Mobility specification

Country:United Kingdom

Institution:Aberystwyth University

City:Aberystwyth

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Law

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?A foreign university offers a course for 20 credits, but MUNI recognizes it for 10 credits, and it was mandatory to pick 3 courses.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised that all the lectures were recorded and students had access to them within 48 hours. Later in the semestr some teachers started to experiment recording lectures with speech recognition aid that generated subtitles, which is another way how to make the lectures more accessible to non-native English speakers or disabled students. Preparation for seminars (that are mandatory) was always from the topic that has been already taught in the lectures, wśo we knew what exactly teachers want from us and what is important to learn.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?University is very concerned with the mental health of their student. The means there is someone to support anyone in need and that concerns alo international students. At the beginning university provided orientation weekend, then there was international out quiz night with free pizza and awards. Apart from that there is a ton of student societies where everyone can find what are they passionate about. There is also ESN which brings together all the international student.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:30000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Cost of the transportation was a little bit higher than I anticipated, and I did not take into account that I might like to join some societies which costed some money to join and afterwards to go on a trip with them but it was all worth it.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Download local grocery store apps or make local friends and use theirs. Get advice in which stores is what product cheap because food was a big item on the budget. For coffee lovers I would recommend to bring their own cup because it is very common to get discount with it and the mother nature will be grateful too. If one is planning to travel a lot a rail card is a must (for students coming in September it is for free from the university, those arriving in January have to pay for it and it is little bit pricy) but at the end it saves a lot of money. For traveling around Wales there is also bus transport discount for students, a card can be issued through a website.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Always check with different apps it always depends on where is one heading but prices may differ - Trainline, National Rail, Transport for Wales.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?National Library of Wales is located right under the university campus and it is beautiful. Constitutional hill which is the nearest and most accessible viewpoint of the whole Aberystwyth, and also the hill on the other side - Pen Dinas. Then not really must-see but must-experience is Aberpoeth sauna on the promenade, I can not recommend it enough to go for a relaxing session in sauna with a dip in the sea at the end with the beautiful view of a constitutional hill. I would also recommend to make the most of the refresh week where all the societies introduce themselves what they do and you can try it out with them and meet like-minded people. You can go with them for example on a hike and or try caving (as I did) and see for yourself if it is a good fot for you (try as many as you can squeeze into that week).

What are the must-visit trip destinations?As a hike lover I would definitely recommend doing to Cadair Idris - there are several paths leading up depending on the difficulty. And of course the highest mountain of Wales - Snowdon. For those who enjoy the cozy vibe of small villages I can recommend a visit to Shrewsbury that is full of nice places where to eat or have a coffee, and also a local market can not be missed when visiting. For a beautiful ride along the coastline that will take you to picturesque small towns I would recommend New Quay and Barmouth.

Share your best experience:The best experience that felt like cut out of a movie was when we were camping under the Snowdon by the lake. It all begin with a clear night sky full of stars that was magical. In the morning with my dear friends we started the day with a breakfast by the lake. Which was only fifteen minutes but making space for those small moments is what makes the difference. Afterward we hiked up the mountain and in this case the journey was indeed the destination because the views of the lakes beneath the mountains were magnificent compared to not so spectacular view from the top. But the true charms we encountered on our way back. As we descended we were passing small natural pools that looked so inviting after a hot day of hiking but we resisted. Until we could not anymore because we came across a cascade of natural pools overlooking the mountains, so we went for a swim in the crystal clear water and sunbathed on the rocks, undisturbed by anyone, just admiring the beauty of nature.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?I would suggest looking out for how many suitcases one needs, because taking a taxi from airport is not really an option and it can be tricky to manage three or more suitcases on the train. My advice is - you don't need that much stuff. :))

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Hiking shoes, photos of friends or family or some small items that remind you of home because the room feels very empty at the beginning

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Visiting Aberystwyth was everything that I wanted from Erasmus and even more, I am grateful for the risks I took.