Mobility specification

Country:Netherlands

Institution:University of Groningen

City:Groningen

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of International Relations and European Studies

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

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The school system in the Netherlands is very different from the one in the Czech Republic, first of all the whole semester is divided into two blocks and in each block students have different subjects and exams. The exams also have fixed dates, so you know in advance when you have which exams. I had mostly seminars at RUG, which were more interactive than I am used to from my home university. In the classes we worked more in groups or discussed all together. It was challenging at first because I had to prepare for every class, but in the end it was interesting to listen to the opinions of my classmates and engage in conversation. The learning here is more based on self-study and group work. At first it was a bit of a step out of my comfort zone, you really have to be actively involved in the class. But I have to say it gave me a lot too. As for the exams, they were mostly in the form of an essay, which I had enough time to do. That might have been a bit easier for me then compared to the MUNI exams.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, I am! The local ESN is very active, with regular dinners, outings, pub quizzes, parties and lots of other activities. We had a whole Introduction week before the semester started, which was a great opportunity to meet other exchange students before school started. I think everyone will find their own thing and get more great experiences through the events together.

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)
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:24800 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

Do you have any tips on how to save money?There is a market in the centre three times a week where you can get fruit, vegetables, baked goods and much more for much cheaper than in a shop. For train travel then I recommend going in a group and getting a "Group Ticket", transport in the Netherlands is generally very expensive, but you can save a lot by travelling in a group, maybe up to half.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

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?Connections can be searched via the NS app (trains only) or 9292. Tickets can be bought directly on the apps, on the NS website or you can pay by card on boarding and alighting.

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?Groningen is not a very big, but it is a very nice city. It's definitely worth a walk around the canals, I also recommend going up to the top floor in the Forum, where you can get a great view of the whole city. Overall the Forum is worth a visit, it's a very interesting building where you can not only study and have a coffee, but also go to an exhibition or a movie. And you definitely can't study in Groningen without having a picnic in Noorderplantsoen Park at least once.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Besides Amsterdam, I highly recommend Utrecht, Den Haag or one of the Frisian Islands, the closest from Groningen is Schiermonnikoog. In spring I also recommend visiting the Kuekenhof Tulip Garden, the best time is from late March to early May when it will be in full bloom.

Share your best experience:I can't even pick just one, the whole Erasmus is one beautiful experience! But one that comes to mind is King's Day, which is probably the biggest public holiday, when the King's birthday is celebrated. If you go to the Low Countries in spring, you have to experience this, the atmosphere is incredible. Everyone wears orange (which is the national colour), there is live music playing everywhere and people are dancing and having fun in the streets. I was lucky this year that the weather was also nice, so we could really spend the whole day outside

💅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?From the airport, you still need to take a train to Groningen, but if you fly via Amsterdam, it's not a problem, there is a direct train from the airport.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?For me definitely gloves, you can ride your bike here in winter, so you will definitely enjoy them. I would also recommend bringing a better raincoat, you can leave your umbrella at home. But the weather here is otherwise quite similar to the Czech Republic, so you probably won't need anything 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 one big adventure, full of experiences. Thanks to the trip, you will not only meet friends from all over the world, but also yourself.