Mobility specification

Country:Germany

Institution:University of Konstanz

City:Konstanz

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

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?they have tons

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Within the teaching, compared to MUNI, there is less emphasis on memorizing as much knowledge as possible, the emphasis is more on understanding theories, concepts and own work, especially on writing term papers, which in some subjects make up almost the entire grade. At the same time, compared to MUNI, more attention is paid to the discussion of required readings, which I find beneficial.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The university offers two orientation programmes - the shorter OriPro, which lasts one week, and the longer GO Konstanz, which is combined with an intensive one-month German course (I can highly recommend it, not only linguistically but also socially). At the same time, the local ESN is very active and organizes many events and activities for international students.

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 aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:19900 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I had no unexpected expenses

Do you have any tips on how to save money?you can buy it cheaply in Lidl or ALDI. The canteen offers very good prices and also good food. Second hand things can be bought very cheaply on kleinanzeigen.

🗺 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?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Connections can also be viewed via Google Maps. As for tickets, it is best to buy a student ticket for the whole semester. This can be done directly at the university.

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?Lake Constance, the Rhine and generally anywhere that's close to the water. The island of Mainau. Hus Museum (a must especially for every Czech).

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Rhine Falls, Black Forest, Alps. If you wish, you can also take trips to a number of nearby cities (Stuttgart, Strasburg, Zurich, Basel, Heidelberg...)

Share your best experience:I don't have one specific best experience, but I would definitely include a hike in Donautal combined with a swim in the Danube, a barbecue in a Czech company in Palmenhaus or the local Campus-Festival.

💅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
Bus

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?if you have the opportunity, bring a bike (if not, buy one locally). A bike is definitely the best way to get around town, pretty much everyone in Konstanz bikes and there is excellent infrastructure. Don't forget your swimsuit of course, you'll no doubt get some use out of those.

🥳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?It was a great experience that I can definitely recommend, both academically and experientially.