Mobility specification

Country:Greece

Institution:University of Crete

City:Heraklion

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of Classical 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?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised by the length of the lectures. Each lecture took 3 hours. But those 3 hours were dedicated to a stronger participation of enrolled students.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, tons of activities outside of lectures. Such as organised trips, karaoke nights, orientation week and much more.

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 examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
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:16000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Yes there is a Facebook group that provides offers for students. The University of Crete provided necessary link to that Facebook group. Airbnb works well as well.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Not really surprising but the general prices for almost everything were approximately 20-30% higher than in Czechia.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Ask the locals, buy vegetables and cheese at the local markets on every Wednesday and Saturday. Do not eat at restaurants, the prices are made for tourists not students. Don’t hesitate to ask for help local students as well.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?neutral

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?That is the most difficult task students will encounter on their stay in Rethymno. Best way is to go directly to the page of KTEL and download a sheet with time schedules. Although buses are almost always late. Another option is to ask at the main buss station at the window. As for the tickets; they can be bought at the περίπτερο (períptero) - something like a kiosk. With the official Greek student card any student will be able to buy reduced fare. Price of one ticket is 0,70€ (after reduction). Always look for a bus with the name ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ.

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 the old town with port. Also a place where all students hang out, Kouklakia. Museums, all of them - they are definitely worth it.
Also beach, but beach is for tourists. Students should explore the whole island.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Samaria, Mount Ida, port at the city of Chania, Knossos at Heraklion, archeological museum at Heraklion and much more. Crete is an island of natural wonders and I can’t stress this enough how beautiful the island is.

Share your best experience:Trip to Samaria was one of the best experiences. But the best experience was the Eastern Crete trip for Erasmus students organised by the ESN office.

💅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
Train
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Do not arrive late in the evening. Also from chania airport and Heraklion airport there are direct busses to Rethymno. They can be bought at the KTEL page. And the whole Crete is best to be traveled around by car.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Sweets and something really Czech. It will help you get a lot of friends at start. Also it is important to pack any kind of hat. The heat can be dangerous. I would recommend to pack hiking boots as well.

🥳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?Life changing experience full of eye opening moments. Cats will be your everyday companions! =^_^=