Mobility specification

Country:Spain

Institution:University of Murcia

City:Murcia

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Mathematics and Statistics

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?none

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The professors were very nice, but unfortunately many of them didn't speak English very well. All the classes were in Spanish, but because of the purely written form of the exams, it was possible to arrange to take the exam in English. The courses are not divided into exercises and lectures. Mostly they are just lectures with occasional embedded examples. I think it is far more expected that the student will calculate the examples at home.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?There is a fairly functional ESN within the city that is very helpful in integrating into the international student community. However, I did not find any actions to integrate into the community of local students.

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

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:14000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?The university sent us a link to a site that offered accommodation. There was quite a large offer.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?The price of housing very often did not include energy, gas or wifi, which the student had to arrange himself.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Once a week there is a market where you can get very cheap fruit and vegetables. But also other things like clothes.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

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?Once you have received Confirmation of study, you can get a student card where you upload money, which is deducted each time you drive. It works out cheaper than the monthly fare.

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?Apart from the historic centre, my favourite place was the natural park behind the Santuario de la Fuensanta church.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Of the cities in the area, definitely Alicante and Cartagena. From the beaches I recommend Puerto de Mazarón and Bolnuevo, there is a direct bus there and it is less crowded than Alicante. The natural beaches of Calblanque are also beautiful.

Share your best experience:I really liked the two solo trips to small villages outside Murcia: Cieza and the hike to La Atalaya and Caravaca de la Cruz. Cieza in particular is a totally non-touristy place with a nice atmosphere and nature where you will be almost alone.

💅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
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The best way is to fly to Alicante, there is a direct bus from the airport to Murcia and you are there in an hour.

Can you pay by card?neutral

What not to forget when packing?A thin down jacket, the Spanish sit outside all year round, even in the evening in winter. A thin down jacket will do. Also, count on the fact that it's hardly warm inside and often colder than outside, so warm pyjamas and a sweatshirt for at home are useful. At school it is normal to sit in the aforementioned down jacket in January/February.

🥳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?Murcia is the perfect place if you want to experience Erasmus in Spain without the tourists. There are hundreds of Erasmus students in the city, so you will never be alone.