Mobility specification

Country:Canada

Institution:University of Victoria

City:Victoria

Program:Faculty agreements

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Economics and Administration

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The teaching was pleasant. Mostly quite practical. Sometimes easier in terms of knowledge than at ESF.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, right at the beginning we had an orientation week. Besides that, the university offers a lot of leisure clubs. I joined the Outdorclub, which I went on trips with.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:35000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?There are dorms in Victoria, but they don't have enough capacity. Accommodation can be found through Facebook groups or websites. For me, the best option is to ask a student who has stayed there before.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?It is a good idea to think about compulsory insurance, which costs about 250 Canadian dollars. Otherwise, nothing really surprised me, but it's good to consider that Canada and Victoria in particular is an expensive destination.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I would definitely recommend cooking at home. Food can be found relatively cheaply in supermarkets considering the local prices. I bought a bike there on the marketplace, so I saved on shipping as well. I would definitely recommend the student grad house where you can eat for a very decent price. Some establishments have "happy hours" where drinks cost half what they normally do.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?I've seen better

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?The best is the BC transport app or something like that, where you can buy a ticket and it shows you the very precise location of the buses. That way you don't have to wait at the bus stop for a long time if the bus is late, or on the other hand you can see if the bus is running a bit early, which also happens. The ticket can be bought online or in cash from the driver.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Victoria has a very nice centre. My favourite places are Beacon Hill Park, Finlayson Point, Oak Bay, Mount Tolmie, Mount Douglas, Inner Harbour, Parliament Buildings and China Town.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?There are plenty of places to go on a trip on Vancouver Island. I would recommend Butchart Gardens, Pender Island, Strathcona NP, Tofino, Pacific Rim NP, Galooping Goose Trail (beautiful bike trail), Butterfly Gardens, Vancouver, Whistler, Banff NP.

Share your best experience:During the reading week at UVIC we flew to Hawaii. I actually forgot I was a student for a while.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane
Train
Bus
Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Flying into Seattle from Europe seems like a good option given the distance from Victoria, but I would definitely recommend flying into Vancouver or directly into Victoria. Seattle to Victoria is difficult and expensive to get to.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?The Czech extension cord with 3 sockets came in handy. A reduction to the socket is a necessity due to different standards in Canada and the US.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?I've experienced a lot of things, but being in Canada has been the best time of my life so far. Thanks, MUNI! 🖤