Mobility specification

Country:Canada

Institution:University of Laval

City:Quebec

Program:Freemover long-term mobility

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Plasma Physics and Technology

Study level abroad:Master

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Natural Sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?Recommendation from acquaintances

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?Student research intern.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?I was working on a specific project - the development of organic solar cells - so my job was to come up with a research plan to achieve the specific goals of the project. This of course included planning, experimental work, evaluation, management of my sub-project (time, financial, material, etc.) and functioning in a team.

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?no

If not, how did they differ?Based on my conversations and agreements with the host supervisor, I expected them to have better laboratory facilities and specific ideas on how to achieve the project goals. However, upon arrival I found that this was not the case, so I spent the beginning of my internship doing research and planning. This included finding appropriate analytical and diagnostic methods for solar cells and the individual layers, as these were lacking in the lab and project.

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?yes

If yes, can you provide a specific example?I used my knowledge from the courses on materials analysis and solar cells.

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?neutral

Did the institution have any special requirements?Technical knowledge (e.g., specific software skills)
Specific language skills
Other

Other - please specify:Project management, grant writing, student management and other skills that will help me in my future PhD studies.

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?Knowledge of French and independence at work.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?No, there were a lot of students in the lab.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?It forces you to step out of your comfort zone and learn to function in a completely different world. Personally, I was planning to go abroad for my PhD after my master's and I was considering different topics and areas that interested me. At my internship I was able to try one of them in similar conditions to the beginning of a PhD, to see if I enjoyed it and how I could adapt. It helped me get to know my strengths and weaknesses better and find things I need to work on before my PhD. It also made me think more about what kind of environment and supervisor I would want, not just what kind of project I would want.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?14000 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?Online, Facebook groups and rental pages.

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?Cook at home, walk more than public transport.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?no big deal

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

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

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Online, mostly city transport apps or out-of-town transport sites.

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?Winter carnival, summer music festival and year-round the historical city center.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Montréal and to hike in the national parks around.

Share your best experience:1-total solar eclipse
2-winter in Canada (snow, sledding in the streets and frozen water parks, skating on frozen sidewalks 4 months of the year).

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Online, on the Government of Canada website

What is needed?Passport, submit biometrics (fingerprints and photo) to the embassy, letter of invitation from the university, proof of sufficient funds, proof of Canadian address and, depending on the province, a letter of acceptance from the local office (for Quebec, depending on the type of visa).

How long does it take approximately?On the official site it says 14 weeks, for me from the submission of biometrics it took 2 weeks.

How did you get to the place?Plane

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Chocolate, they don't have good chocolate there. And definitely a good waterproof jacket (all year round) and if you go for winter, a jacket that can handle at least -20°C (ideally -35°C). And of course, waterproof boots, ideally with good quality soles. Personally, I've been walking around in tall hiking boots all winter.

🥳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?Good or worse, every experience is usefull for life. And friends from all over the world are the best :)