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Braemar Alumna presents on the University of Ottawa as a destination for international students

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Thanks so much for talking to us today. You’re a Braemar College alumna now working in the administration of the University of Ottawa. That’s sounds like an interesting journey.

What advice would you have for international students thinking of studying in Canada?

 Making the decision of studying in a new country is absolutely very brave. That means you have the courage to make changes and explore new adventures in your life, and that is the most important thing about studying abroad. My suggestion is always to be confident and curious. Always be proactive to look for opportunities and enjoy every challenge. Don’t be shy to ask for help and suggestions from your teachers at Braemar and also your homestay. They are your excellent connections that will help you to adopt the new environment. Also, don’t forget to make lots of friends from all around the world!

 How would you describe your experience at Braemar College?

I absolutely enjoyed my time at Braemar. It was my first time leaving my country for a completely new place, but I feel very lucky that I went to Braemar because they made the transition not hard at all. There are many international students from all around the world and everyone is new to the country so you will be exploring the city and country together. I made a lot of friends during my high school and I still hang out with many of them even now that I have graduated from university. Believe me, friendship is a treasure for life. As for the academic side, I received a lot of support from my teachers and guidance. They provided me with lots of useful suggestions.

I choose uOttawa after I graduated from Braemar and moved to the capital city of Canada-Ottawa from Toronto. During my time at university, I very actively participated in all kinds of events such as volunteering and internships because I always love to explore new things and meet new people. uOttawa also has a very open and diverse environment just like Braemar. The university provides students with so many good resources and connections which help students to succeed in both their academic work as well as social life and career development. uOttawa also provides a lot of academic and non-academic scholarships to its students including international students (about $42 million a year to undergraduate students), and I also received some of them. One of the interesting things I did in my university is learning another new language – French. The city of Ottawa has a very good bilingual environment, and uOttawa, as the largest bilingual university in the world, is definitely a good place to pick up a new language. 

You’ll be speaking with our students about the many programs offered by University of Ottawa. Are there any programs you intend to highlight?

There are 6 direct-entry faculties at uOttawa for undergraduate students, and most of them have the option of coop (paid internships). Some popular programs for international students are: Commerce, data science, software engineering, economics, and political science.

What is the most important thing Braemar College students should know about the University of Ottawa?

1. Coop program: highly recommended for international students to participate in during their studies. It helps many students gain valuable work experience and gives you the chance to explore different careers. I started my current position when I was doing one of my coops, and it helped me to build many connections which in turn helped me to get this job after I graduated. (Tip: Since Ottawa is the capital of Canada, there are many government positions available. If you are interested to work for the government after graduate, participating in a uOttawa coop will give you excellent opportunities.)
2. The French immersion program: Students who have some background in French should consider enrolling in the French immersion program. By participating this program, you pursue part of your study in French but you can skip the international student tuition fee, and you only have to pay for the local student tuition fee (which saves almost 75% of the cost)

I’m sure our students will have many more questions for you. Thanks so much for talking to us today!

Braemar Alumna Ms. Huiyun Ling will be presenting to Braemar Students about the University of Ottawa on November 3, 2021, at 12 noon. If you are a Braemar student who would like to attend, please contact Sarah at sarah@braemarcollege.com for the zoomlink.