"The Department of Civil Engineering offers students (undergraduate and graduate) the opportunity to participate in exchanges to universities around the world for one or two semesters. Exchanges are in place to the University of Manchester (Institute of Science and Technology) in England, University of Graz, Austria and the University of Newcastle, Australia.

It's been almost two years since I left for Newcastle as one of the first two students to participate in the exchange. I spent nearly six months conducting research as a part of my graduate programme. From the experience in Newcastle, I gained an understanding of how research is conducted at another institution and of course the invaluable experience of cooperating with new people and learning to understand the Aussie lingo! Besides the benefits to my research, just the experience of travelling to a far away place, seeing a new country, learning about a new culture was something I'll never forget and would recommend to everyone. Since my stay in Newcastle, two undergraduate students have spent one semester there as well. There are no students on exchange there this semester but there will likely be one or two in the next."

Shelley Lissel, PhD Candidate at the University of Calgary (2001)

photos courtesy of Shelley Lissel

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Interesting Note:

In Newcastle, Australia, semesters start in February and July with the summer break from mid November to February.