Hey there! My name is Felicitas Sander and I am one of those lucky students who got the opportunity to go to Canada to have a great experience: The

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Virginia Anderson
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have a great experience: The chance to study at the University of Alberta.

about my preparation, my arrival and my time here in Edmonton, some helpful advice or just some stories of

If you re on your way to Canada (maybe to the UofA) you are probably thinking about life, your plans, your

1 Hey there! My name is Felicitas Sander and I am one of those lucky students who got the opportunity to go to Canada to have a great experience: The chance to study at the University of Alberta. I hope with this final report of mine I can give the next students that are going to Edmonton some ideas about my preparation, my arrival and my time here in Edmonton, some helpful advice or just some stories of mine that might help you on your way. If you re on your way to Canada (maybe to the UofA) you are probably thinking about life, your plans, your studies; you are wondering what to prepare and what kind of documents you ll have to require and so on... My experience is limited, but by reading other reports you will probably have a good guideline for your preparation and you re good to go! Also don t panic: Everything is manageable and if you have any questions ask!!! 1

2 About documents, flight tickets, valid passports and all kinds of preparations Application For your application, you will normally get a mail including a link that leads you to the application form, where you have to fill in your personal information. The application form also requires you to fill in the courses that you would like to choose. But don t worry if you re not sure about your choice, you don t have to make your final decision yet. Still it is nice to have a glance at the available courses here: It is very helpful to know what you can choose from, but courses from that list might change, also numbers and times might be different. You will get more precise information later on Beartracks ( that you can access with your CCID (user ID for the UofA that you will get when your application is approved) and your password. You will have to enroll to your courses on Beartracks later anyway and you will be able to change your schedule for about one week after classes have started. For your application for the UofA you normally have to show some kind of proof that you re English is adequate, e.g. a TOEFL certificate. I and the other students that went to the UofA got a letter from Mr. Spiecker, who was confirming that our English was good enough (and we didn t need to do the TOEFL). Back to Beartracks: Beartracks will be very important for you! You will make payments, enroll to classes, and look at your final grades and much more on that website. After some acclimatization I found it very easy and well-organized. On top you will get an account from the University, where you will get important messages and reminders, also newsletters about activities of the International Office and the Faculty of ALES. Presentations and materials of your classes are usually (depending on professor and class) posted on e-class, which you can also access with you CCID + password. I m sure that you will get into it pretty quickly but if any questions occur, do not hesitate to ask and I hope I can help. Study Permit You should apply early for your study permit, because the process can take longer than expected or unexpected situations can occur (last year the office was going on strike for some time). I was applying online, which was pretty easy (you can upload all the forms/pictures, you will have to pay with a credit card) and got the approval 2 weeks later. I didn t need a police certificate, but you should still check if you need one. Once you re application has been approved you will get a confirmation letter. Print it and take it with you. You will get the study permit itself at the immigration office when you arrive in Canada. 2

3 For the immigration office it is also necessary to have the confirmation of your University as well and, depending on the officer, a confirmation of insurance and financial support (I got a document from Mrs. Stadler that confirmed my scholarship and financial support). When I arrived at the first point in Canada (Calgary) I only had to show the confirmation from the University of Alberta, but on other reports people had to show more documents. I guess it really depends on the officer. The Flight I was booking my flight via STA travel ( ) that has a branch in Freiburg and special offers for students. I also heard good things about Icelandair ( where you can also stay a couple of days in Iceland before going further on to Canada. I heard they had good offers but you better take something to eat with you. Also Condor might have cheap flights. Better book flights that do not stop in the US when you re going to Canada, otherwise I heard you might have some issues with US Immigration (I heard different stories and reasons, I don t know if you will get into trouble and what reasons are true.but better not to have difficulties). Also one important thing to keep in mind: A lot of airports in Canada do not have transit areas, so if you have to transit in Canada you should have time! At the first place where you arrive in Canada you have to get your study permit and show your documents; on top you have to pick up your luggage, pass the customs and of course check in for your next flight to your final destination. That can take a lot of time and, depending where you are, there might be a lot of people with the same aim. Also officers don't normally care if you have to catch the next flight or not. But all that depends on where you are and at what time you arrive. Anyway, be aware of that! Credit Cards and Mobile Phones It is very useful if not necessary in Canada to have a credit card. You have the possibility to get one in Canada or one from Germany. I got my credit card from the Deutsche Kreditbank which has the advantage of costing you no fees when you withdraw money from your account (it does cost fees though if you pay directly with your credit card). I found it very practical, I don t know if a credit card from Canada offers more advantages or not. I think Anna and Johannes used a Canadian one, so if you have questions about that they may help you out. If you have a very old mobile phone (like mine) you might not be able to use it in Canada. It is not too complicated though to buy a cheap cell phone in Canada (maybe you find one on kijiji) and get into a plan. Always ask about the service outside of Edmonton, it might be important one day. If you own a smartphone etc. you normally won t have any problems using it here. 3

4 Insurance Obviously you will need insurance for your time in Canada. The University is offering you one (UAHIP), or more precise, you will have to take that insurance for your studies at the UofA, if you are staying less than one year. You can apply for the Alberta Health Care which is for free, if you have a study permit for one year. I had a study permit for less than a year, so I had to take the UAHIP. I also got a German one before I went to Canada (Student Global Care, offered by MLP, but this special offer doesn t exist anymore unfortunately). Sometimes you also have basic insurance with your credit card. Just something that I want to mention at that point: If you have problems especially with your teeth you should read carefully what kind of treatments will be covered or not (still a good thing to do even if you re super healthy). Accommodation So.where to stay?! First, you have to decide if you want to stay on or off campus. Living on-campus + close to University (crucial when it s -37 C) + not dependent on public transportation + a lot of people around (if you like that) + not the risk of being cheated by landlords - pretty expensive though - sometimes have meal plans included (expensive and unhealthy) - you will get stuck at the University If you want to stay on Campus you can stay for example at International House or in Lister Center. As I have never lived there I can t pass on any personal experiences, but I heard that International House is a great place to live in (more expensive though), you don t have a meal plan, it s a nice atmosphere and it s not as crowded as Lister is. But on the other hand it is not completely sure to you get a room there, if you apply. Information about the residences on-campus: Living off-campus Living Off-Campus can be nice, cheaper, you can choose your room mates, and you might have a cat, nice neighbors with dogs and more contact to Canadians or Canadian Lifestyle. Of course there is some probability that you could end up in strange neighborhood, with strange landlords, far away etc. I was very lucky to find a place close to University with 6 other roommates in a very nice neighborhood. 4

5 I contacted them 3 weeks before I came to Canada via but there are also a lot of ads on (the page for everything). If you want to search for a room after you arrived in Canada, you can stay for example a couple of days at Hi Hostel Edmonton ( before you find something. About Studying, Life and Fun at University As you've probably heard before, your studies in Canada will be quite different!! But you will manage and it's not an impossible thing to do. The workload is just much higher and you will have to spend a lot of time in labs, at the library and your desk; working on a lot of assignments, homework, lab quizzes, lab reports, papers... And on top you will have midterms, group works, presentations, posters and of course final exams. The workload depends on the courses and the level. Canadian students have a level system for the four undergrad years: levels 100, 200, 300, level courses (often chosen in the 1 st year) are very often big lectures with a lot of student and you probably have some midterms, a final exam and maybe a lab, but the expectations and the workload will not be super high. 400 level classes are normally smaller in size but you ll face a much higher workload. The rest is somewhere in between. I would not recommend taking a lot of 400 level courses in your first term; they take a lot of time and effort. You can drop and ad courses during your first week, so you will have some time to make up your mind. Also don t hesitate to ask Alex Drummond, because he knows all the courses and can give some useful advice. If you want to get into courses that are closed to web-registration, you might still have the possibility to get in by asking the instructor. Studying My Courses I'm very interested in a wide range of topics and courses, especially botany (also small plants), soil science and like to learn more about the whole ecosystem. So those are the courses I enjoyed at the University of Alberta: 5

6 1 st Term Plant Pathology A basic course about principles the theory of plant pathology and examples of important pathogens and diseases. There is also a lab included and you will get hand-on experience, looking at different kinds of pathogens in real or through the microscope. The professor and the TAs (teaching assistants) were very nice and supportive and the atmosphere was very good. Environment Earth This course is about every kind of hazards that happen on earth. From earthquakes to flooding and also always the human dimension included. I found it an interesting, basic lecture about basic processes that I think is nice to know about. It is a bigger lecture without any labs included. Introduction to Soil Science and Soil Resources A great course about soil classification with a very enthusiastic professor! I really loved that course, because you gain the basic knowledge about soil processes and the Canadian Soil Classification and also practice skills that might be very useful, like hand texturing and other useful measurements of soil properties in the labs. Rangeland Plants of North America The most challenging course I ve ever had, but also the one the most important for me. It s covering the most important grass, shrub and some tree species and communities of North America, but also management techniques and the influence of grazing. I would recommend it to those people, who like to spend a lot of time in a lab, memorize 200 small plants and get tested twice every week. It was a bit scary at the beginning, but I really liked it! A very good professor and course! 2 nd Term Wildlife Biodiversity Wildlife Biodiversity was a great course to take. The main challenge was that you have to identify a lot! There is a test every two weeks that covers the specimens and families, orders, classes (etc.) shown and explained in the lab. I got to know a lot about the animals that live around Edmonton and in North America in general. Also I learned to recognize a lot of birds by their songs, which was very nice in spring time. And on top the labs and lectures were very nice and entertaining to sit in. I loved that course, but you have to study a lot. Politics of Food and Natural Resources If you like to think and transfer knowledge this course is a great choice! I learned basic principles of sociology, about processes in politics and how to write and use my skeptical mind. The professor was really good and up to date and the topics for the assignments were well chosen. I really got an insight into current discussions, issues and processes in Canada and Alberta. 6

7 Natural Resource Measurement This is one course that I wouldn t recommend taking if it is still the same. This course was a 100 level course and covers all kinds of measurements, which is useful and interesting. But the two professors were teaching it for the first time and there was a range of things that I didn t like in this course even if I had a good mark in the end. Performer Created Theatre (not forestry-related, cannot be transferred!) I wanted to take one course where I could work with group dynamics, presentations and reflection. It was a very tough course with a high workload and expectations and a very good one. Of course it cannot be transferred and I won t get any credits for it in Freiburg. Life at University Expenses Living in Canada is expensive and you are in a province that is depending on oil and therefore quite rich (not equally distributed though). The rent can range from 350$ (if you are really lucky) to over 700$. The normal price will range from around 500$ to over 700$, cheaper prices are exceptions! Food is quite expensive as well as liquors. Expensive things are for example cheese and wine. So be prepared, that you will in general spend more money on food than you did in Freiburg. As you have the opportunity to study here with this program you are lucky that you don t have to pay tuition. But you might have to pay for UAHIP (which is the insurance offered by the university, see Insurances) and the U-Pass (which allows you to take the public transport system throughout the term). I had to pay C$ per term. Living in Canada or in this case in Edmonton will be very different. Be reminded that it is another culture and another life style that you will experience. Also the time might not be always easy: university might be overwhelming, you might be homesick and miss strong coffee. I consider my first term quite challenging but after that first term I experience how much I learned and gained already! Students here at the University are very busy and sometimes, especially in big lectures, it might take some efforts and time to make friends there. My experience was that Canadians are very friendly, very positive and always like to help if you need orientation or anything else. Most of them are very open-minded and the attitude is not to hurt anyone (most of the people won t tell you the truth about your ugly sweater). It s truly a different way of communication than we have in Germany. The food in Canada is pretty much a lot of fast food, but there are also all kinds of restaurants offering a wide range of healthier food. However constantly going to restaurants might be quite expensive! You better buy groceries in superstores where food is still expensive but you might save some money that way, cooking by yourself. The Transportation System is mainly one main tram line (called LRT) or several bus lines (ETS). 7

8 The bus system is quite confusing and there are not always (better not expect one) maps available at the bus stations. Therefore it s necessary to check the schedules before you go. Sometimes the schedule is also not that reliable. The LRT system is quite easy to understand and normally on time. With your U-Pass you can use both. Fun at University Hockey!! Hockey (= German Ice-hockey) is the big thing in Canada. The local NHL team is The Edmonton Oilers (what a name ) and they have been really, really good a couple of years ago, when the famous Wayne Gretzky was still playing. During my time they were not as good. Almost everyone can skate here and a lot of people learned how to play hockey. It s an awesome spirit and a lot of fun also to watch a game (The Bears and Pandas are the University Hockey Teams, pretty good and less expensive). A Campus University has a couple of advantages and the Butterdome (the sports building on campus) is definitely one of them! It offers you a couple of work out activities (like swimming, skating, fitness etc.) for free. To use that you ll simply have to look up the drop-in hours ( Also if you want to join a team or a league, a special program or training you can register for that to a fair price! I joined the Women Beginners Hockey League and had Ballet for Beginners this term. Also I recently found out that we had a Sauna on Campus! Great, ey? Also the amount of clubs here at the UofA is impressive. There will be a Clubs Fair at the beginning of the term, and I strongly recommend checking that out! This is a great opportunity to get an overview about the activities at the university, meet new people and to become involved! I can strongly recommend the Outdoors Club ( which offers you to join trips, rent supplies and meet a lot of nice people in a great atmosphere. I could write so much more about my life here in Edmonton, about good places, experiences at university, stories, people.. If you d like to hear more or ask a question that strikes you, go ahead!! I will be very happy to answer your mails or to skype with you! My address: felicitas.sander@posteo.de 8

9 THANK YOU! Thanks a lot to Mr. Heinrich Spiecker, Mrs. Marianne Stadler, Mr. Alex Drummond and the DAAD for making all this possible, for grants and help!! It s a great achievement to establish a program like that and it is terrific that we have this opportunity at the University of Freiburg! Thanks for the support, help and information throughout the whole time. It is very rare to have such a good assistance!! 9

10 Ice on the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton In Banff National Park Edmonton Downtown Best Hockey Team on Campus Bison in Elk Island National Park 10

11 Drumheller Black bear on the way to Hummingbird on a bird feeder Artemisia tridendata British Columbia Big Sagebrush Aspen trees in Elk Island National Park 11

Final Report of the Bachelor Plus Program at UNB, Fredericton. Cristina Ganter

Final Report of the Bachelor Plus Program at UNB, Fredericton Cristina Ganter This is the final report about my academic year at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Fredericton, with the Bachelor Plus