Mobility specification

Country:Spain

Institution:Mondragon University

City:Mondragón

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Education / Department of English Language and Literature

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?manageable

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?My Spanish language studies were worth three credits at a foreign university, but at MU they only accept two credits.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?There were no exams at all at my university. This was very surprising to me - all work was graded based on personal growth, reflection, quality of assignments, and activity during the semester.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?We had a buddy program where we had help from students at the university and we could turn to them. They also offered sports activities, but mostly Erasmus students participated. They also told us about the holidays and festivals that were taking place and how we could join them.

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 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:22500 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?The dorm itself was quite expensive - 600 euros. Living in apartments and sharing with someone else was almost three times cheaper. Tickets were also quite expensive without a local transport card. Food was maybe even cheaper than in Brno, as were bars and cafes.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?It's definitely worth renting an apartment instead of a dorm and getting a local MUGI or BARIK card, depending on where you are in the Basque Country. Everything else works out pretty cheap, basically.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?not at all

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?You can use this website https://online.pesa.net/ to buy and check tickets in the Basque Country, but I personally have never been able to buy a ticket there - I don't know why, but some of my friends have. However, it is important to remember that if you don't have a personal MUGI card, you will pay the full price, which is quite high. It's better to go straight onto the bus and pay inside using an anonymous MUGI card if you haven't made a personal one.

However, it's also important to remember that the ticket guarantees you a seat - relying on the bus being free and just getting on with your MUGI card can be a risk, especially on popular routes. Also be aware that public buses are often late.

Remember that there is a different language used in the Basque Country - often bilingual town names (Spanish and Basque) are given, but sometimes only in Basque. Very few people speak English there, so it's a good idea to plan ahead - in a crisis situation you may find that no one will be able to help you. The people are very nice, but what can you do if you don't have a common language.

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?Overall, my favourite city was San Sebastian, but trips to Bilbao, Zarautz, Bergara or Vitoria are also worthwhile - they are interesting places to get to know the Basque Country better. Plus, there are plenty of very cheap flights from Bilbao airport, which can get you almost anywhere in Spain for around 20 euros and an hour and a half. I would definitely take advantage of this - for example to cities like Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, or even Madeira. You can't just take two or three day trips like that from the Czech Republic.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?There is a very famous rock formation near Bilbao - if you Google it, it will appear first. Game of Thrones was filmed there. Unfortunately I didn't get to go there, but it looks absolutely amazing.

Share your best experience:The best experience for me was my solo trip to Madeira. It's really close and I only flew for three days, but it was definitely worth it. It was very cheap in the off season. It was the best experience for me mainly because of my feelings, not necessarily because of what I saw. I just recommend going somewhere all by yourself for at least a few days - it's worth it.

💅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
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?There is often a direct bus from the airport to the city where you will be staying. I made a mistake at the beginning - I flew from the Czech Republic via Madrid and Barcelona and then continued by bus. Not worth it. It's better to pay a little extra and fly straight to Bilbao.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?I don't think there's anything I've forgotten that I couldn't buy there - nothing too special.

🥳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?Erasmus is an incredible experience full of discovery - focus on discovering more about yourself.