Resources

In order to provide students with further information on the various exchange destinations, we have accumulated a number of different resources to help you.

---

Student Reports

All exchange participants are required to submit a written summary of their experiences on exchange upon returning from the host institution. These student reports are an excellent resource outlining various aspects of each exchange program. Often, these reports include information on items such as accommodation, budget, transportation, courses, travel, culture, etc. and can offer valuable insight and perspective for prospective exchange participants trying to decide on a destination and/or for nominees doing further research as part of the preparation process.

Some reports will be older than others (and therefore, certain details might be slightly dated), and some are simply better & more comprehensive than others, but where available, it is a good idea to read multiple reports from the same program in order to get various perspectives and the best possible overall picture for a destination. It is also useful to read reports from several different destinations, just to compare and contrast and see what stands out to you about a particular place.

Some destinations will have more reports available than others. Several of our newer exchanges might not have any reports currently available. We will strive to add new items as they are received, but don't let the availability or lack of feedback be the primary factor in determining your destination. It is important to research the details of each exchange in order to compare aspects such as course offerings, housing options, semester dates, costs, extracurricular activities, etc. Often, these are all things that really influence a candidate's decision on where to apply. Think about your priorities and what you really want to get out of the exchange and see which destination seems like the best fit. The host institution websites (linked from the Destination pages) are a good source for most of this information, although some might be a little difficult to navigate.

To view the reports, you will need log in with your UofA Student ID to access the Google Drive. Reports are organized first by exchange type (semester/year or summer program), then by destination and finally by academic level (BCom or MBA). If there are no reports available for your desired exchange, you are encouraged to look at the other areas as well. For example, if you are a BCom interested in a certain institution, you may look at the MBA reports for that destination in the absence of an undergraduate ones, and vice versa. While keeping in mind the academic experience might not be very similar to what you can expect, the report should still be able to provide useful details on the institution itself, city, culture, way of life and what it's like to be a student at this destination. ACCESS STUDENT EXCHANGE REPORTS HERE.

---

Past Participant Contacts

In addition to written feedback, you might also find it helpful to speak directly to another student who has already done a program you are interested in. There are many students still studying at the Alberta School of Business who have recently returned from an exchange program and can share a lot of information and insight on what it's like. If you would like to be put in touch with any of them to learn more about their experiences first-hand, please contact the exchange coordinator for contacts.

---

Articles

The following articles highlight the importance of and skills acquired through participation in an international study program.

How Studying Abroad Prepares You to Thrive at a Startup by Fast Company

Students Who Study Abroad Are More Civically Engaged by Phys.org

Living Abroad Makes Us More Civically Engaged (And Better Employees) by Forbes

---

Statistics

While formal studies on the measurable outcomes of participating on international programs are limited, there are a number of impresseive links between studying abroad and employment, future academics and personal & cultural growth according to research and survey findings.

SEE THE STATS!

---

Funding

There are a number of different scholarships available for students participating on academic exchanges from the Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta International, and various other institutions. We have outlined a number of scholarships, award, bursaries and other potential funding resources for you to consider on the Funding page.

---

Archived Student Blogs

In addition to the above exchange reports, we have had in the past a number of students write blogs about their experiences abroad. These are useful snapshots of what life is like on exchange and provides a detailed overview of the student exchange experience.