5 Points on How to Succeed as an International Student at a Canadian University

Welcome to Canada and congratulations on becoming an international student.

My name is Mungai. I am a third-year engineering student at the University of Manitoba, Canada, originally from Nairobi, Kenya. I am also one of the earliest customers of Credisys.

I wanted to share some of my experiences from the last four years as an international student, and offer advice on how I survived my first few years in a foreign country away from my native country and family.

My family decided that I should study abroad, hoping it would give me more opportunities in the international job market. We settled on a Canadian education — and so began the long application process, first for university acceptance, then for a student visa. I'm sure many of you can relate.

I was only 19 years old when I left my family for Canada. I have vivid memories of arriving at Winnipeg's Richardson International Airport on August 21, 2021, after stopovers in Amsterdam and Toronto. On the plane, I had a lot of time to think. What would Winnipeg be like? Would I make friends? Would I take good care of myself? It was the first time I'd be truly alone, away from my family — and that made me a little nervous.

University life in Canada is fun. It can even be a little crazy. You'll attend late night parties, participate in some strange university activities, and meet people from all over the world — all without the watchful eyes of your parents. Welcome to freedom.

But remember: at this stage in life, you are also considered an adult. The university treats you as one. Freedom comes with responsibility — attending classes, submitting assignments on time, passing exams, and managing your own household. Instead of your mother waking you up, you'll learn to set an alarm. Instead of someone cleaning after you, you'll do your own laundry.

Looking back, I can summarise how I've been able to make it in five points.

1. Set Clear Goals

My parents are not rich. They sacrificed to send me here, and trusted and invested in me. I made this family project completely my own. I left thousands of kilometres of family behind to gain knowledge, prepare for the future, and make my family proud — and that meant working hard. Extremely hard.

You might be in a similar position. Plan ahead. Find out what it takes to be an A or B+ student. Stick with that plan, or adjust it as you go. Remember: you did not come this far to fail.

2. Ask for Help When Challenges Arise

Even with the best intentions, some things will go wrong. When that happens, do not keep those challenges to yourself. There are fellow students, counsellors, advisors, tutors, and professors you can talk to — and your family back home too.

When you seek help, write your challenge down first and prepare specific questions. Professors have office hours; go and use them. If your problem isn't academic, seek out the appropriate support network. Keep your lines of communication with family open too — today's technology makes it easy. During my first winter in Winnipeg, I called home constantly to complain about the cold. I'm sure my family now knows everything about Manitoba winters.

3. Plan Ahead

To succeed at university, you need to manage your time and balance study with other responsibilities. Time is limited — use it effectively. Write down due dates, pending assignments, and test dates in a planner, whether digital or paper. Planning your days and weeks lets you see when things are likely to overwhelm you, and when you have room to breathe.

4. Stay Organised

Time management and work-study balance are everything. You only have 24 hours in a day. I always have a planner with me so I don't miss a single assignment. With everything planned, I can still fit in a 30-minute workout each day, and I know exactly when I have time for friends. A planner lets you stay on top of your work without having to hold everything in your head. Try planning for just one week and see how much more productive you become.

5. Don't Just Focus on Study

Study is your first priority — it's the reason you left your country and family. But don't spend every hour on homework. Join a club. Get an on-campus job. Do research. Play a sport. Make friends. My university, like all others, offers many events and activities. Take advantage of them. They help you enjoy university life, release stress, and build relationships that can last a lifetime.

Once again, welcome to Canada as an international student.

My best wishes to you.

— Mungai Kimathi, University of Manitoba