Yumeng (Sem 2, 2025)

My Exchange at McGill University

From August to December 2025, I spent one semester at McGill University in Montréal, Canada. My experience there was extremely positive，in fact, it was the best three months of my life so far.

The preparation before departure went relatively smoothly. However, since this exchange semester was also the final semester of my undergraduate degree, I had to be especially careful when selecting my courses. Two weeks after the semester began, I enrolled in a course that I had not originally planned to take, which required me to resubmit my course approval form. Fortunately, the process went very smoothly and the new course was approved without difficulty.

Both in Canada and in New Zealand I studied as an international student, but I found it easier to build friendships in Montréal. It is a highly international city, and this environment made social connections feel more natural and open.

Among the four courses I took, one was taught in German and had only eleven students. In this class, I received a great deal of support and encouragement from the professor. Another course was highly experimental and innovative, with twenty-two students. By the end of the semester, we had all become close friends. I could recognize every face and call everyone by name. In this course, we read The Rings of Saturn by W. G. Sebald, as well as texts by Confucius, the Bhagavad Gita, Montaigne, Rilke, and so on. We engaged in philosophical discussions, practiced meditation together, visited art museums, and after the course ended, we even went to the campus bar together. The remaining two courses each had around thirty-five students: one focused on Dostoevsky, and the other examined cinema of the Weimar Republic period. Overall, my course choices were relatively specialized and niche, but McGill University offers strong support for students and academic research. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to take part in these classes and for the intellectual and personal growth they allowed.

During my time in Montréal, I made many friends from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Some were Québécois from Montréal, others came from different provinces across Canada, and many were international students from Europe, as well as from various parts of Asia.

On my final weekend before leaving Montréal, one of my Québécois friends invited me to stay at her family home. They live in Saint-Jérôme, a small town about an hour’s drive from Montréal. There, I met her parents, who had immigrated from Romania and later settled in Québec.

During that weekend, we drove together to a wildlife sanctuary, where we fed elks and sheep. There was heavy snowfall throughout the weekend, and the temperature dropped to around minus fifteen degrees Celsius. Despite the cold, we spent time snowboarding together and enjoying the winter landscape.

Speaking of a public transport system, it is well developed in Montréal, with metro lines, buses, and a public bike-sharing system. Many residents cycle regularly. However, individual fares without a transport pass are relatively more expensive than in Auckland.

Montréal also offers a rich and vibrant cultural life. During my stay, I attended four orchestra concerts, two of which offered very affordable student tickets. I also watched many films, as the city has a strong independent cinema culture with numerous arthouse theatres, where tickets are reasonably priced and easily accessible to students.

In addition to daily life in Montréal, I travelled to several cities and regions across Canada. Within Québec, I visited Quebec City and Mont-Tremblant. I also travelled to St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador; to Charlottetown and Cavendish in Prince Edward Island, the hometown of Lucy Maud Montgomery and the setting of Anne of Green Gables. Beyond eastern Canada, I visited Halifax in Nova Scotia; Vancouver in British Columbia; Banff and Jasper in Alberta; and Ottawa and Toronto in Ontario. Through these journeys, I was able to experience the diversity of Canadian landscapes, cultures, and regional identities, which greatly enriched my understanding of the country beyond the classroom. Canada has a well-developed railway system, and many of our journeys were made by train or coach. We also travelled by plane when needed, as the country’s immense size means that flying from the east coast to the west coast can take nearly six hours.

---

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

McGill University gave me the opportunity to take relatively specialized and niche courses. In all of the classes I attended, there were no more than thirty-five students. The university deliberately limits class sizes in certain courses to ensure that every student is able to participate actively, engage in discussion, and receive feedback from instructors. In addition, even courses with very small enrolments were able to run smoothly. For example, one of my classes, taught in German and focusing on the relationship between painting and poetry, had only eleven students, yet it offered an intensive and highly rewarding learning experience.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

To be honest, I did not participate in many university-organised activities. However, McGill Recreation Centre offers a wide range of courses, including various forms of dance and martial arts, such as K-pop dance, contemporary dance, yoga, pilates, judo, kendo, and taekwondo. These classes are very affordable for students, and I would highly recommend them.

Also, I did not join any student clubs during my exchange. Most of my friendships were formed naturally through my classes, where frequent discussion and collaboration made it easy to connect with others.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. I would strongly recommend bringing plenty of warm, thick clothing, or purchasing winter gear locally, as temperatures can be extremely low. On the day before I left in December, the temperature dropped to -25 degrees Celsius.
2. Be brave and take the initiative to start conversations with your classmates. Making friends at McGill University is actually not difficult.
3. Be prepared for the tipping culture, and note that prices on tags are shown before tax, so the final price is always higher than what you see.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

My shared flat was located in a very central area of the city, right next to the lively Saint-Laurent Boulevard, one of the most vibrant streets in Montréal. I lived with three other female flatmates — two from France and one from Belgium. We shared a bathroom, living room, and kitchen. My rent was 1,025 Canadian dollars per month, with a minimum lease of four months. In terms of budget, my overall expenses were relatively high because I travelled frequently during the semester. However, in general, housing in Montréal is more affordable than in Auckland. For the same price, it is possible to rent accommodation in Montréal that is better located and more comfortable.

The prices of vegetables and fruit are similar to those in Auckland, with some items slightly cheaper. Dining out, however, tends to be more expensive. Tipping is expected at most restaurants.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

There is simply too much to put into words. All I can say is that during these three months of exchange, I learned a great deal, travelled extensively, met many new friends, and spent a lot of time reflecting. It was truly the best three months of my life so far.

Is there any advice you could share about accommodation options at your host university and/or in the local area?

I would recommend starting the housing search early. I did not stay in university residence, although one of my friends lived there. McGill’s student residence, Solin Hall, is located about two to three metro stops away from the university. Its rent is slightly more expensive than finding accommodation independently.

I found my shared apartment on a housing website rather than through the university. I usually walked to campus. It took me less than 20 minutes.

Do you have any advice on what mobile phone apps and/or phone plans that were useful in your host country?

Uber, Lyft (similar to Uber), Pulse (the uni app)

I purchased a SIM card from Fizz, a local mobile provider in Québec. SIM cards can be easily purchased from vending machines located in metro stations. The mobile plans are more affordable than those in New Zealand, offering better value for money. My monthly plan cost around 22 CAD and included 5 GB of mobile data.

Final Comments

Everything else is great, but as an Asian student and from my personal perspective, the Asian restaurants in Montréal were not as good as those in Auckland.

---