Mobility specification

Country:Lithuania

Institution:Vytautas Magnus University

City:Kaunas

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2022/2023

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

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?neutral

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised that the lecturers are very interactive. In many subjects, one by one, we had to give our opinion or experience on the given topic, how it looks like in our country. In almost every subject we had to watch one or two films as part of the lesson, the knowledge of which was part of the assessment.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The university organised an orientation week including several guided tours to really get to know the culture of the place. At the same time, events were organized during the semester and events to celebrate the end of the semester.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
I haven’t noticed

💸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

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I recommend staying in dormitories, their price is incomparably lower compared to alternative types of accommodation. The university offered free sports activities (group lessons and gym access), which is worthy given the price of season tickets. I recommend getting customer cards for all shops (the best deals are in Lidl, Rimi, Maxima), some of them require a Lithuanian phone number.

🗺 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?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?You can conveniently use Google maps for MDH connections, but I personally used Trafi. Tickets are purchased from the driver with a surcharge or through the Ziogas app, in which you ride for free after reaching a certain number of rides per month. For out of town tickets it's fine to use FlixBus, for trains LTG Link.

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?I definitely recommend a walk through the old town dinner all its sights. A nice view of the historic center is from the cable car on the other side of the river. Special attention should also be given to the graffiti that can be found around the city on every corner, giving it a distinctive style. In spring, a nice walk around Nemuno sala, which is right in the middle of the city, is best to go there in April when the sakura are in bloom. I recommend going to the Kauno Marios dam, but that's more likely in May or early June.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?To the capital Vilnius and its part Užupis, to Klaipeda and from there to the Curonian Spit, and Trakai Castle. I would definitely recommend nearby foreign countries - Riga, Tallinn, Tartu, Warsaw.

Share your best experience:I went to Klaipeda, which offers nice and not too crowded beaches for sunbathing and swimming. Although the Baltic Sea is cold, it is accessible and clean for swimming in this area.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?I personally took the bus and the journey was long but without major problems. The bus and train station is in the middle of the city, easily accessible. As for the airport, it is quite far from the city, but at the same time there is regular public transport.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?For winter, definitely wear thermal clothing, an umbrella and be prepared for the fact that it is windy in Lithuania.

🥳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?I would describe my stay in Lithuania as one of the best periods of my life, which taught me many important things about myself and other cultures, and I still remember it fondly.