From Canada to Australia – my exchange journey at UNSW
STUDENT INTERVIEWS
By Ken Mawer
My name is Ken Mawer and I am an exchange student from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. I went to Australia for the first time, which was a unique experience and adjustment, despite having lived in different countries: I was born and raised in Japan but go to university in Canada.
1. Deciding on UNSW
I was struggling to decide which country to go to. I was familiar with Japan, so I thought of applying there. However, the partners’ course selections weren't ideal for me, especially since I wanted courses that are in English.
Then I thought of the US, as the universities there have course selections that would better work for me. I then realised I wanted something more different from Canada or Japan. After realising that I have always wanted to go to Australia and have a unique experience, I picked Australia. In addition, I wanted to go to a country with English being the main language, as I didn’t want to face a language barrier.
UNSW was one of the few schools in Australia that fit my schedule due to its trimesters. Rather than starting in July, UNSW started in September, which would align well with my home university’s schedule of also starting in September.
I’m very happy about my choice, as I got to experience over three months in Australia while studying at a university with a schedule that aligned well with UBC’s schedule and that also had a good course selection. I've always wanted to experience Australia, and I doubt that I would've done so otherwise.
The only drawback was the cost, as Australia is considered one of the most expensive places to study abroad. Rent in Sydney is expensive, for example, a studio apartment can cost over $2,000 per month in rent. Travelling to and around Australia is also expensive, for example, a flight from Sydney to Perth can be over $1,000.
2. Be careful of the classes you choose
Given that you need to take three courses in a term (if studying for a semester), you will be taking a full courseload. This means that it’s important not to take too many difficult or time-consuming courses.
In addition, it is important to do your research and read the syllabus to ensure that the course is what you really want to take.
I was hesitant about taking MATH3411, as I wasn't sure if I was interested in information, codes and ciphers. However I heard good things about this class, so I took it. I'm glad I listened to the advice given to me, as this turned out to be one of my favourite courses. However, be sure you understand what you really want to take.
3. Meeting others
The people you meet will depend a lot on your residence. I found that especially for exchange students, many connections were based on where you lived. However, you still can make and have friends outside of your residence.
I stayed at one of the Kensington Colleges. While a fair number of students there were first year Australians, there were other mature age students from Australia, international students and exchange students. I interacted a lot with other Australians instead of remaining in an exchange student bubble.
The more you put yourself out there, the easier it is to connect with other. The Kensington College I lived in felt like you were in a club already. People were expected to be social and interact with others in the college, as well as go to events.
4. Course differences
I found that my classes differed from UBC in that there was more emphasis on tutorials. I took a creative writing course at UNSW, where there was a weekly tutorial with 25 students. I also took a mathematics class that had a one-hour tutorial a week. Neither of those classes would have a tutorial at UBC.
Furthermore, I realised final exams were weighted heavier at UNSW than at UBC. Most classes at UBC have around a 25-50% weighting on these exams, but at UNSW they were weighted around 50-60% of your final mark.
5. It’s an adjustment
You had to adjust from going to secondary school to university, and the exchange experience is like doing that again. You’re in another country and thrown into a different situation with different people. You’ll most likely meet others who are in the same boat. I’ve never been to Australia before, nor have I ever lived in a college before.
I enjoyed my time at UNSW in the first week. I experienced a period of time when I missed my friends back home a lot and felt like my exchange experience wasn’t what I thought it would be. Fortunately, as time passed, I enjoyed my time here more and started to connect with others well. It can take a while to make friends and adjust to life in another country.
Now I’m starting to really like my experience, and I sometimes feel like I never want to go back.