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University of São Paulo

Brazil 2018/2019 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Medicine

Field of study:
Generel Medicine

Level of study during period of placement:
Master

Language used:
Portuguese

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-01-02 - 2019-06-29

Number of months:
6

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
At USP mundus website

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
USP application form, Motivation Letter, Academic Reference form from MU, MU Transcript of Records

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
5 to 6 months, but the sooner the better

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
VITEM IV: Valid passport, online application form from brazilian embassy, 1 current passport-size photo, Confirmation of Studies from MU, Criminal Records, Health Insurance, Return flights, Birth certificate, Consular fee 100USD ou CZK equivalent

Length of wait for visa:
Less than 3 weeks from documents submission

Fee for the visa:
100EUR

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?:
Yes

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
No

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
Course registration is normally part of the online application form. After submission, the student is added in a study group randomly by USP international office (1-2 exchange student per group, depending on availability)

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, all of them. Taking exams is essential to get credits.

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

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
Each faculty has different credit equivalents which should be notified by email from international office.

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Each of my courses was pre-graduate practical training based on hospital practice (5-8 hours per day, depending on department), day and night shifts at emergency and outpatient departments (12-24 hours per day), theoretical classes (1 per week) and practical workshops (1-2 per week). Each course ends with theoretical and practical exam (OSCE) by the end of the 6th week, which is normally the last week of the course.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
Very high

How did you receive study materials?:
Google Drive and Google classroom shared with professors and classmates.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
6th year practical training in Clinical Medicine II

How well is the school library equipped?:
Very well, but all necessary materials are shared on google or email.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Available everywhere, USP login details needed to access. Laptops only for personal use and study.

Options from printing and copying:
Available at faculty for reasonable prices.

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

If yes then what?:
Organized weekend trips to various places, football games, etc.

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

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
USP residents dormitory offered by faculty.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
0 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
USP dormitory is situated in the middle of hospital campus, right in front of the hospital and very close to Faculty of Medicine, offered to residents and exchange students from faculty of medicine for free. The building has 8 floors, each floor with fully equipped kitchen. Students live in shared rooms (2 per room) with bathroom and can use the common spaces (study rooms, living room and the laundry room, etc.)

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Nothing to bring, the available equipment is free to use for everyone.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
The accommodation request is part of the online application process and is done through google docs.

What are the catering options?:
Food in university hospital is free, the student restaurants at faculty and hospital campus have discounts to USP student card.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
More expensive, generally speaking.

Transport to location of placement:
Uber/Bus/Metro

Rough prices for transportation:
4R (1EUR) for 1 way ticket (Bus and Metro)

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
After receiving your RNM number (Federal Police registration) you can ask for student discount, that is 2R (0,50EUR) from each ticket, but the registration process takes 1-3 months.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Bus and Metro (4R single ticket), Uber (recommended) and Taxi

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
CPF number (!!!) and portuguese translation of birth certificate

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?):
MU automatically offers health insurance for the period of mobilty, but I used complete insurance paid privately as well

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No

Did you work during your studies?:
No

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
I have no idea, but the courses at USP take major part of the day.

Tips for free-time activities:
AAAOC (the faculty athletic association)

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
90000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
18000 CZK

Number of supported months:
5

Total number of months:
6

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:
1500 EUR

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 EUR

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 EUR

c/ amount of other fees (which):
1500 EUR

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
18000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
0 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
10000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
8000 CZK

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?:
0 (C-elective course recognition)

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
None

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

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

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

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
No

What would you recommend to take with you:
Just basic personal stuff, clothes, white coat, stethoscope, laptop etc.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Methods of practical teaching and responsibility of interns in hospital

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Hours spent in hospital (sometimes 60-80 hours per week)

Further comments: