Frequently Asked Questions

Below, is a list of commonly asked questions. More information and other questions are addressed in the Huron International Student Guide.

1. What do the international students do about insurance?

International students must apply for and pay for UHIP when you arrive at Huron University College. This is the mandatory insurance plan that Ontario universities have put together (University Health Insurance Plan) for international students and their dependents. This plan does not cover dental or eye exams, so please make sure you have had these exams before you arrive in Canada.

2. What should I pack to bring with me to Canada?

There are many things that it is better to buy in Canada, but there are some things that you should bring with you to Canada. For a complete list in PDF format, please click on this link. In addition, if you plan on being in Canada during the winter, you will need to purchase winter clothing such as boots, warm jackets, mittens, scarf, and toque. These articles are affordable in Canada and so you may want to wait till you arrive to purchase them.

3. Why did I receive another bill at the end of September? I thought I had already paid for all the tuition and residence fees.

The fees that you paid to Huron University College at the end of May, were estimates of the costs for tuition and residence for September 2009. The actual fees are set at the beginning of August The amount that you paid may also be more or less than you originally thought it would be because of the fluctuations in the exchange rate. In September, our accountant reconciles what you have already paid with the actual fee value, and sends your son/ daughter a bill for the difference. If you have paid too much, you will get a check instead of a bill.

4. Can I stay in residence for the Christmas break?

The Residence closes for the Christmas break, so students have to make alternate arrangements during this time. Homestays during this period can be arranged by our Student Services Department; however, many of our international students take this time to travel within Canada.

5. Should I get a credit card?

While it is not necessary to have a credit card, there are occasions when such a card may come in handy; for example you may wish to purchase an airline ticket, or rent a car for the weekend, or even start up a phone line. It is up to you to decide whether this is necessary or not.

6. Should I buy the books that the Professor lists on the course outline?

Academic books are expensive, but it is important to buy them if you wish to do well at university. You only need to buy those texts that are listed under the title "Required Texts", but not those listed under "Recommended Texts". While the recommended texts will probably be available at the Reserve Desk of the library, the required texts form the majority of your work and should be purchased. It is sometimes possible to get required books for a course at the Used Book Store, where they will be up to 50% less expensive than the new books. You should be careful, however, that the book is the correct edition for the class.

7. Are there facilities for non-Christian religious practices?

Although Huron University College is an Anglican College, we welcome members of all faiths to our community. We also provide services that will make it easy for students fr om other faiths to practice their religion on campus. We provide prayer space for Muslim students, and there is a Mosque very close to campus. We have many fish and vegetarian dishes at our Food Court for those who practice vegetarianism, or worry about the proper preparation of meat. We also give all of our international students a Food and Services Directory that tells them wh ere they can eat out or buy specialty foods and products in London.

8. What measures are taken to ensure safety on campus?

There are a number of measures that Huron University College and the University of Western Ontario have put into place to ensure the safety of our students. Our Residence Managers and Dons are always available for help if something happens to students who are staying in residence. Also, there is a telephone number (911) that students can call for Fire, Ambulance or Police. In addition, the Campus Police are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in case of any threats to student safety. They are about two minutes away from Hellmuth and O'Neill Residences in cases of emergency. In addition, we have a Campus Foot Patrol group. When asked, they will accompany students to or from night classes or events to their student residences, and even to off-campus housing that is close to the university campus. Finally, we have a risk management policy at Huron which is designed to help students should any accident befall them on or off campus. We will be speaking to the international students about what to do in an emergency when they come for Pre-Orientation.

9. Should I worry about alcohol and drugs on campus?

There are policies in place that prevent students from unnecessary exposure to these elements on campus, although students may drink at designated places on campus provided that they are 19 years old and can prove it with ID (usually a passport or driver's license). The legal age for drinking alcohol is 19 in Ontario. However, there are many students who enter the university who are 17 or 18 years old. Therefore, there are no drinking parties allowed on campus or in residences outside of the three pubs on campus (The Wave, The Spoke and The Grad Pub). Medical drugs are easily available on campus, with the written permission from a doctor. However, recreational drug use of any kind or possession of these drugs is not allowed on campus or in the residences. Students found using or having these drugs in their residence rooms will be asked to leave the residences permanently. Students using drugs on campus will be subject to arrest and fines.

10. Can I take courses at the University of Western Ontario if the courses I want to take are not offered at Huron?

Exchange students can only take courses offered at Huron University College.

11. Can I take MIT courses?

The MIT program is a joint degree between Huron University College and the University of Western Ontario. Exchange students are not eligible to take any MIT courses since they offered on main-campus (University of Western Ontario).

12. How many courses should I take?

Most Huron students take 5 courses per semester, to a maximum of 6 (special permission needs to be obtained). As you will be adapting to a new culture and academic system, you might want to take 3.5-4 courses each semester. Speak to your Exchange Coordinator or Academic Counsellor back home to help you figure out how many courses you should take; they can also tell you how many courses you need to take and what grades you need to receive credit for your courses. The grading system used by Huron is available here: http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2009/pg101.html

13. Where can I find out which courses are offered at Huron?

To view the courses being offered at Huron for the academic year, go to: http://www.huronuc.on.ca/academics/faculty_arts_ss/departments/

 Courses are displayed by subject; click on the subject you are interested in and find the "Courses Offered" link.

A: 0.5 course offered in the first term

B: 0.5 course offered in the second term

A/B: 0.5 course offered in the second or first term

E: 1.0 essay course (offered full-year)

F: 0.5 essay course offered in the first term

G: 0.5 essay course offered in the second term

F/G: 0.5 essay course offered in the second or first term

14. How do I get my course schedule/timetable?

After you submit your course selection form, the Exchange Coordinator will review it and let you know if you can take those courses; some courses have pre-requisites which you need to have to take the courses. Then, the courses you have been approved for will be entered into your student account; if there is a schedule conflict, those courses will not be added to your student record. You can check to see when courses are offered and make changes to your course selections. In order to check this and to create your tentative timetable, go to: https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/Timetables/masterttFW2009/ttindex.cfm. In the subject, sel ect the subject you are studying fr om the drop down list, then add the course number, and click on Search Timetable. Make sure the course has HC or HUC in the Building and Location field or it is not a Huron course. You can register for courses that say Not Full in the Status column. Please contact the Exchange Coordinator if you questions.

15. What type of food is offered at the Huron Dining Hall?

More information about the Huron Dining Hall is available here: http://www.dineoncampus.ca/huron/

16. Why is travel so expensive in Canada?

Travel within Canada can be expensive, especially if you leave or come into the Toronto Pearson airport. Consider flying in and out of Detroit, which is a 2.5-3 hour drive and accessible via the Robert Q and About Town shuttle bus.

17. What should I do in case of an emergency?

In case of a health or crime emergency, contact 911. For other non-immediate emergencies, contact your residence Don of the Info Desk (519-438-7224).

18. What happens if there is an H1N1 pandemic?

For more information and up-to-date news about H1N1 on campus, please visit: http://www.huronuc.on.ca/news/?id=429. Updates will also be communicated via e-mail.