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Attending college in Canada is a popular option for international students: it gives you the chance to receive a world-class education while having the experience of living abroad. However, you’ll likely face many challenges when adapting to academic practices and norms that may be quite different to what you’re used to.

Anticipating these challenges in advance will help you make an action plan for how to overcome them.

Formality of Student–Professor Relationships

You may find the interactions between students and professors are different in Canada than in your home country. In particular, relationships may be more informal. In classes, you’ll often have opportunities to join discussions and you should feel free to ask questions if you have any doubts. For queries that require a more in-depth answer, take advantage of office hours or drop your professor an email.

Academic Expectations

The biggest academic challenge international students tend to face is needing to take steps to avoid plagiarism. It can be confusing if you’re not used to referencing sources and formatting papers in the style your college requires. If you’re unsure how to do this, talk to your professors or head to the writing center for advice. It’s important to ensure your formatting is correct before submitting a paper because accusations of plagiarism could cause you to receive a failing grade or even lose your place at the college.

Meeting General Education Requirements

In many countries, students only take classes directly related to their major. In Canada, however, you’ll also need to fulfill general education requirements, which means taking classes that cover a wide range of subjects. There are several advantages to this, including that it expands your knowledge, may help you discover new passions, and gives you the chance to meet more people.

Connecting with Other Students

Your classes are just one way to meet other students. Some of the best places to make friends are at extracurriculars, like sports teams, clubs, and organizations. Choose activities that match your current interests or try something new that you feel you may enjoy.

Where to Find Healthy Food

Food at college is not always the healthiest, especially if you’re stuck with a meal plan. Whereas you will want to eat out sometimes, it will be easier to stick to a balanced diet and save money if you prepare your own meals. Plus, this means you can eat the dishes you usually have at home, perhaps even to share with new friends. You should be able to find most of the ingredients you need at your local grocery store, particularly if your college town has a large international community.

How to Find Off-Campus Housing

Living off campus is much more comfortable than staying in a shared room in a dorm. You’ll have privacy, plenty of space, and a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. You can find rooms for rent by doing an internet search, checking social media groups to see if other students are looking for roommates, or by asking your college for housing recommendations.

How to Cope with Cultural Difference

Learning as much as possible about cultural differences can help you adjust to living in Canada sooner. Find out if your college has an international student office or a club for international students where you can receive support. Your academic advisor can also offer support, particularly when cultural differences are having an impact on your academics. Finally, if you’re unsure about anything, ask your new friends — they’ll be happy to help.

One challenge you can solve right is finding off-campus housing for Fanshawe College. When you live at Foundry First, you receive a furnished suite at an affordable price and access to some great amenities. We have everything you need to make your time as a student in London, Ontario extra special, such as fast WiFi, laundry facilities, gourmet kitchens in every apartment, and plenty of places to meet other students, including a theater, gym, and lounge. Apply now while there are still some spots available.