posted December 8, 2011
Brandon, MB — Another Brandon University student, Amy McDonald will be taking advantage of the National Student Exchange (NSE) program to study abroad. The third-year French major, who is originally from Sioux Lookout, Ontario, will be heading to Newcastle, Australia to attend the university there. The first semester of the academic year in this Eastern Australia coastal city north of Sydney will begin on February 28.
“I did an exchange in high school, in Vichy, France for a year, and I caught the travel bug. I think this is a wonderful opportunity to travel and study at the same time,” said McDonald, who will be paying BU tuition fees instead of international student fees thanks to the NSE program. “I’ve finished up most of my major, so I’ll only be taking three courses there, then come back and finish (my degree) here. It’s a little break before I graduate.”
After starting the interview process last January, McDonald found out within two months that she had been accepted into this program. Originally, she applied to SUNY College Buffalo, basing her decision on the international programs that institution offers. McDonald then applied to the University of Newcastle through that the SUNY exchange program.
“The chance to immerse yourself in another culture, I think it will be worth writing a couple of essays,” she said about the application process. “The best part about it is to be able to live somewhere completely different — different climate, different teaching styles, everything.”
Students who successfully apply to the NSE can study elsewhere in Canada as well as the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Currently, two other Brandon University students are studying abroad through the NSE: Samantha Durnin is finishing her one-semester of studies in Germany, while Jennifer Banks will continue with a second semester in Indianapolis.
Partnerships within other universities, like the one McDonald discovered with Australian universities, also open doors to many other possibilities.
“The National Student Exchange is one of the most amazing programs I have encountered,” said Anita Allan, the NSE coordinator in the Brandon University Office of International Activities. “It is a win-win opportunity for our students, and I sincerely hope that they will investigate the options that are available to them. I am very excited to be involved in assisting our students to explore the world.”
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For more information, please contact:
Anita Allan
Coordinator, Office of International Activities
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-7479
OR
Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
Contact
- Brandon University
- communications@brandonu.ca
To receive any BU publication in an alternate format please contact Communications@BrandonU.ca
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