FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY & MARITIME STUDIES PROGRAMS
Welcome to the Marine Institute. This guide contains information that will help you with your arrival plans and transition to life in Canada. We encourage you to read it carefully. MI is committed to assisting you with any problems or concerns you may have during your studies here. So, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time!
ABOUT MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY (MUN) AND THE MARINE INSTITUTE (MI) Memorial University is a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary, public, teaching and research university. It offers more than 100 degree programs to more than 18,500 students at four campuses and throughout the world. Not far from the St. John’s Campus, the largest campus among the four, is the Marine Institute (MI). MI is Canada’s leading centre of marine learning and applied research. We are dedicated to education, training, applied research, and industrial support.
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YOUR CONTACT POINTS MI International (MII) is the international office at Marine Institute. With Student Affairs and Office of the Registrar, MII manages international student recruitment and provides international student services at MI. We also collaborate closely with the Internationalization Office (IO) at the St. John’s Campus to provide various support services for you! Please see our contact information below: MARINE INSTI T U T E ( M I )
MI INTERNATIONAL (MII) OFFICE
155 Ridge Road, St. John’s, NL
Room C3218, 3rd Floor Tel: (709) 778-0408 E-mail: internationalstu@mun.ca Facebook: facebook.com/International.MI
Office Hours: Monday to Friday — 8:30am to 4:30pm (8:30am to 4:00pm during summer)
Sonia Ho
International Student Coordinator Tel: (709) 778-0631 E-mail: sonia.ho@mi.mun.ca Skype: miinternational_isc
MI STUDENT A F F A I R S
Room W3011 & W3013, 3rd Floor
Angie Clarke
Director Tel: (709) 778-0565 E-mail: angie.clarke@mi.mun.ca
MI REGISTRAR’S OFFICE
Room C2210, 2nd Floor
Rhonda McMeekin
Jody Burke
Student Liaison Officer Tel: (709) 778-0611 E-mail: rhonda.mcmeekin@mi.mun.ca
Coordinator of Advanced Programs Tel: (709) 778-0682 E-mail: jody.burke@mi.mun.ca
MEMORIAL UNI V E R S I T Y ( S T . J O H N ’ S C A M P U S ) :
Internationalization Office (IO)
Corte Real, Room 1000A, Burton’s Pond Apartments 57 Allandale Road, St. John’s, NL Tel: (709) 864-8895 E-mail: isa@mun.ca Facebook: facebook.com/internationalstudentadvising
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WHAT’S NEXT? Now that you have been accepted, you should be completing the following:
POST ADMISSION (PAGES 5-6):
❑ Apply for study permit (p. 5) ❑ Decide on housing (p. 5) ❑ Join MUN Mentors (p. 5) ❑ Seek academic advice from your program coordinator (p. 5) ❑ Set up your MUN Portal and MUN e-mail (p. 6) ❑ Prepare for English Placement Test (p. 6) AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED (PAGES 7-12):
❑ Book temporary housing if permanent housing is not confirmed (p. 7) ❑ Book your flights to YYT (St. John’s) and sign up for airport greeting service (p. 7-8) ❑ Complete Online Check-in with the Internationalization Office (p. 8) ❑ Register for your courses (p. 8) ❑ Understand your fees and health insurance (p. 9) ❑ Pay your fees before late fees apply and make arrangement to transfer fees and money (p. 9-10) ❑ Familiarize yourself with the University Calendar for school regulations and University Diary for important dates (p. 10) ❑ Pack and prepare for travel (p. 11-12) ❑ Ask us any questions – through social media, email or phone! (p. 12) AFTER ARRIVAL (PAGE 13):
❑ Settle in and update your family/friends ❑ Visit MI International AND Internationalization Office ❑ Attend orientation!
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POST ADMISSION APPLY FOR STUDY PERMIT Most international students are required to obtain a study permit before studying in Canada. Depending on your country, you may be required to apply for a visitor’s visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) as well. For more information on these documents and how to apply, please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website (www.cic.gc.ca/english/study). If you have any additional questions, please contact IRCC (www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts). As this process could take up a long time, you are strongly recommend to apply RIGHT AFTER you are admitted to your program. You can check the estimated application processing times here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times.
DECIDE ON HOUSING MI students can access On-Campus Housing and resources at the Off Campus Housing office at St. John’s Campus. On Campus Housing (www.mun.ca/hfcs/on_campus_housing): All on-campus accommodations are located approximately a 15-minute bus ride to Marine Institute. There are three types of housing: dormitory, apartment style housing, or family housing. To apply, you need to submit an application to the Department of Housing Food and Conference Services. Space fills up quickly, and you can apply as soon as you have applied to a MI program. Off Campus Housing (www.mun.ca/student/DepartmentsUnits/offcampus): If you choose to live off-campus, you can begin your search online through the rental properties listing on the Off Campus Housing website. You should look for housing that is close to school. If it is farther way, you may wish to research on buses that would go there. You can find out more information about the bus system in the “Research about Canada, Newfoundland and St. John’s” section below. The Internationalization Office also provides some helpful tips on off campus housing: www.mun.ca/isa/new/offcampus.php.
JOIN MUN MENTORS MUN Mentors program matches new students with senior students, who could provide some help in navigating the academic system and the new environment. A mentor will be assigned pending on availability. For more information about this program, please visit: www.mun.ca/isa/mun_mentors.
SEEK ACADEMIC ADVICE If you have any additional questions regarding your program, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Aside from the International Student Coordinator, if you have any program related questions you may also contact Miss Jody Burke, who is the Coordinator of Advanced Programs at MI.
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POST ADMISSION (CONTINUED) SET UP YOUR MUN PORTAL AND MUN E-MAIL Once accepted to MI, you will be assigned a MUN Portal (my.mun.ca) account and an @mun.ca e-mail account. The MUN Portal will allow you to access various services (including Self-Service, where you could register, view your timetable, pay your fees, check your marks etc.), and important e-mails from the university will be sent to your MUN e-mail regularly. To set up your account, you will need to first activate your Self-Service account (www3.mun.ca/admit), then follow the step-by-step guide here: www.mun.ca/isa/new/MUN_Portal_and_MUNmail.pdf.
ENGLISH PLACEMENT TEST You are required to participate in the English placement test at Memorial University if: • You are beginning an undergraduate degree for the first time at Memorial University, and • You submitted IELTS, TOEFL, MELAB or other standardized test results for admission to Memorial University, and • Your first language is not English, or you have not completed a degree in an all-English medium university Test details are listed below: Date: Saturday, September 10, 2016 Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm (arrive by 9:50am) Place: Engineering – EN1054 Test format: Reading comprehension (mostly multiple choice questions) and an essay on a given topic. Pre-registration is required for the placement test and can be done here: channels.mun.ca/survey/entry.jsp?id=1468241988104
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AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED BOOK TEMPORARY HOUSING If you have not confirmed housing in St. John’s, you may wish to book temporary housing for the first few days (3-5 days) of your arrival as you look for long term accommodation. For suggestions on temporary accommodations, please visit: www.mun.ca/isa/new/inns_hotels.php.
BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS AND SIGN UP FOR FRIENDLY AIRPORT GREETING SERVICE Orientation for all new first semester undergraduate will begin on September 4. Your first day of lectures is September 7. If you are staying at a campus residence, please note the first day you can move in is September 4 at 9a.m. In general, it is not necessary for you to arrive far in advance of the start of classes. Arriving a few days to a week before classes begin should be sufficient. If you are planning to search for off campus housing after your arrival, you should arrive at the end of August. Check with your travel agency or the airline directly about the most reasonable fares for travel between your point of departure and St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. There may be discounts for students, so do not hesitate to ask. Air Canada now offer direct flights through London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and WestJet offer flights from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Please ensure your final destination is St. John’s (YYT) in Newfoundland as there are many cities with similar names. If you are not flying through London, your flight to St. John’s is likely connected through one of the following Canadian international airports: • Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR) • Toronto, Ontario (YYZ) • Montreal, Quebec (YUL) • Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ) Please note that you will go through Customs and Immigration at the first point of entry in Canada. You should allow at least two hours to go through immigration when booking your connecting flight to St. John’s. You should refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for documents you need to bring and show to the immigration officers when you first arrive in Canada: www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/arriving.asp. Some travel agents cannot book flights within Canada, but you should book a flight from your final destination to St. John’s, Newfoundland ahead of time (before you leave your country). You can book it online through the websites of the following Canadian airlines: Air Canada, Westjet, Porter and Sunwing. If you decide to stop over at any city in Canada before you fly to St. John’s, please ensure you have enough money to cover costs for food and accommodation (you may want to do so anyway in case of delays or flight changes).
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AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED (CONTINUED) When you are reserving your ticket, please ensure your name is spelled exactly the same as it is on your passport. Finally, IO offers a friendly airport greeting service for students arriving in St. John’s! You can register for the airport greeting service by following the steps here: www.mun.ca/isa/new/pickup.php. Taxi fare to get to town will generally cost $30 or more. Please note that taxi fares are NOT reimbursable.
COMPLETE ONLINE CHECK-IN WITH THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OFFICE In order to complete the online check-in process with IO, you must have your MUN Portal and MUN e-mail account set up (see above for more info). Visit login.mun.ca and log into your my.mun.ca account. Then, click the ‘Students’ tab at the top of the page, and ‘Launch’ under the Student Services area. Follow the instructions and answer the questions on each screen. You can leave the question incomplete if you are unable to answer. We recommend all international students to visit IO soon after arrival so to become familiar with their services. Their office hours are from 9am-1pm, 2pm-5pm from Monday to Friday.
REGISTER FOR YOUR COURSES Registration for courses usually begin a month and a half before the semester begins. For Fall 2016, registration has begun since July 12, 2016 and will be ongoing until September 21, 2016. We do not recommend you to register for courses a week into your lectures, and no student may register after the last day to officially add courses. If you wish to finish your program within three semesters, it is important that you register for MSTM 4060 in your first semester, as it is a pre-requsite for MSTM 410A and MSTM 410B. These courses must be taken in that sequence. Please note that Immigration Canada has certain regulations regarding the course load for international students (especially if you are planning to work while studying). You can review this information here (under “full-time status”): www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/students/work-off-campus.asp. If you have any additional questions, you can contact Memorial University’s International Student Advisor and certified immigration consultant, Miss Natasha Clark (nclark@mun.ca). You should not register until your study permit is approved, as you are required to pay your school fees once registered. If you are not able to come, we do not want you to incur any school fees. Please follow the instructions here to register: www.mun.ca/regoff/registration/howtoregister. For information about important deadlines and dates, please visit the 2016-2017 University Diary: www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GENINFO-0086
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AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED (CONTINUED) UNDERSTAND YOUR FEES AND HEALTH INSURANCE It is important that you check your financial charges on Self-Service at the beginning of each semester. You are responsible for paying all your fees by the first day of class, otherwise a late fee will apply. All registered students are required to purchase a mandatory health insurance plan. International Students are automatically enrolled in the foreign health insurance plan. Please read through the information here regarding the plan: www.mun.ca/isa/new/insurance.php.
PAY YOUR FEES AHEAD OF TIME AND TRANSFERRING MONEY As the first few weeks in Canada can be a bit hectic, you may wish to make arrangements to transfer your school fees to Canada ahead of time. You could pay your school fees the same way as you pay your confirmation fee through one of the following methods: 1) Online with a credit card (only MasterCard credit card is accepted) through Self Service: www5.mun.ca/admit. 2) International check, money order, or bank draft - address it to “Memorial University of Newfoundland” and indicate your name, student number and program with your payment 3) Wire transfer using the following information, and be sure to: i) make the wire payable to “Memorial University of Newfoundland”, ii) indicate your name, student number and program name with your payment, and iii) include an additional $30.00 service fee which may be charged by your bank and the bank on our end. Any extra fees paid will either be refunded or applied to any future charges. Memorial University/Marine Institute Banking Information for Wire Transfer: Bank Name: Royal Bank of Canada Bank Address: P.O. Box 1330 St. John’s, NL Canada A1C 5N5 Bank Code: 003 Transit #: 09453 Account #: 122 178 7 Swift Code: ROYCCAT2 International Code: 094530003 IBAN: 003-09453 ABA: 021000021 If you require a receipt of your payment, please contact the MI International Student Coordinator. 9
AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED (CONTINUED) Once you have arrived and set up a local bank account, you will also have the option to pay by telephone and online banking, or with cash/debit card in person. A breakdown of your tuition fees is available here: www.mun.ca/undergrad/apply/fees.php www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=REGS-0061 Other ESTIMATED expenses per year: In general, living expenses are very personal and could vary greatly depending on one’s lifestyle. Our international students usually spend between C$14,000 and C$17,000 a year in living expenses. Student Union/Federation Fees
$150
Recreation Fees
$150
Lab Fee
$300
Health Insurance
$620
Accommodations 1 bedroom in a house @ $500/month
Note: varies depending on location and type of accommodation – monthly rent for a room ranges from $300-800 and apartment ranges from $1000 and above.
$6000
Groceries
$3000
Books & School Supplies
$2000
Personal Needs Including: clothes, transportation, entertainment, telephone, laundry etc.
$3600
TOTAL PER YEAR (excluding lab fee)
$15,820
For transferring additional funds to Canada, please speak to your financial institutions regarding your options. If you have an account with a bank that has international branches (e.g. HSBC, Scotiabank), you should still find out ahead of time how to access your funds in your account back home while in Canada.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH UNIVERSITY CALENDAR AND UNIVERSITY DIARY It is very important that you understand the academic regulations outlined in the MUN Calendar and are aware of all important dates in the school year listed in the MUN Academic Diary: MUN University Calendar: www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar MUN University Diary: www.mun.ca/regoff/calendar/sectionNo=GENINFO-0086
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AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED (CONTINUED) PACK AND PREPARE FOR TRAVEL Before you pack, it is advisable to check the Canada Border Services Agency website (www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ivc-rnc-eng.html) to verify what items you are not permitted to bring into Canada. In addition, you should check with your airline to find out the limits to the size and weight of your luggage as well as restrictions on carry-on items. CLOTHING Generally, people in Canada dress casually. However, you may want to bring some traditional/cultural/more formal clothing for special occasions. Weather in St. John’s and Newfoundland can change quickly, so come prepared! Here are some suggestions for what you could bring (whatever items you cannot find at home, you may have to purchase after you arrive): Spring/Summer: T-shirts, shorts, skirts, dresses, windbreaker/light jacket/light sweater and raincoat Fall: Long-sleeve shirts, long pants and thick sweaters Winter: Warm coat, waterproof boots, hat, scarf and gloves If you are coming from a hot country, you may find the weather here much colder compared to home. Try to dress in layers as they will keep you warm outside and you can take them off inside (all indoor areas are generally well heated). COOKING UTENSILS AND SUPPLIES You may or may not need cooking utensils depending on your housing arrangement. You can check with the on campus housing office or your landlord. If need be, you can always purchase them at the local grocery stores (e.g. Dominion or Sobeys) or big box stores (e.g. Walmart or Canadian Tire). You may wish to bring some spices from home as they may not be available at the specialty stores here or could be a lot more expensive. If you are bringing other foods from home, please ensure they meet the requirements of Canadian Border Services Agency, otherwise they could be confiscated and you could be fined. DAILY NEEDS You should pack a pillow, sheets or a blanket, and a towel or two for your first few nights. Once you have settled into your new home, you may want to purchase additional blankets and pillows at local stores. Most students will not buy electronics until they are here, but many bring their cellular/mobile phones and computers. If you are bringing any electronic equipment, you should make sure that it is compatible with Canadian voltage (110V, 60Hz). If they are not compatible, you may wish to purchase a voltage converter before you leave home. In some cases, you may also need to purchase a plug adaptor. Generally, you should be able to purchase all essential or daily use items in Canada.
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AFTER STUDY PERMIT IS APPROVED (CONTINUED) RESEARCH ABOUT CANADA, NEWFOUNDLAND AND ST. JOHN’S Canada is the second largest country in the world (in terms of area), so our climate and cultures vary greatly from province to province. The City of St. John’s is located in the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada’s most easterly province. It is close to the ocean and features some of the most breathtaking scenery you will ever experience. Our city is safe, affordable and rich in cultures. It offers a vibrant music and art scene, and people are very friendly! Temperatures in St. John’s tend to be neither extremely hot nor cold. During the summer months, the temperature ranges from cool to hot with an average of 18-22 degrees Celsius. Our winters are 0 to -5 degrees Celsius on average, but it could feel colder with the wind (windchill effect). For weather forecasts, you can visit the Environment Canada website: weather.gc.ca/city/pages/nl-24_metric_e.html. In terms of transportation, most students get around the city by bus or on foot. During summer and fall, some students would bike as well. Others may purchase a car or call a taxi when needed. Our public transit system is called Metrobus (www.metrobus.com). You can search for schedules and bus routes on Google Maps (maps.google.ca). Bus fare is generally $2.25 per ride (or discounted with a bus pass) and you need to ask for a transfer slip from the driver if you need to change buses to reach your destination. Your classes will be either at the St. John’s Campus (University Centre stop) or at the Marine Institute (Marine Institute stop). Sunny summer days in Newfoundland are among the most delightful anywhere in Canada. You can go whale watching, iceberg sighting and berry picking! There are plenty of places to go hiking, swimming, and picnicking in St. John’s. Only a short drive outside the city, you will find provincial parks, camping grounds, nature preserves, hiking trails, and much more. During winter, students enjoy skating or sliding in the city, as well as snowboarding and skiing on the hills and mountains on snowy days. For more information about the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the city of St. John’s, please visit: www.newfoundlandlabrador.com and www.stjohns.ca
ASK US ANY QUESTIONS! If you have any questions at any point, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our contact information is listed on the first page of this guide!
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AFTER ARRIVAL SETTLE IN AND UPDATE YOUR FAMILY/FRIENDS Contact your family and/or friends to let them know you have arrived! There are certainly applications you could use to call or send messages for free through Wi-Fi. You can access free Wi-Fi in most coffee shops in the city and some public areas (e.g. airport).
VISIT MI INTERNATIONAL AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OFFICE After you arrive in St. John’s, please visit MI International and meet the International Student Coordinator. You will find out what you need to do next and get your questions answered (e.g. how to set up cellular/mobile phone, opening a bank account etc.). You should also visit the Internationalization Office (IO) at the St. John’s Campus and meet their staff. You should sign up for their international students’ mailing list to receive important information concerning international students.
ATTEND ORIENTATION! Students who attend orientation sessions usually have an easier time in their classes, in making friends, and in finding help when they need it. Attending orientation is your first step to succeed at Memorial University! There will be a week full of orientation events at St. John’s Campus starting September 4. For more information and registration, please visit: www.mun.ca/myfirstyear/newstudents. As an international student, you should also attend the MI International Student Welcome Session in the evening of Thursday, September 8, 2016. We will provide information that concerns international students specifically (e.g. working in Canada, Canadian culture etc.). Alternatively, you are welcome to join the Welcome Week activities (September 5-9, 2016) offered through the Internationalization Office (IO). Finally, we wish you a safe journey to St. John’s and we look forward to seeing you soon!
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Marine Insti t u t e P.O. Box 492 0 , S t . J o h n ’ s Newfoundland a n d L a b r a d o r Canada A1C 5 R 3 facebook.com / m a r i n e . i n s t i t u t e twitter.com/ m a r i n e i n s t i t u t e instagram.co m / m a r i n e . i n s t i t u t e youtube.com/ m a r i n e i n s t i t u t e p r