Your new home away from home at FDU-Vancouver
From Fairleigh Dickinson University
Moving to another country is an exciting experience but it can also be stressful; getting all your paperwork in order, packing for the trip, and then there's the trip itself! The good news is that you don't have to do the preparations alone. This is where your University or College Student Services is there to help. In fact, at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Vancouver you are a member of the university community long before you step foot on campus. Even from your home country, the staff is there to help you with answering your questions and guide you through the process - admissions, immigration, health insurance, etc. - weather that's by phone, mail or email!
As an international student there are a few things you will need to do after you receive your letter of admission. First, you should begin the process of applying for your Student Permit. We recommend you apply early! In some cases, processing of Study Permits can take up to six months.
You will also need to apply for temporary medical insurance to protect you during your travels and for the first few months after you've arrived. If you are bringing family, they should also have adequate health insurance during their stay. Once you arrive you will apply for permanent health insurance with the help of Student Services staff.
Lastly, you will need to arrange accommodations. FDU-Vancouver's centrally located campus in downtown Vancouver allows students to choose from a variety of local housing options. The Office of Student Services will be happy to explain to you the options which include Homestay, renting an apartment or short-term accommodations.
When you finally arrive at campus ready to take classes, the university provides all incoming students with an Orientation. There is where you learn the specifics of what it means to be an FDU-Vancouver student, how to succeed and how to adapt to your new home-away-from-home. As an international student you may feel like Orientation is the end of a long trip, but in reality it is only the beginning of a much bigger journey. Orientation is one step of many which will help you transition to Canada, to FDU-Vancouver and to becoming a university student.
A Student's Account:
An important part of becoming part of an organization is developing a network and learning its rules. That's what Orientation is all about at FDU-Vancouver. Not only are rules taught, but the school philosophy is explained in a fun way that brings all the new students together. The M&M game, for example, is where everyone says one thing about themselves for each M&M they want to eat; and it' a great way for students to get to know each other and find people with similar interests. Another game, a game of strategy called "Stepping Stones," gives new students an opportunity to learn about concepts such as leadership, teamwork and communication. At FDU-Vancouver Orientation is filled with fun ways to get students to have fun and get to know their university, and their peers.
-Filip Krol, Student Government Association President
