ISOIS ▸ Final reports

Ac. year:
Country:
Institution:
Mobility type:
Program:
Faculty:
Study level:
Click here to return to the list of reports...

University of North Carolina at Asheville

USA 2024/2025 ISEP Exchange

Personal data
Mobility type:
Study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Social Studies

Field of study:
International Relations / International Relations

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2024

Period of placement (from-to):
2024-08-11 - 2024-12-11

Number of months:
4

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
Website of UNCA has a good catalogue of all subjects for each semester

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Confirmation from MU, transcript of grades, cover letter, insurance information, vaccination record, visa, IELTS/TOEFL

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
I started the process around April 2024

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Passport, filled in questionnaire on the US Embassy website, confirmation of admission to the school abroad, DS-2019

Length of wait for visa:
I went to the US Embassy for the interview; I waited for it around a week, and got the visa immediately at the Embassy

Fee for the visa:
$160 for the application + $180 for SEVIS

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?:
Yes

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
I had to contact my host coordinator for registrating courses for me

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, three exams/final papers

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
no

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
Every credit was doubled

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Classes are 2-3 times a week, more written assignments than in MUNI. Student groups are smaller, about 20 students, so there is a lot more discussion during classes

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
About the same level

How did you receive study materials?:
Through Moodle; if we had a class activity, then professor gave us printed materials

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Anything with Alvis Dunn

How well is the school library equipped?:
Really good; I took board games to play with my friends a lot. Also, they have a media lab where you can rent cameras, laptops etc.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Computers in the library, internet coverage on whole campus

Options from printing and copying:
A lot of printers on the whole campus

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

If yes then what?:
Friendsgiving, activities to meet foreign students who came to play sports, hikes; we were really close with our coordinators

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
2

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
On campus, Magnolia hall

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
0 USD

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
ISEP fully covered housing

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
I had everything in my flat, I only needed some plates and cutlery. I've also bought a mattress topper and a pillow, because the ones given by UNCA were too hard

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
Around 1-2 months before arrival

What are the catering options?:
Main canteen, smaller shops and cafes on campus

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Two times Czech prices for everything

Transport to location of placement:
Airplanes, coordinator picked me up from the Asheville airport

Rough prices for transportation:
15000 CZK

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Buy tickets right after you get your visa; the earlier you buy the ticket the better the price will be

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Public transport is free for UNCA students, you can rent a bike on campus; campus and downtown Asheville are walkable, however you can't walk to the downtown

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
Nothing

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?):
ISEP insurance, $28 per week, so around $500

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
Yes, I went to urgent care room and emergency. It was smooth with ISEP insurance

Did you work during your studies?:
No. But I've took part in the presidential elections process as a volunteer

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
I don't know

Tips for free-time activities:
Board games, hiking (the views are beautiful), gym

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
80000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4

Total number of months:
4

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
My own savings

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
50000 CZK

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
35000 CZK

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 CZK

c/ amount of other fees (which):
15000 CZK

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
500 USD

a/ of which for accommodation:
0 USD

b/ of which for catering:
200 USD

c/ travel and recreation:
300 USD

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)?:
12

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
24

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:
I was caught by Hurricane Helene that affected Asheville badly, so I had to relocate to Charlotte for some time. My semester was affected a lot by this natural disaster, and I had to figure out insurance, housing, food, and other stuff

What would you recommend to take with you:
Laptop, tablet, clothes for the season. I've bought everything according to the changes of weather

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Campus, people, out of class activities

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Food, in-class discussions (students just talked about their personal political views)

Further comments: