Canada - University of Manitoba                                                                                                            

Written by: Song Won-geun, Department of Global Management (23)

Departure August 28, 2024, semester starts September 4, semester ends December 21

◆ Visa application process
You can easily apply for a fee of around 7,000 won through the following link. No other documents are required other than your passport.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply-ko.html

◆ Flight ticket information
I heard that the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is, so I bought it in early June 2024. In fact, the round-trip ticket was the cheapest 4 months before the departure date. I used Google Flights and Skyscanner to find flights, and I used a foreign airline that co-operates with Korean Air.
It is said that if you transit through the US, it may be difficult to enter the country without a return ticket, so if possible, buy a round-trip ticket. The University of Manitoba (hereinafter referred to as UofM) has a separate final exam period of about 10 days after the end of the semester. The exact exam date for each subject will be known only after the start of the semester, so the earliest possible departure date is the night after the final exam period ends. One thing to note is that, in case of frequent flight delays unique to American airlines, make sure to allow plenty of time for connecting flights.

◆ Things to prepare before leaving the country
In the second semester, you can experience all three seasons: a short summer, a long fall, and a short but strong winter. When leaving the country, pack only a few thick winter clothes to avoid international shipping or additional luggage, and buy other necessary clothes locally or at your travel destination. There are quite a few good clothes as souvenirs. There are many places where you can buy daily necessities at a low price locally, so pack a travel kit when leaving the country, and buy anything else locally.
For cell phone communication issues, I used the E-SIM service of a domestic agency called Supercell. You can consult through the KakaoTalk channel. Since maintaining Korean text messages was essential to receive authentication numbers for various sites that I signed up for with a Korean number, I changed the rate plan I was using in Korea to a rate plan that only allowed text messages. For insurance, I took out Carrot's travel insurance product.

◆ Dormitory application/class application
You can apply for dormitory by accessing the residence portal on the UofM homepage, and UofM will provide detailed information about class application via email. At this time, you must create a school email (@myumanitoba.ca) to smoothly access the UofM homepage and the site attached to the email.

◆ Other Notes
Winnipeg requires a separate bus card called Peggo Card. During the dormitory move-in period, a Peggo Card pop-up will open at the UMSU Center, so it is recommended to bring the necessary documents according to the notice on the school website and make it as soon as possible. You can get daily necessities at a low price at Dollarama or Dollar Tree, which are like Daiso in Canada.

◆ Class progress and evaluation method
-Course number, subject/program name, evaluation: 1~10 points
GMGT 2010, Business Communication, 8 points
MKT 3230, Consumer Behaviour, 10 points
HRIR 2440, Human Resource Management, 7 points

The classes are mainly one-way lectures, but due to the nature of the business administration major, all classes involve presentations and team projects. There aren't many students who ask questions, and the students' enthusiasm for learning and the overall atmosphere don't seem much different from Korea. It varies by class, but on average, the attendance, assignments, participation, and exam reflection rates are even. UofM sends links to class-related information via email. There is a site called UMLearn that serves the same purpose as Sungkyunkwan University's LearningX, but it is not well organized, so you can't get all the information from this alone. It's important not to miss out on assignment/exam information that you usually receive directly in class.

◆ Dormitory/Accommodation
- Dormitory/Accommodation Name: Arthur V. Mauro Student Residence, Location: On campus, Cost: Approximately 5,000 CAD, Rating: Good
Since the dormitory does not have a blanket and mattress cover, it is recommended to order one in advance through Amazon. You can apply for a meal plan, which is not cheap at $18-19 per meal. However, it may be a good choice for your health since it is very difficult to eat while living alone in a foreign country. It is buffet-style, has a variety of food, and tastes good.
A dormitory tip is that if you apply at the end of the dormitory application period, you can choose your roommate. If you apply early, you can choose your room number, but the room location does not matter much, and you cannot know who will be your roommate. However, if you apply late, you can press each room number to check the names of people who have already applied for that room, and infer the country to choose the roommate you want.

◆ Cultural and leisure activities
Local events (music festivals, night markets, China markets, etc.) are often held, and you can check the news in real time through the Instagram page @Winnipegdigest. As for university events, you can watch the games of the university hockey, football, and volleyball teams participating in the university league for free. Since tickets are provided, you can enjoy watching sports games without any burden. The student council and dormitory also frequently hold social events such as campfires and movie nights. There is a club system called School Club, and exchange students can join, but I have not seen a case of a first semester exchange student joining the school club. If you are interested in Japanese culture, try participating in the Japanese-English Language Exchange Program held every Thursday at the Engineering Building. You can check the details on the Instagram page @umja_events.

◆ Overall Review
Because Canada is so large, it is difficult to travel as often as Europe. If you want to travel, you have to take a plane. However, since it is located in the middle of the North American continent, it is not bad for traveling to major Canadian cities and the United States. I visited Toronto, New York, Calgary, and Seattle during the semester. Winnipeg itself has a friendly atmosphere. In my personal opinion, I felt that there were more friendly friends there than in Korea. The area itself is a small city, and there are not many things to do on a regular basis other than going to events, clubs, and bars, so it is a good idea to make local friends. The city itself is quiet and has a calm atmosphere, so you have to get used to a leisurely life.

Original text: Sungkyun Webzine No. 561 (https://webzine.skku.edu/skkuzine/section/knowledge06.do?mode=list&articleNo=126452)