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Edgewood College

USA 2019/2020 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Education

Field of study:
Specialization in Education / Lower Secondary School Teacher Training in English Language and Literature

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-08-12 - 2019-12-14

Number of months:
4

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
At the Edgewood college web page-course search.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Before accepting by MU: Transcript of records, Motivation letter, Academic Reference
After Accepting by MU: personal statement, a statement describing courses, DS-Request form (For visa), Proof of financial support, proof of English proficiency, Scan of Passport

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
8 months

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
DS-Form, Passport, Acceptance letter from Edgewood,

Length of wait for visa:
2 months

Fee for the visa:
4 000 czk for the Visa
4 000 czk as a student fee

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, because we were choosing subjects in the first week in the US. Into the Learning agreement, we wrote subject we might be interested in.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
Our course registration took place in orientation week with a help od advisers. Each of us had his/her own adviser who helped us choose and register courses. They even told us which course may be interesting for us base on course we had at our university.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, We were tested on TBC

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
- choose option -

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
The credits were working on the same system as ECTS but it wasn´t officially ECTS. So one credit at Edgewood was 2 credits at MU

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Every course I have studied was focused on reading out of the class and in the class we were working with what we have read. Discussion, papers.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
There was a lot of self-preparation out of class compare to MU system. No lectures, in all classes teachers, expect you to react and be active.

How did you receive study materials?:
Depend on the subjects. In some, I had to buy textbooks and sometimes we had all materials in electronic versions.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
ED and Identity in a pluralistic society- It was a difficult subject but dealing with social, political and economic issues in the USA and school setting.

How well is the school library equipped?:
I found everything I needed

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
There were accessible computers all over the campus but I would recommend bringing own laptop. WiFi was in whole campus.

Options from printing and copying:
There were printers in the library and on halls. We received printing money from EC so we didn´t have to pay for it.

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

If yes then what?:
There were 4 events. Welcome party, Haloween party, Christmas party and Goodby party.

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:
It was harder to get to know the local students but eventually, I made great friends

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
I have lived in a campus at West Regina Hall.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
0 USD

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
We have paid 37 000 czk to Center of Global education and this price included accommodation and meal plan.

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
The room is equipped, there is a sink, bed, sheets, pillows, table
Don´t forget Electric Adapter, I personally would tell you to bring pictures as it makes the room much cosier.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
2 month before leaving I sent an application for accommodation to the centre of global education and they responded with information about my room.

What are the catering options?:
There are 2 dining options in campus:
FastFood Wingra and Phill´s where they served everything from pizza over burrito to pasta. There is also Eddie´s Store that is open till midnight and has snacks. In all of them, you can pay with meal dollars.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Depends, but vegetable and fruit is double the Czech price

Transport to location of placement:
I didn´t have a placement. But there is public transportation in Madison!

Rough prices for transportation:
A bus pas cost 20 dollars for the whole semester.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
For flight: Hopper, Kivi
Bus out of the city: Megabus

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Public transportation
walking

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
I can´t think of any.

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?):
I has health insurance provided by the faculty of education.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
no

Did you work during your studies?:
no

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
There is an option to work in campus.

Tips for free-time activities:
walks around lakes, city centre is full of places to go

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?:
Grant from Faculty of Education.

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
I don´t know yet, The money are given to students after they return.

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
10000 CZK

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 CZK

b/ amount of tuition fees:
37000 CZK

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

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
10000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
0 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
3000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
7000 CZK

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)?:
13

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
26

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 so far

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):
2

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
no

What would you recommend to take with you:
copies of all documents, extra flash driver, any necessary medication and warm scarf

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
the American nature and the courses I have studied

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Air conditioning, I had an air conditioner in my room but there was nor regulation for the temperature so even thou outside was warm I was freezing in my room, and basically in all buildings.

Further comments: