The Great Exchange: What is it like to spend a semester studying abroad?

New experiences

The plan: I was planning to study for an extra year, post my three-year degree, as I needed it to pursue a Masters abroad. But whilst in my third year,  I heard about the year-long exchange programmes, which seemed like the perfect opportunity to gain that extra year, alongside a new experience.

The process: The OMG (Ontario—Maharashtra—Goa) exchange programme that I applied for, is conducted between universities in these three states. I was studying at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, when I applied to York University, Toronto, for the academic year 2014-2015. The application process began in early December 2013. I submitted my CV, marksheets, forms, preferences, two reference letters and a statement of purpose to the international office at St.Xavier’s. Interviews were scheduled with members of the St.Xavier’s faculty. A few weeks later, the international office informed us of our selection via email. We then sent our applications to the head office of the exchange programme in Canada. At the start of April, an email from the Canadian head office told us of our acceptance to the university of our choice. Then began the visa application process...

The learning: I was doing a degree in Management Studies, so I chose business-related subjects—HR, Marketing, Finance, Management and Psychology. The teaching methods were interactive; students are encouraged to challenge themselves and question everything. One of the biggest differences between the Indian and Canadian education system is that the work load in Canada is heavier and requires more active classroom participation. Each course had weekly tests, reading and assignments.

The cost: As part of the exchange programme, I had a full academic scholarship (around $10,000), so I did not have to pay tuition fees. We were expected to pay for our visa, living and travel expenses. However, I received an additional scholarship of $2,500 from the Ontario government for this. I stayed in an on-campus residence with a room of my own, and shared the other amenities with the people on my floor. My meal plan enabled me to buy food from any of the numerous food outlets on campus.

The takeaway: I’ve become more confident, learned to fend for myself and to be open to new experiences. The exchange programme let me immerse myself in art, music and culture, which I am passionate about.
—Ashish DaFonseca

Unique but relevant

The plan: IMT is well known for its exchange programmes. Over 100 students  opt for these programmes, each year. Countries such as France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Denmark participate. However, most students go to French universities.
There were ten students from IMT at Kedge Business School Marseille, France, where I spent three months, as part of my post-graduation course in Management from IMT Ghaziabad.

The process: I had to apply for the programme five months in advance. We could select a college based on our ranks; students with higher ranks get first choice. IMT assigns ranks based on our cumulative grade point average (CGPA), interviews with the faculty and a written test. Universities are not of the same calibre and each has a predetermined number of seats for exchange students.
The procedure takes a couple of months; and universities require a lot of documents—undergraduate certificates, PG marksheets (for the semesters completed), a document from IMT stating we are students here, the Kegde Business School offer letter—to process applications. Subsequently, we selected subjects and eventually residential dormitories.

The learning: Education in France is different from that in India; there are no assigned text books and students are expected to use secondary sources and the library to gather information. There are regular assignments, tests and a lot of group work, so you learn to work with other people and deal with constraints.

The cost: I spent about `5 lakh. The tuition fee was the same as at IMT.
I opted for university lodging; Kedge has a hostel called Allotra, specifically for exchange students. We cooked our own food and funded our own local transport.

The takeaway: The subjects offered though unique, are relevant. Knowledge in these domains is limited in India and the demand for people with this knowledge is tremendous, so it adds to your CV. I also learned to cook, travel on a shoestring budget and deal with people from different backgrounds.
—Kritika Dmonty

Freedom

The plan: I studied International Business Management and majored in Finance from the IÉSEG School of Management, Lille, France. I was 20, when I came to India as an exchange student in June 2013. I always wanted to travel and study abroad, so I picked a school that would give me the opportunity to do that. In my school, you can go on exchange for up to one and a half year out of four. I’ve been on two exchanges: one to India (June 2013-April 2014) at St Xavier’s College and the second to Norway (January 2015-June 2015) at the BI Norwegian Business school. I picked India first, because I wanted to travel a lot and have a totally different studying and living experience; I have also always been attracted to Indian culture.

The process: We got to choose our destination based on our ranks/grades. Our choice depended on what the people ranked higher than us had already chosen.
The process takes a day;  everyone gathers in a room and students select destinations one after another, which can be quite stressful.

The learning: I was in the Third Year Bachelor of Management Studies (TYBMS) class at St. Xavier’s College. The subjects covered different areas of business—International Business, Logistics, Finance and Indian Culture. The teaching methods are different compared to France; it’s more theoretical and magisterial here; teachers teach and students listen—there isn’t a lot of interaction. In France, students are much more free: if they don’t want to attend school, it’s their choice; the teachers won’t even take attendance.

The cost: Around €200 on education (college fees et al), €100 on the visa, €600 on my return tickets, plus local train transport fares (which were quite low).  

The takeaway: Academically, I think I learned very little, as the level of the classes was lower than my French classes, I went over things I already knew. I learned more outside college than in it, especially with regard to Indian culture. I have become more open-minded, patient and communicative.
I travelled a lot. I took some time off to plan my professional project and got several professional experiences in multiple fields, whilst I was abroad.
—Alexandra Llopis, France