Mobility specification

Country:Germany

Institution:Kiel University

City:Kiel

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of Czech Language

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?they have tons

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I liked that the teaching was often more practical than theoretical. You had the opportunity to immediately use and apply the knowledge you had just learned. I am used to a more theoretical and academic approach from MUNI, so this school through play was a nice change. At the same time, I also know that Erasmus students are approached differently and the goal is not to bombard them with theory, but rather to create a comfortable environment and an opportunity to get to know a new culture and people.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, it was great that the integration into the new culture went smoothly and very quickly. We were able to take part in the orientation week and many other events organized by the local international center (excursions to historical cities, kayaking lessons, etc., ...)

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
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:10000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

🗺 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?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?In Kiel and all over Germany we could use public transport for free. The only thing this Semester Ticket didn't apply to were the fast trains. However, regional trains were free with the Semester ticket (with more than a slight delay here and there). In Kiel, one needs the NAH SH app to travel, which loads one's ticket for the semester and one can also search for connections there (kind of like our IDOS).

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?Definitely Kiellinie, which is a beautiful promenade along the fjord and you can meet seals swimming 24/7 in the tanks at the Geomax Aquarium. Also, definitely Laboe beach and Falckenstein beach, which is a lovely bike trip.

Share your best experience:There were many amazing experiences, but one of the best that is firmly linked to the city of Kiel is the second largest festival in Germany – Kieler Woche. It takes place every year at the end of June and lasts for one full week. During this week, the otherwise relatively quiet city by the Baltic Sea is transformed into a vibrant hotbed of fun, music, dance and cultural intermingling. There are plenty of stalls selling delicious food from all over the world. Go dancing on more than one stage, hear world-renowned performers and finally bid farewell to KiWo at the end of the week with the spectacular fireworks display that the city puts on for all visitors every year.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Train

Can you pay by card?in most places

🥳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?These four months in Kiel have been one big fiesta! It made me more aware of the here and now and that if you don't try, you don't know.