Excellent program - highly recommend! May 12, 2021
By Nicole (Murdoch University) - abroad from 01/10/2016 to 01/31/2016 with
Masaryk University: Brno - Summer Schools
Very worthwhile, I gained a much greater understanding of International Human Rights Law, particularly in a European context, and I was able to learn so much about Czech culture.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The quality of the academic portion of the program was excellent. The teachers were outstanding, very knowledgeable and experienced in their respective areas of work, and were always happy to provide feedback, or to provide extra discussion on topics discussed in class. The resources we were provided were of high quality. The excursions we were taken on were always informative and interesting, and the assignments we were given were challenging. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was excellent, the program was well-organised, and the support staff who were tasked to look after the group were very approachable and welcoming. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living arrangements were not 5 star, but they were comfortable, clean, warm and in an excellent location in town. |
| * Food: |
A lot of the local Czech food was a bit heavy for my liking, but we were always provided opportunity to seek alternative arrangements if needed. Our accommodation had a kitchenette and there was a supermarket nearby, so we could prepare food if we wanted something other than the local food provided in the canteen. There were also plenty of options available for food once classes finished for the day, including options for those with dietary requirements (vegan, gluten free etc.) |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I learned a lot about Czech culture during my time in Brno. The support staff were incredibly welcoming and tried to get us involved with as many cultural activities as possible, and helped us to understand local customs and attitudes. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no healthcare issues during the program, and did not get any additional vaccines before arriving in Brno. |
| * Safety: |
I felt incredibly safe in Brno, and was not concerned for my safety at any point during the program. We always went out in groups, but we felt safe walking together at night even in small groups of only females. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Czech is quite a difficult language for English speakers. We were taught some common phrases (e.g. hello, thank you, cheers etc.) but we were not expected to have to use them to get by. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How cold it is in Brno in January - I needed to buy a new coat and boots when I arrived, Australian clothing really is not warm enough for European winters. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
