International Education

Cínthia, a Communications and Information Technology student, says that she didn't always know she wanted to study abroad, but when she heard about the program and spoke with past participants, she was determined to be selected as a successful applicant.

Once she decided that she wanted to be considered for the prestigious program, Cínthia approached her University to see if she was eligible to be nominated as a candidate.
Her University immediately agreed, and she began the application process. To qualify for the program, Cínthia had to write an IELTS exam, fill out a variety of paperwork and have good academic standing.

Students in the "Science without Borders" program have the option of selecting from eligible universities in over six countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Canada --presenting Cínthia with a lot of choices.

A World of Choices
With interests in Canada and Belgium, Cínthia began researching the pros and cons of each country and was attracted to Canada because of its knowledge and competitive edge. "I think that the universities in Canada are very forward thinking," says Pissetti.

After narrowing down the country of her choice, Cínthia still had to decide between the eligible universities in Canada. To do this, she spent many hours on the internet researching Canadian universities.

"I was trying to select from a variety of universities. I looked at many universities in the east of Canada, such as the University of Waterloo, but I was attracted to Mount Royal University because of the ESL Program and the courses offered."

Coming to Canada
After finding out she was a successful candidate in late July, Cínthia quickly prepared her travel arrangements and said goodbye to her friends and family. Only weeks later, she arrived ready to learn and explore Calgary.

"Everything is really different here. Everything is really huge and far away. The climate is different too -- my skin is dry." Although the dry weather was hard to adapt to at first, Cínthia says she is now enjoying the "Canadian way of life".

From grocery shopping to cooking to attending her English language class, Cínthia has enjoyed immersing herself in the diversity of Canadian culture. "It is very interesting to understand other cultures and hear about other life experiences."

Cínthia says her experience in the English Language Program has been very enriching and has helped her improved her English language skills. Her English teacher, Gerry Landreville, has been essential in helping her improve her grammar, speaking and writing.

After improving her English last semester, Cínthia is now an Open Studies student and is taking courses in web design, data structure and Italian. Even though Cínthia still has more time in Canada, her first few months at MRU have been transformational.

"My time here has already taught me to change my mind. I like to work with people from all over the world."

This realization has transformed Cínthia's aspirations within the software engineering realm. "I still want to pursue a career within the software engineering industry, but I am interested in working within the Human Resources and business management departments."

- Andrea Morrow, February 2013