A term break is a student’s time off after being enrolled full-time for a minimum of three consecutive terms. To get approval for this period, a student may apply to the Registrar’s Office and follow the instructions given by the University.
Here, I suggest what you may consider when planning your term break.
It is essential to plan your term break by checking the UCW Academic Calendar to find important dates in your current term. It is suggested to apply early to give the University time to grant the approval.
What would you like to do with your term break? This is the biggest question to solve, so have an honest internal conversation with yourself and start making a wish list. Set your goals! Is it getting some rest? Totally focusing on full-time work? Organizing finances by working full-time? Travelling in British Columbia or outside the country? Take this break to spend time with your family and relatives, work out or enjoy watching a movie without the pressure of submitting assignments on a Sunday.
Next in order, set a budget! A budget can help you get organized and have a clear idea of your spending limits and how many hours you are willing to work to achieve your financial goals in these months.
Thirdly, keep in mind what season of the year you are taking your term break.
In the winter, even if the weather can be challenging, you will find many places to enjoy, such as going to Metrotown mall in Burnaby or the McArthurGlen outlet mall (located in Richmond by the airport), which has beautiful Christmas decorations. You can also enjoy a coffee at Granville Island Public Market, skate at Robson Square’s ice rink in Vancouver or, with a homemade sled, have fun on a little hill with the snow in your closest area.
Enjoying the Christmas market in Vancouver to discover delicious appetizers and share different cultural traditions is highly recommended. Of course, I encourage you to create your snowman this season and enjoy sharing it with your besties as part of your term break. Sharing virtually is 100% valid if you spend the holidays away from them because many of us have families outside of Canada.
To plan your term break for the spring, remember that British Columbia has a lot of nature to enjoy this time of year. You can visit Queen Elizabeth Park or go to Coquitlam and enjoy the outdoors, forests and lakes. You can also hold a barbeque or picnic and prepare your favourite meal with your friends. Pictures with flowers or under a cherry blossom are a must this season. BC has lots of attractions, so try to discover and explore new places as much as you can. Stanley Park or the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park are great options for those who prefer to enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors.
If you take your term break in the fall, make indoor plans, such as going to the movies, baking at home, hosting a dinner party with friends or going to a bar in Gastown. Or if you prefer outdoor adventures, you could go to Grouse Mountain and meet the bears (who are in an enclosure) while hiking. You can also visit White Rock on a sunny day. If you are a water lover, going to indoor swimming pools is fun and community centres have affordable prices for students.
My recommendation is to, if you can do it, take your term break during the summer, my favourite time of year. Metro Vancouver is transformed this season because we have more daylight hours. The stores are open later and this season is the most valuable to enjoy the beach. Reconnect with family and friends, invest in yourself and start planning how you will want this journey to end.
In the summer, British Columbia celebrates special holidays like Canada Day. There are summertime firework displays in different parts of Metro Vancouver, including New Westminster, Coquitlam and my favourite, the Celebration of Light event in English Bay (p.s. it will be back in 2023), where you can enjoy the display set to the rhythm of the music. During the summer, activities like going to beaches, eating out, going to parties, jogging around the city, working out or going to pretty restaurant roofs with some friends are a must to get the best out of your break.
Regardless of the season, this is a unique experience an international student can have to reorganize their space, take a breath, focus on work and save money, and align their academic strategies to their personal goals. This is important to analyze all the internal and external factors that affect our lives to define what we want to do after our next term ends. You should start doing want you want to do from the beginning of your break because when you least expect it, your term break will be over.
Written by UCW MBA Student Diana R.
Published on November 26, 2022.
