Hi, I‘m Alexandra!

I‘m 25 years old and spent my semester abroad in Winter 2024 at Vancouver Island University (VIU).

During my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, I took five courses there. According to the requirements of my home university, three of these had to be selected from the core areas of Economics, Finance, Marketing, Accounting, and Logistics. The other two I was free to choose myself.

In the end, I decided on the following courses:

• Financial Management in Tourism

• Social Media Marketing

• Labour Economics

• Negotiations

• Public Speaking Performance

The Negotiations course was a particular highlight for me, as there are very few comparable offerings in Germany. Each week, we analyzed different negotiation and discussion strategies and learned practical methods to act confidently even in challenging situations. Since the course was spread over two days, we had the opportunity to directly apply what we had learned in a negotiation simulation on the second day.

But it wasn‘t just the lectures — campus life at VIU also has a lot to offer. Numerous student associations make it easy to meet new people and participate in exciting programs and trips. For example, through the RTA, I was able to watch an NHL game of the Vancouver Canucks at a significantly reduced price. The International Office also regularly organizes activities and trips, with the undisputed highlight being the Rocky Mountains trip — an unforgettable adventure at a student-friendly price.

VIU and Canada absolutely amazed me. There was hardly a weekend when I wasn‘t out exploring a new facet of the country. The landscape changes dramatically within just a few kilometers — and each time, I found something new that fascinated me even more than before.

I fully enjoyed my time there and will definitely be returning!