, but this is not mandatory.
Social activities
One of the biggest advantages going on exchange at McMaster is that there are over 200
exchange students all eager to know new people. Join in on as many social activities during
the first weeks and you will get friends from all over the world.
M.I.X
It is highly recommended to join previously mentioned M.I.X for social activities. The club is
run by students and you will get the opportunity to become a mix executive for the semester
meaning you will help promote and plan activities (this is however not a must). M.I.X is a
social hub and we found that a lot of the parties/keggers are organized through people
involved with the club.
BizX International Exchange Program
The office responsible for business students on exchange at McMaster (Degroote School of
Business). Hosts information sessions for exchange students during the first weeks as well as
an event called “classy night” among other things a bit further into the semester.
Outdoors Club
Students organizing different activities such as canoetrips and dogsledding in the Canadian
wilderness. The Algonquin canoetrip is highly recommended.
International Student Services (ISS)
The office where you hand in the HELFO documentation. Promotes the The Hamilton Series
which is a collection of topic presentations focused on the City of Hamilton, led by
community or campus leaders, paired with experiential excursions off-campus. The series
provides international students with the opportunity to explore Hamilton from various
historic, social and economic perspectives.
Intramural sports/Working out
All kinds of different sports you can participate in mostly for fun; soccer, lacrosse, volleyball,
squash etc. We exchange students formed both a mens and mixed soccer team during the
semester called the Xchangers. David Brailey Athletic Centre (DBAC) is an affordable on
campus traning facility where you can work out and play squash (which is quite popular
among the exchange students - borrowing equipment is free).
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
The teaching style is informal with smaller classes. Some of the classes had presentations and
participation is rewarded (usually 5%-10% of the grade in the course). There is no dresscode
at undergrad but some students will be wearing business casual. Formal wear may however be
expected for presentations. For MBA students the expectations are higher, they want you to
wear business casual. We did however see lots of both international and Canadian students
who wore casual clothing, this became more pronounced a bit out in the semester.
The workload for MBA courses is smaller than at BI. It could be compared to last year at
bachelor. However you need to do some homework for every class, which can be tested
through participation.
Course materials
Standard or customized books made by the professors as well as powerpoints.
Exams
The exams were largerly based on the lectures and required reading material. Most courses
will have both a midterm and final exam as well as assignments. As previously mentioned
they will grade participation and take attendance.
Library and technology
Good facilities both on main campus as well as the Ron Joyce Centre where most MBA
courses are taught. There are a lot of different libraries at main campus, the engineering
library, Thode, is probably the nicest one.
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 acadmic level, challenges,
relevance to your studies, if the course was practical/theoretical, any enrollment issues, etc.
Course code &
Master/
name
Bachelor
F714 Options and
Master
Futures
Exam form
Prerequisites
Approved
Comments
as
3-hour written
Should be
Elective/
exam (40%)
comfortable
Quantitativ
with basic
e course
Interesting but
probably the
hardest course
at MBA, not
recommended
valuation and
unless you have
mid level
a strong
math.
quantitative
background.
F724 Venture
Capital & Private
Equity
Master
3-hour written
Valuation,
Elective/
exam (40%)
accounting/
Quantitativ
financial
e course
statement
analysis
courses makes
this class a lot
The prof gives
very difficult
exams but is
lenient on the
actual grading.
easier
F736 Ethics and
Master
Professonal
Final exam
None
(40%)
Elective/Et
hics
Ethics course
based on the
international
Practice in
Certified
Finance
Financial
Advisor (CFA)
Institute
standards. Case
based with
guest speakers
from the
industry .
O701 Modelling
Master
and analytics
Final exam
None
(40%)
Elective/Qu
antitative
This is a
Management
Science course
using
were you solve
spreadsheets
business
problems using
Solver
software/Algorit
hms. Highly
recommended.
Q600 Applied
Master
Business
Final exam
None
(40%)
Elective/
Quantitativ
Statistics
Very good
statistics course
with probably
e/ Research
the best
Methods
professor on
campus. Take
Course
this course if
you plan to
write a master
thesis when you
get back.
Commerce 4SA3
Bachelor
- 1 final exam
Marketing
Elective
Overview of
international
– International
- 1 assignment
Business
- 2 presentations
through
- Group project
Canadian eyes.
business
The theory and
Commerce
3FA3
Managerial
Finance
Bachelor
Final exam
(45%)
Finance
Elective
practice of
modern
business
finance. Really
good professor,
but a lot of
reading for this
class.
Commerce
4SD3
Bachelor
Final exam
(40%)
None
Elective
Interesting
course, but
Commerical
maybe not too
Law
relevant for
Norwegian
students, since
the course is
mostly about
Canadian laws.
Interesting
Commerce
4FL3
Bachelor
Final exam
(40%)
None
Elective
course, but it
was hard to
Personal
understand what
Finance
the professor
was saying and
therefore I
didn’t learn
much in class.
German 3Z03
Advanced
german
Bachelor
Final exam
(25%)
Final project
(15%)
This course is
intended for
Elective
students who
are currently at
level A2 in
german
This course is
quite hard if you
are not used to
readling and
talking german.
Lot of tests
throughout the
semester and
the professor
only speaks
german in class.
Needed to send
in that I had
german in
school earlier
and that I was
qualified to be
in the course.
Highly
recommended if
you like
german.
On a final note, how will you sum up the exchange experience?
Studying at McMaster was a great experience and we would recommend any
student considering exchange this school. The different take on learning was
refreshing, while the moderate difficulty allowed you to experience more than
just a classroom. The social experience was amazing, and we got to be part of an
international environment we are truly going to miss.