While many may think that UStudy only places students in the US, we also have good contacts throughout Canada. Two of our more recent placements are Nynke and Karsten de Koning from Delft. In 2024, Nynke will be entering her fourth year at Bishop’s University in Quebec and Karsten will be starting his second year at St. Francis Xavier in Nova Scotia.
Nynke and Karsten both graduated from Winford, a private high school in The Hague. They were both interested in studying abroad after graduating. Their parents both had positive experiences studying abroad so all parties were enthusiastic. But where? Nynke in particular had always wanted to study in Canada. She felt it was more European-minded than the US and Karsten followed suit, based somewhat on Nynke’s experiences but mainly because he wanted to do something different than most of his peers.
Nynke started at Bishop’s during Covid times and Canadian customs had strict rules in place for new arrivals. We didn’t dwell on this during our chat but by the time Karsten arrived in the country a year later, most regulations had been scrapped. Nynke’s experience in the beginning also differed from most students in that she lived and worked at a local prep school close to campus. It took some time to get used to the inner workings of prep schools, the bureaucracy, the kids, etc. Both Nynke and Karsten stressed just how cold the winters are!! But, Karsten said, winter doesn’t last forever and he adjusted quickly to the new environment.
There were no huge culture shocks to get used to in Canada. They both already had a high level of English and although it can be tiring in the beginning to do everything in English, you get used to it fast enough.
Nynke chose to study in Quebec, a French-speaking province, so while classes were in English, life outside of school was bilingual and the locals could be a bit hostile towards English speakers.
Problems they encountered – issues at the boarding school or with roommates – were stressful at times but they were both able to work through them. Karsten said communication could have been clearer with regards to choosing classes and his major but after advocating for an in-person meeting, he was able to clear up misunderstandings. They both stress the importance of standing your ground, speaking up for yourself and acting the adult. The little things you deal with now are similar to issues you will have throughout your life and working career.
While the campuses at both schools are beautiful, the siblings have experienced living in dorms and independently. Nynke lived and worked for two years at a nearby boarding school and Karsten started out in the dorm and later chose to live with roommates at an apartment close to campus.
Nynke felt she had a good study/work balance, both took up a good part of each day, and there are enough possibilities to meet up with people to study if you want. Ultimately, there were too many issues around the work so in her third year she chose to live in the BU dorms.
Karsten doesn’t feel he is missing out on dorm life because there is always something going on outside of classes. Living off campus also means he can mix with Canadians more, which he enjoys. There have been issues with roommates but he has found a new place to live and is looking forward to a bit less domestic strife! They have both noted that not everyone is as mature or independent as they are used to in the Netherlands.
There are ample opportunities to socialize outside of class at both universities. While the freezing weather may keep some indoors, there is always something to do.
Both universities are known for having a good party atmosphere if that’s what you are looking for. Canadian universities are by definition large (colleges can be smaller) but everything you need in within reach and if you need to go off campus, there is always someone with a car you can tag along with.
Nynke enjoys meeting up with friends, Karsten has found some great golf spots and they both meet up to spend time with each other during the school breaks. They have travelled to the US, gone to concerts and love getting the most out of their time abroad.
Nynke and Karsten’s journey with UStudy differed somewhat from each other. Nynke knew fairly quickly which university she wanted to study at after attending a UStudy webinar hosted by Bishop’s University and having productive chats with the admissions representative.
Karsten’s search for a good match had a more traditional approach of comparing universities that offered the right mix of education, amenities and affordability. UStudy was able to successfully negotiate with admissions about diploma issues and suggest that Nynke apply for an off-campus job opportunity to help keep costs down. Nynke also went through an extra step in the study permit process required of all students who wish to study in Quebec, and while applying for a study permit at the height of Covid-19 was exciting to say the least, all went well in the end.
Nynke and Karsten have not regretted their decision to study abroad – even the inevitable bumps in the road have given them better insight into how to deal effectively with others. They have both expressed how quickly they became more independent and resourceful.
Karsten is looking forward to a new year and new roommates at St. Francis Xavier, while Nynke will be participating in an exchange year in South Korea – exciting times for everyone!
This could be your story! Interested in exploring your study options in the USA or Canada?
