Exchange Programmes
Students in the School of Forestry have an opportunity to go on exchange programmes to North America to study forestry at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Fees and Funding
The exchanges are available to School of Forestry 3rd Year students who will enrol at Canterbury and complete course work for the first two terms in Canterbury. Students can then travel to North America in July (or any subsequent time up to the beginning of the academic year in North America in late August). Enrolment at the University of Canterbury through the period of the exchange covers all tuition fees and no additional tuition is paid to the North American school. Personal medical insurance must be purchased as a requirement of the exchange. This is available from a variety of vendors here in Canterbury.
Course work
Exchange students typically stay in North America for one full calendar year and take papers that correspond to the papers they would have taken here in the School of Forestry during the second half of their third year and the first half of their fourth year. The North American papers should correspond approximately to School of Forestry papers in both workload and topics covered. School of Forestry degree requirements are flexible for exchange students. Case Study in the fourth year is not required but a similar integrative paper should be found in North America. Exchange students return to Canterbury in July to complete their degree at the School of Forestry with the third and fourth terms of their fourth year, graduating on time with their classmates. Third year courses that run for an entire year are completed in the third and fourth terms of the fourth year.
North American Schools and Employment
The two schools, Virginia Tech and UBC are both strong world-class, forestry schools with excellent programmes of study. Virginia Tech iis particularly strong in GIS and plantation forestry. It is located in the southeastern United States where the most intensive modern plantation forestry is being conducted. International Paper (a 51% shareholder /owner of Carter Holt Harvey), Rayonier and Weyerhauser are all important forest companies in the region and offer opportunities for short term employment that can enhance a student's competitiveness for forestry jobs back in New Zealand. Virginia Tech is located in Blue Ridge Mountain country with its large wilderness areas such as the Great Smoky Mountains, the centre of ecological and forest biodiversity for the eastern half of North America. UBC has large forestry programme with real strengths in wood processing and forest harvesting, two areas of great significance in the New Zealand forestry sector. UBC also has strong programmes in natural or wild forests with great depth in ecology. Fletchers is one of the most important forestry corporations in the region and internships conducted in British Columbia would very likely enhance job prospects in the forestry sector here in New Zealand.
Additional Schools: Students may also apply to participate in university-wide exchange agreements with several other school with formal exchange agreements with Canterbury. Information on these can be obtained from the International Office.
Application
Students should submit a preliminary application before March to Dr Anna Foster in the International Office. Candidates would be notified of their success and subsequently agree on the course of study by March in any year.
Your application should include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address. (We need to know how to reach you out of term time.)
A brief essay (1-2 pages) relating your interests in forestry and the exchange programme. Personal experience that you think has helped prepare you for forestry or has fuelled your interest in an international exchange. (Tell us anything about yourself that you think makes you a good candidate for the exchange).
What would you like to be doing in 5 years time? Attach a brief resume that includes your education; any scholarships, awards or honours; employment experience; volunteer experience; field skills etc. Provide the name and phone or e-mail of one faculty member who might be contacted as a reference.
For further information contact the School of Forestry.