Hello! My name is Bethany Spragg. I am a 3rd year English Literature student at the University of Southampton and I have spent the last year studying abroad at Huron University in London, Ontario.
I hope you enjoy my blog! I wanted to share what the typical student experience is like across the pond – the social as well as the academics! I’ve included some key notes and tips, which will be in blue. So, whether you’re considering studying abroad or just curious about life at a Canadian university, I hope I give you some good, honest insight. Studying in a new country has challenged me in the best ways. I’ve had an incredible time, and I’m so grateful to have had this experience.
Huron and Western University
For my year abroad, I attended one of Canada’s oldest universities, Huron College. Huron is an exceptional liberal arts college, known for its small, tight-knit community and individual-centred learning. However, you can’t attend Huron without also attending Western – a larger affiliate and campus neighbour.
Huron and Western’s school pride was overwhelming and infectious; from the beginning, I felt very welcome. Huron and Western are considered some of Canada’s more ‘American’ university experiences, I would find out. Some of my absolute favourite moments were experiencing the culture shocks this would lead to. For example, my first college American Football – fully kitted out with cheerleaders, marching bands, and an actual horse doing a lap of the field every touchdown. Another wild thing to have experienced was fraternities and sororities; as a disciple of American coming-of-age movies, watching ‘rush’ (their recruitment process) and initiations was incredibly surreal. It felt like stepping onto a movie set – complete with themed parties, Greek letters adorning huge college houses, and being told stories of elaborate traditions that seemed both bizarre and fascinating to an outsider.
Both Huron and Western’s campuses are beautiful. Huron’s is, naturally, much smaller than Western’s, but because the two are immediately next to one another, they sort of bleed into each other – there’s a tunnel connecting the two. As I say, Western’s campus is overwhelmingly big. I spent days trying to explore it, and I’m still not convinced I’ve seen it all. And because class attendance is mandatory, any part of campus is always packed. I think this is perhaps why there is such a strong student community in London; you are guaranteed to see your friends when you’re on campus. You don’t need to text your mates to see if anybody is attending the lecture because it’s a given that they are. In some ways, it can feel like you’re in high school again. But that also means you get to spend so much time together. A lot of the time, we’d go to the UCC in between classes, which is their version of a student centre (except it’s 5x bigger). The UCC has everything any student may need in one huge building. It’s got the student bar, cafes, three Starbucks, a Tim Hortons, a canteen, a grocery store, a pharmacy, a bookshop, a Western merchandise store, a barber, a dentist, a chiropractor – you name it, they’ve got it.
The two communities are incredibly interlinked as well. Huron students can take classes on the Western campus, and vice versa. Western students go to Huron’s events and competitions, and vice versa. They wear each other’s merch. That’s another thing you notice – the school pride. All over campus, everyone wears their college hoodies, T-shirts, and jerseys. It’s such a massive market here; major brands produce it. For example, in that merch store I mentioned, there’s a whole section of Lulu Lemon sportswear with ‘WESTERN’ printed across it. Because alumni and legacy enrollment is a huge part of the culture here as well, two separate merch stores in the UCC sell the vintage stuff, so you can buy the same school hoodie your dad or mum or grandparents wore when they attended Western.
Acedemics
At Huron, grades are assessed via assignments, tests, midterms, final grades, as well as attendance and participation, and are cumulative across the year. Each professor has the autonomy to decide how their classes are weighted (%), because of this, it is important to study each class’s syllabus. For example, in one of my classes, attendance and participation were worth 25%, and in another, it was worth only 5%. Additionally, professors have complete control over your grade; so, if you are unhappy with a current grade, it is perfectly normal to set up a meeting with your professor and ask for extra credit. This could be in the form of an extra essay or project (though extra credit is always a request, not a given). I’ve also enjoyed a lot of creative liberty with my assignments during my year abroad; my favourite was a project I delivered for a class called ‘Oral Persuasion’, where I gave a seminar-style speech entitled ‘In Defence of British Food’.
Note: Professors and students are not on a first-name basis in Canada. In the UK, we typically wouldn’t think twice about this; however, in North America, it is considered proper etiquette to address your professor as ‘Professor/ Doctor ________’.
ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF LONDON: THE GEESE.
They are literally everywhere. Even when they’re meant to have migrated, they’re still somehow in their hundreds. Their numbers defy the laws of nature. It feels like there are nesting goslings everywhere – under picnic tables, in bushes, and tucked into every nook between buildings – closely guarded by their fiercely territorial parents. Here, the geese are regarded as a cross between a rat and a snake with wings. You will laugh as you watch them chase your fellow students. You will be laughed at when they inevitably chase you. It is an inescapable fate.
SOCIAL LIFE – Where are the clubs?
We quickly discovered there’s not much in the way of clubs in London, Ontario. Instead, the downtown streets are lined with bars. Some of these can feel quite reminiscent of English pubs; for example, ‘Poachers Arms’ purposefully fashions itself after stereotypical UK pub decor, complete with their logo playing off an Underground Tube sign. There are, of course, plenty of Irish Pubs, such as McCabes or Molly Blooms (both of which have great live music options), but don’t expect them to feel like the Irish Pubs you’re used to. There will be no roast dinners, but you can order various variations of burgers, chicken wings, and fries, and when 8 PM rolls around, the lights will turn off and the neon signs will turn on.
Even in a major city, like Toronto, where there are nightclubs, they are still very different from the ones found in UK university cities. I found them to be much less social than home – mostly, the crowd is there for the DJ. I think perhaps because bars are so popular, they’re often seen as the place you go to talk or meet people. Canadians are incredibly friendly, and it’s a rare night that, when you’re out, groups stick to their cliques. You’ll have no trouble making new friends in Canadian bars.
Our go-to bar quickly became a place called ‘Joe Kools’. It always has good vibes and good music (and the drinks are super cheap).
One thing to be prepared for is how early the nightlife begins here. On our first night, we were wholly unready for this. I had been told previously that the bars filled up comparatively quickly, so my friend and I left at 10 PM. Turns out, we were still 2 hours late. I still can’t get my head around it, but this university city goes out at 8:30 PM. On holidays or busy nights (like Fridays or Saturdays), you have to go even earlier. This is, however, not so odd considering that most establishments shut at 2 AM (there’s a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol after this time). Speaking of which, if you want to buy spirits in general, you’ll have to go to your local liquor store (commonly it’s an LCBO). But, wines and beers have recently been allowed to be sold in grocery stores.
House Parties
One of my absolute favourite things about the student culture in North America is the emphasis on house parties. As a disciple of the late 90s/ early 2000s Americana coming-of-age movie, it was a roundabout moment. The dedication to these parties is unmatched. It’s not an invite-only ordeal – unless you know the hosts or are on a guest list (that’s right, a guest list for a house party), you’ll be charged an entry fee at the door. And if it’s a good party, there’ll be a line up the street. Houses in North America are generally much larger than ours at home, so often you’ll find there will be multiple rooms serving different functions: different music sets, some dancing, some for talking. At one party I went to, a DJ from Toronto was hired to play it, and with that advertisement on social media, an influx of their fans from all over. Another I went to had hired a food truck for the garden. It’s taken seriously, and it was awesome as an outsider to see the dedication students had to the planning and execution of a good college party.
On special events, the student population’s commitment to both the party and their universities’ twofold. One of my first experiences of this was HOCO (Homecoming). It’s a similar concept to our Varsity Week, except that it happens at the very beginning of the first semester as opposed to the end of the second. Essentially, it’s an American Football game between your rival university – Western’s was Waterloo. University sport is taken incredibly seriously here, but even so, it was clear that the main event was the afterparty. Decked out in purple, entire streets were blocked off for the student rampage.
In Canada, it’s illegal to drink alcohol on the street – you must be on private property. As such, everyone is either congregated on the front lawns or has disguised their booze in regular water bottles. St. Patrick’s Day was another experience – with live student bands scattered all over the city, not in venues, but stationed on the front porches of student houses.
Housing
ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE: The cost of rent for student housing in London is significantly cheaper than it is in the UK, so take advantage.
I had the option to live in Western and Huron dorms, which I’ve heard is a great experience, but you will be required to buy a meal plan. This was the main reason I didn’t end up opting for the dorms. The meal plan required a bulk payment to be made. While I’m sure it’s a cost-effective option when you do the maths of how much groceries cost (especially in Canada, where it is comparatively very expensive), you are required to have that chunk of money ready to go. I’d also cooked for myself for two years at that point, and didn’t want to give up the freedom I was used to.
In terms of off-campus student rent housing, as I say, it is shockingly cheaper than the UK. I was able to get a place for about £100 less than I would have at home, and I thought that was a great deal for what the situation was. Because of this, in retrospect, I didn’t investigate as much as I should have – I thought I’d found such a steal. However, I’d quickly realise most of my friends were paying even less than I was for even nicer accommodation. The state of student housing in the UK is in literal shambles, so don’t let your hellishly low expectations of what student accommodation looks like warp your decision-making. You’re in a different country with different standards. In London, Ontario, I found them to be significantly better.
Huron has a great programme that allows them to check out prospective housing if you’re overseas needing to sign a lease: take advantage of this.
The Great Outdoors
Canada has some of the beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen, and it’s hard to liken it to anything in Britain or Europe – I think mostly because everything feels so expansive. During my year abroad, I had the opportunity to travel around a lot, either with friends or with Huron. Here are some of my favourite places.
Komoka Provincial Park
Local to London, Komoka Park is a lot of gorgeous woodland and runs alongside the River Thames. My friend Zelda and I found a tiny beach off one of the trails and spent the day there. We saw beavers!
Point Pelee National Park
In Leamington, Ontario, Point Pelee is the Southernmost point of Canada, and literally on one of my best friends, Ella’s, doorsteps. I stayed at her family’s house there for Thanksgiving and Easter (in my experience, Canadians are exceptionally generous and hospitable). The lakes here could be confused for oceans, they’re so huge. Even though Detroit is on the other side of the water, you wouldn’t know. Point Pelee was unique not only because it really might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, but to have been shown it by Ella made it extra special to me
Halifax
Halifax, Nova Scotia, was an impromptu trip, but one I’m so glad I went on. I stayed in a hostel which, even in the off-season, was still full. It’s a student city (Dalhousie University), and it has a very similar vibe to London. The Downtown music scene was great, and the seafood by the docks was incredible (I made mussels and lobster rolls). I will say, be prepared for the hills. Halifax was formed by glaciers during the Ice Age, and at one point, walking up the road, I felt like I was climbing a Y-axis.
Prince Edward Island
When I found out I was coming to Canada for my year abroad, visiting PEI was essential. I was practically raised on L. M. Montgomery’s ‘Anne of Green Gables’, and it was, in many ways, the reason I came to love English so much. I got to visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum and go inside the real Montgomery house. Not only was the Island itself beautiful, with its red sand and pastel wood-framed houses, but I was fulfilling an actual childhood dream.
Some Final Moments From My Year To Share: ‘OH CANADA!’
Hockey
London’s local OHL team is the London Knights. I went to a game with my friend Emily, and we couldn’t believe how wild and violent the game was. Thankfully, the man sitting behind us was explaining the ins and outs of the game to his son (as it turned out, he was an ex-coach for the Kitcher Rangers – another very famous OHL team). With us eavesdropping on this live commentary, we could understand what was happening. It’s a rapidly paced game, so you have to pay attention, especially as you are at risk of a puck flying out of the rink and hitting you. That said, ice hockey quickly became one of my favourite sports to watch.
Did you know that fighting (actual fist-fighting) is totally allowed on the rink? The only rules are that you can’t use your stick to hit someone, and your gloves have to be off.
Tim Hick’s ‘We Got Stronger Beer!’
At my local country bar (Cowboys Ranch, London), every Friday and Saturday at midnight, they play ‘We Got Stronger Beer!’ by Tim Hicks. It’s a tongue-in-cheek song comparing the Canadian and American stereotypes against one another, ultimately championing Canada for its “stronger beer”. It’s a classic, and you should give it a listen.
Snow!
I’ll let this picture speak for itself. But, be warned, you absolutely need snow boots.
Goodbye Canada!
My year at Huron and Western was packed and had some of the most memorable experiences of my life. I loved Canada, and I can’t wait to go back!
