Mobility specification

Country:France

Institution:University of Caen Normandy

City:Caen

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Law

Study level abroad:Master

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

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?no

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Yes, I was particularly surprised by the form of teaching at the law school. The teaching is mostly in the form of lectures - the teacher mostly sits, reads or dictates the material and the interaction with students is quite limited. Often presentations are not used, so students write down directly what the teacher says. At first it was challenging for me to navigate the system, but after a few classes I got used to it. The overall end of the course was not too difficult and I appreciated that many of the teachers provided recordings of the seminars, which was very helpful if one missed recording something during the class.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, the university offers international students a range of activities outside the classroom to help them integrate more quickly. There is a student union at the university that focuses on supporting international students - it regularly organises several events a week that are easy to get involved in. In addition, it organises weekend trips around the Normandy region, at very reasonable prices. An orientation programme was also held in the opening week, during which we received important information about studying, staying in France and leisure time opportunities.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Not really.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?In general, eat at local canteens, which offer a wide choice (including vegetarian or vegan food) at very reasonable prices. I would also recommend taking part in events organised by the student association when exploring the region (a day trip costs 5 euros including transport).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

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?The city has a Twisto app, which makes buying an online ticket relatively easy, and you can also find timetables there.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?mostly fine

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?I definitely recommend a visit to Mont-Saint-Michel, which is considered to be the greatest pride of the whole region - without visiting it, it's like you're not even in Normandy. There are also many interesting historical monuments in the city of Caen itself.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Another wonderful place is Étretat, a French village famous for its impressive cliffs. Other towns around Caen, such as Rouen, Bayeux, Deauville, Honfleur and Lisieux, are also worth a visit. I also visited Paris several times during my stay, where there is a direct train from Caen, a journey of approximately two hours. We also often spent time with the international students at the beach, which is located about 15 km from Caen and is conveniently accessible by direct bus.

Share your best experience:I have already partially answered my best experience above - I most enjoyed my visit to Mont-Saint-Michel, where I really felt like I was in a fairy tale. Étretat, on the other hand, is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Truly unforgettable views and atmosphere.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Car

Can you pay by card?everywhere

🥳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?An experience of a lifetime full of new friends, beautiful places, freedom and the self-expression of French cider and cheese!