Exchange semester in Ottawa in winter

Today I would like to talk to you about my exchange in Ottawa, Canada. I'm a French student, I live in France, but I've been on exchange in Ottawa for two months now. So if you are considering an exchange in Ottawa, this post is for you 😊.

International student in Canada

As everywhere else, before going on an exchange to Canada, you have to go through all the administrative procedures that this entails. If you are in the same case as me and your exchange lasts less than 6 months, the steps are very simple. You do not need a work permit or a special visa. The only thing you will need to do is to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which is mandatory to arrive in Canada by plane, which is often the case for an exchange student. Here is the link to apply for an ETA: https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/visiter-canada/ave.html

For a longer exchange it will be necessary to apply for a study permit in order to stay on the territory for more than six months: https://www.cic.gc.ca/francais/information/demandes/etudiant.asp

This applies to students of French nationality. Do not hesitate to inquire on the website of the embassy or government of your country.

Study in Canada

Ottawa

In my case, I chose Ottawa. I had already travelled to Montreal, I had loved it so much that I wanted to do an exchange in the area, but my school in France did not offer Montreal for the winter semester. So I opted for the nearest city where my school offered exchanges, Ottawa.

Telfer School of Management

And I don't regret my choice. I've been there for almost two months, almost half of my exchange, and I haven't seen the time go by. Since I'm in business school, I'm on exchange at the Telfer School of Management, which is the business school of the University of Ottawa, uottawa. The school is located on the university campus. The first thing that struck me when I arrived was how huge the campus is. It reminded me of those big American university campuses. It takes about 15 minutes on foot to walk from one end of the campus to the other (not to mention the snow in winter). Although Telfer has his own building, Desmarais Hall, I personally have never class in that building.

On-campus housing

As an international student, the university offers you the opportunity to live in residence on campus or in the surrounding area. This is by far the easiest solution, as you don't have to look for accommodation at a distance before you leave. It is also very convenient because you can live close to the buildings where you have classes, so there is no need to buy a travel pass. Getting accommodation on campus is also very simple. You will be able to leave your room 10 minutes before your course starts. In addition, the campus is ideally located in the heart of downtown Ottawa so you will be close to everything. To live in a student residence, you just have to like the community life, because bathrooms and kitchens are shared.

If you do not wish to live in a student residence, the university can also help you find accommodation on the Housing Resource Centre website: https://www.uottawa.ca/housing/

Meal plan

Since I live in residence, I opted for a meal plan at the university dining hall. The dining hall is located at the bottom of my residence, and if you opt for a 7-day package you can access it 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This makes life much easier because you don't have to make your own food. You can also opt for a 5-day package, either for access outside the weekend, or not take the package and make your own food in the common kitchens of the residence.

What to do in Ottawa

Contrary to the preconceived ideas I might have had, doing an exchange in Canada is not easy, and involves studying a lot. However, I try to enjoy being in a foreign country and the city of Ottawa for as long as I live there.

Even though Ottawa is not the largest city in Canada, it is still the capital city and you can easily find something to do in the winter. It is the seat of Parliament, the Senate and the Governor's house, which is a must to visit if you want to know more about the country you are staying in for a semester.

In Ottawa, there is the Rideau Canal, which freezes in winter and can be skated all the way down. In February in Ottawa there is also the Winterlude festival. For several weeks, events are held throughout the city, including ice sculpture competitions, temporary exhibitions, games and many other activities. Personally, my favourite was the free distribution of beavertails (the famous Canadian pastry) on the university campus for a week. The city is located in Ontario but is on the border with Quebec, so right next door is the city of Gatineau, where there is Jean Drapeau Park if you want to go for a walk in the nature.

If you want to get out of the city, Ottawa is about 5 hours drive from Toronto, 1 hour flight from New York and 2 hours drive from Montreal. If you want to know more about Montreal and how to plan a day trip to the city from Ottawa, you can read my article on My one day trip in Montreal.

Now, I advise you to watch this video made by students of the uOttawa to fall in love with the city: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-UArr-9DM

I hope this article will help you decide to go to Ottawa in exchange. You can share your advice or experience as a commentary. 

See you soon. 

 Léa