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University of Guadalajara

Mexico 2018/2019 ISEP Exchange

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
Spanish and Literature

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
Spanish

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2018
spring 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2018-08-13 - 2019-06-15

Number of months:
10

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
I was informed about them via my tutor. He wrote me by FB.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
I needed: my curriculum, cover letter, language diploma, transcript of records and a recommendation letter

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
The truth is that the University in Mexico sent me the decision letter quite late, but I started to take care about all of my documents around March and left in August.

Did you need a visa?:
- choose option -

Documents and materials needed for a visa:

Length of wait for visa:

Fee for the visa:

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Not all of them.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Yes, I did.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
The registration of my subjects was done by my tutor first, but I did not know exactly, how everything is going to work, so when I arrived to Mexico, I did some changes in my timetable.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, I did. But mostly I wrote essays and did some projects, which were valuated after.

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
- choose option -

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
I needed to ask for an official document at the Mexican ambassy and insert it to IS.

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
I really enjoyed the classes, because I found them very interactive. Everybody had to participate and contribute with hers/his opinion.
We also wrote a lot of essays, did some presentations and learn quite a lot of books( in case of literature).

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
I have to say, that I was very satissfied with the classes, although it happened a few times that the professors did not come to the class or came late.
The system is very different, so it might also happen that your professor just send you a message on Whatsapp saying that today´s class is cancelled. But otherwise everything went well.

How did you receive study materials?:
Mostly by e-mail.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
1) Español como segunda lengua y su enseñanza
2) Literatura hispanoamericana del siglo XIX, XX.
3) Español
4) Historia del español en México

How well is the school library equipped?:
Very good.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
There were not a lot of computers, but they were accessible. In case of Internet, there was no problemm with that. It was always accessible.
Yes, definitely, I would recommend to take a notebook with you.

Options from printing and copying:
Yes, it was possible to print and copy at the faculty.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Many different acctivities, such as: trips, parties, presentations and so on.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
5

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
In Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
211 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
Everything was included: acommodation, gas, water, electricity and Internet.

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
I lived in two different places, but both of them were well equipped. The only thing the students should take with them is definitely an adapter and maybe a lock.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
I started to look for the acommodation a few months before my arrival, but it really depends. I also met a lot of students who arrived to Mexico, lived few days in an airbnb appartement and then found a cheaper place while meeting new friends at the university, and so on..

What are the catering options?:
There were a few cafes at the campus and around as well.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
At the retail chains the prices of the groceries were almost the same, but at the market it was way cheaper.

Transport to location of placement:
To Mexico: I flew from Germany to Ciudad de México and then to Guadalajara. Did the same for the way back home.
Otherwise I was mostly using: buses, metro, Uber and planes( for longer distance trips)

Rough prices for transportation:
The public transport is very cheap, but a bit unorganised. The bus stops are not always marked, so for using it properly, it i necessary to download an app called: Moveit.
There is a possibilty to buy a transport card, but you can also buy the ticket at the driver and it costs around 9 CZK.
I also used Uber a lot, it is quite suitable to use it at night or for longer trips as the public transport is quite crazy and not always on time.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
As I have already mentioned, the tickets are very cheap, but you can also get a students sale at every faculty.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Basically everything. The first semester I mostly used the public transport, especially: bus and metro. The second semester I lived closer to the campus ,so I walked.
You can also rent a bike there, but honestly, I would not recommend that, as the mexican roads are not very safe.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
Well, I tried to arranged as much as I could before arriving to Mexico. Especially the school duties, I also arranged my accommodation, but there is no necessity for residence permit.
The only thing I should mention is, that if you want to stay in Mexico the whole year, you would need a VISA. But if you leave the country for few days( organise a trip to other country or just go home for Christmas) it is okay and you do not need the VISA.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
I had and EVR Insurance.
No, I was not asked to do that.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No, I did not.

Did you work during your studies?:
No, I did not. It is necessary to have a special VISA, if you want to work in Mexico.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
You need a VISA for work in Mexico.

Tips for free-time activities:
I went to zumba classes with my roomie, but there were quite a lot of them. Some of them are also provided by the university.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
180000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
18000 CZK

Number of supported months:
10

Total number of months:
10

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
None.

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
None

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 MXN

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 MXN

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 MXN

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 MXN

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
12000 MXN

a/ of which for accommodation:
4500 MXN

b/ of which for catering:
600 MXN

c/ travel and recreation:
5000 MXN

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
52

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
52

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Not really.

What problems did you have with recognition?:
The mexican university sent me the transcript of records quite late, so the process got quite complicated.

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
5

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
4

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
4

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
I just had some problems with the recognition of the credits, due to the delayed aarival of my marks.

What would you recommend to take with you:
You should probably take: personal documents, extra money, laptop, an adapter, insect repellent, personal medication( note: Europeans are not used to eat Mexican street food),travel insurance,

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
The campus was really green, full of trees, plants and so on. There was a plenty of cafés inside and around the campus. The porfessors were really kind and nice, everybody was ready to help.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
The thruth is that tha campus was quite old and the classrooms were not always that nice, but I somehow liked it :D.

Further comments: