Nicholas Labsvirs

Host institution: McGill University
Year spent abroad: 2010-11

Where did you live? Would you recommend it?

During my year in Montreal I stayed at St Catherine Apartments. I would recommend this to those who do not wish to spend the time/effort hunting for housing on arrival. However the accommodation is fairly expensive. The apartments are right in the centre of Montreal, about ten minutes walk from the McGill campus and 15 minutes from the main nightlife area. The building has its own well equipped gym, music practice room, games room, movie theatre and study rooms. The staff are very helpful and organize events ranging from nights out to tea and cakes every week.

Which department(s) did you study in?

Physics

How does the workload/classes/teaching styles vary to Sheffield?

The workload is much greater than in Sheffield which came as a bit of a shock for the first semester. However by the second semester I had fully adjusted to this and feel that my work ethic has definitely improved as a result. Less emphasis is placed on final exams and more on homework/assignments. I found that lecture slides were slightly less readily available online and textbooks were more useful.

What did you do for fun at the weekends and during the holidays?

At the weekends it was good to let off steam after a hard week of studying. Montreal has a great nightlife, clubs worth particular mentioning are Club 737 (on the top of a skyscraper, amazing views) and Club 1234. House parties are also great fun, particularly within the McGill Ghetto area. The city centre also has an abundance of cinemas, restaurants and shopping centers (both above and underground). In the harsh canadian winter life goes on as normal with lots of winter events such as ice-skating on the river and the amazing Igloofest enough to keep you busy.

Did you join any societies or clubs?

I joined the McGill off Campus fellow program and Ski club.

Describe the University/City/things to do

The university has arguably one of the most beautiful campuses in North America, situated at the foot of the picturesque Mont Royal. Many of the buildings are linked by underground tunnels, very handy in the freezing cold Canadian winter. The city has a vibrant multicultural european feel with a multitude of parks, ancient buildings and modern skyscrapers. The Ski resort of Mont Tremblant is a couple of hours drive away (The ski club offers cheap day trips there throughout the season).

In the late summer the streets are crowded and full of entertainers and people having a great time, the tamtams in Mont Royal Park are a great spectacle to partake. Many larger british bands can be caught playing small venues to enthusiastic audiences.

The universities equivalent of freshers week, Frosh week, is a must-do for international students of all ages, great for meeting new people and on a whole new level to those offered by english universities. Mine included a beach party and unlimited beer for three days.

Could you give any travel or immigration tips?

Make sure you get your visa sorted well in advance. Make sure you know exactly how to get to your accommodation from the airport and finally know a little bit of french, the locals will be much more pleasant if you make an effort to speak their language.

Could you give any advice or tips to a student preparing to go or tell them anything you wished you knew in advance?

Be prepared to have lots of conversations with random people as soon as they hear you speak... they love the english accent over there! If you want good cheap coffee and doughnuts go to Tim Hortons. Watch out for the tax on everything, it's not included on the price on the label and is fairly hefty. Be prepared to keep on top of work from the very beginning, you won't regret it and it's much better than getting bogged down half way through the semester. Finally, be outgoing. People will love to chat to you and hear your accent and its great to have as many friends as possible over there, they'll be your surrogate family for the year.

Would you say it is cheaper or more expensive to live than Sheffield?

Definitely more expensive, mainly because of the tax and tips included on everything.