30 days in Frankfurt, Germany

Garbo at a souvenir shop in Frankfurt, Germany.

Garbo Zhu is a fourth-year Architectural Science student at Ryerson. She attended Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany as part of Frankfurt Studio 2019, a 30-day studio-based architecture and design program. We asked her all about experience during her short-term abroad opportunity.

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A Typical Week in Lisbon

BY LEAH KOSOWAN, FOURTH YEAR STUDENT IN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT STUDIES, TRSM

Since high school, I knew that exchange would not only be an option for me, it would be an essential part of my university career. Exchange has lived up to everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. 

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How To Make Friends While Studying Abroad

By Valentina PrANJIC, Third year student in professional communication, fcad

Going on exchange has been a dream of mine since I was in high school. I always saw the world as being full of new places to see and experiences to live. So when a friend once suggested that I complete an exchange in Utrecht, Holland I found myself on a seven-hour flight to Amsterdam a year later. 

The weeks prior to my flight, I was ecstatic and ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.  However when I landed, the reality that I was alone in a foreign country with no friends sank in. Continue reading How To Make Friends While Studying Abroad

Perks, Pitfalls and Roller Coasters – Tips for Studying Abroad

By Julia Nitz, Global Management Student in TRSM

Living the exchange student lifestyle in Frankfurt, Germany, was an indescribable experience, saturated with joy, adventures and travels. But along with the blissful, memorable moments came mistakes and chaotic situations that simultaneously turned out to be great learning experiences.After embracing the perks and pitfalls of studying abroad, here are my top recommendations for anyone preparing to venture upon the exchange journey.

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How-to Guide to Having the Best Time Abroad

By Jackie Jabson, 4th year Student in Creative Industries, FCAD

6 months. That sounds like a lot of time, but it goes by faster than you’d think. Time is of the essence. It sneaks up on without you noticing. One day you’ll wake up and it will all be over. The reality of it is that exchange is only a small fragment of your life. That’s why soaking in every bit of the experience will ensure you won’t be left feeling dissatisfied with it.

I traveled to Denmark for my student exchange and  stayed in Copenhagen for 6 months. I discovered that there is always a shortage in time. It is up to you to make the most of it in this foreign and magical place. How long is your stay abroad? 6 months? That is 26 weeks or 4,380 hours. Take note on some of these tips to help make the most out of your exchange.

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Honeymoon Exchange at Ryerson


By Klara Hofman, Exchange Student at Ryerson in Fall 2018

Never in my life would I have pictured to have such intense experiences in just one semester! Traveling is without a doubt in my genes and it is something I wouldn’t want to miss in my life. So, I started looking for opportunities to spend a semester abroad while academically improving and making progress in my studies. Luckily, my home university in Trier (Germany) is partners with Ryerson’s School of Child and Youth Care. I was in a rush – applied – got picked – got accepted and just a blink of an eye later, I arrived at Pearson Airport in August 2018.

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Home Sweet Home – Life After Exchange

By Chelsea Dolan, 4th year Student in Journalism, FCAD

Landing back home in Canada at Pearson Airport felt strange, in the sense that it felt like I never left home in the first place. For the past five months I lived in Europe, constantly experiencing new cultures and cities, with each day being so spontaneously different— yet everything at home remained exactly the same.

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¡Que Viva Madrid!

By Joshua H, Undergraduate student in Business Management, Ted Rogers School of Management

Last January I embarked on the biggest adventure of my life; studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. Up until then, I had never even left North America, nor was I anything close to fluent in Spanish [. . .],  so needless to say I was a little bit nervous before my flight. As one might expect, my flight from Toronto was delayed by an hour and a half, however it so happens that this delay would forever alter my exchange experience. During the delay, I met one of the many lifelong friends I made while in Europe. It turned out that not only were we on the same flight, but we were both going to the same school in Madrid, and would also be living only a 5 minute walk from each other while we were there. This was just the beginning of what I can easily call the best 5 months of my life. Continue reading ¡Que Viva Madrid!