Ellie – HEC Montreal
Semester 2, 2023
Bachelor of Business (International Business) / Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media)
Hi there! I’m Ellie, and I’m currently working my way through a double degree in Business (International Business) and Communication (Digital Media). For semester 2 of 2023, I decided to take a break from the Australian heat and head north to experience a proper winter at HEC Montreal in Canada (Spoiler: It was freezing, but absolutely worth it!)
The Accommodation Hunt: A Wild Ride
Finding a place to live in Montreal turned out to be a bit of an adventure. Unlike some universities, HEC Montreal doesn’t have on-campus accommodation, and the student housing options in the city are pretty limited, with most places offering only 12-month leases. The university provided us with some useful websites to search for housing, but the competition was fierce. If you weren’t quick, the best spots would be snapped up in no time.
I ended up finding a place through Facebook Marketplace, which I know sounds a bit sketchy, but it turned out great. In fact, a lot of the other exchange students I met also found their places this way. I lucked out and sublet a room from a girl who was going on her own exchange at the same time, so the timing was perfect.
I ended up living with three local Canadian students who all went to McGill University. They were amazing—seriously like having my own personal Montreal tour guides! They helped me settle in, showed me around the city, and introduced me to the local culture in a way that I probably wouldn’t have experienced if I’d stayed in student housing with other exchange students.
Life at HEC Montreal: Suits, Snow, and Hechange
HEC Montreal is known as a pretty prestigious university, and that reputation was definitely reflected in my classes. It was a bit of a culture shock at first—students would show up to class in suits, and the classrooms were more like mini lecture theatres. Each unit had one three-hour class per week, which was a mix of lecture and tutorial. I won’t lie, sitting still for three hours straight wasn’t my favourite thing, but I got used to it and there was usually a break halfway through.
One thing I was a little worried about before arriving was the language barrier. Montreal is in Quebec, a French-speaking province, and I don’t speak French. But honestly, it wasn’t an issue at all. The city is super multicultural, so almost everyone also speaks English, and all the signs are in both languages.
One of the absolute highlights of my time at HEC Montreal was Hechange, a student-run society dedicated to taking care of exchange students. They organised a ton of events throughout the semester, which made it easy to meet people and explore the city. My Favourite events were a trip to Sommet Saint-Sauveur for a day of snow tubing (sliding down mountains on inflatable donuts—so much fun!) and the exchange gala at the end of the semester. The gala was the perfect way to wrap up our exchange experience and say goodbye to everyone.
Adventures Beyond the Classroom
Montreal itself is an incredible city, known for its vibrant arts scene, diverse food culture, and a calendar full of festivals and events. There was always something going on, so there was never a dull moment during my exchange.
Of course, I didn’t just stay in Montreal the whole time. During spring break, a group of us planned a weekend trip to Mont Tremblant, where I learned to ski for the first time. Let me tell you, skiing is a lot harder than it looks! But after a few tumbles, I started to get the hang of it. I also went on a week-long trip to New York City with three other Australian exchange students. It was amazing to see the Big Apple in person—so many iconic landmarks and so much to do. Some of the other exchange students I met took spontaneous trips to Mexico and other parts of the US during the semester, which was super easy to do from Montreal.
Final Thoughts
Studying abroad at HEC Montreal was an unforgettable experience. From the challenge of finding accommodation to making lifelong friends, exploring a new city, and traveling to new places, every part of the journey was worth it. If you’re considering an exchange, I highly recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and going for it. You never know what amazing experiences are waiting for you on the other side of the world!
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
