Mobility specification

Country:Spain

Institution:Autonomia University of Madrid

City:Madrid

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of English and American 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

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The university does offer plenty of courses in English, but the paperwork and application process took so long that by the time I was allowed to register for courses, most of them were already full. But the ones that were left for me were very good as a result. The other thing that puzzled me was that the university required a certificate of English language proficiency (and a BA in English at MUNI didn't count), so that's something to count on ahead of time and possibly get at least some CAE. Otherwise, I didn't find the classes too different from what I'm used to at home.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The orientation week definitely took place, plus there is a pretty active ESN that organizes great events for international 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:40000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Definitely the price of shipping. Getting around in Madrid is very cheap for students, but the prices of other trains and buses if you want to go to another city are really high compared to the Czech Republic.
Plus, I had paid for breakfast and dinner every month in the dorms, but it wasn't until after the rate for December was taken off that I found out the dining hall doesn't work for two weeks over Christmas, but you still pay the same price. So if you plan on paying half board in the dorms, I recommend cancelling before December.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I definitely spent the most on the dorms, where I also paid for breakfasts and dinners. (accommodation + half board for a month costs about 20000)
To save money on food, I definitely recommend looking for restaurants where they have Menu del Día, a great Spanish thing where you can eat really well for a great price.

🗺 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?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?For the metro you need to get a card at the Gestión de Transporte. You can fill out the form online and then have the card sent to you, but I'd recommend making an appointment and going to the transport office in person (you can also go straight there at the airport), as it takes a long time to send it. Otherwise, public transport is clear and fairly efficient, with the occasional strike, but that's to be expected in a big city.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?neutral

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Chueca, Mercado de Rastro, Retiro Park, Casa del Campo, Royal Palace... and pretty much any market you can find. My favorite was the once a month Mercado de Motores with small businesses that used to be in the old train station.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I was on a trip to Segovia, it was beautiful and it's a short drive away. I also went to Barcelona, that's a longer trip for a few days, but it was definitely worth it.

Share your best experience:Any evening I spent with friends over tapas and tinto de verano (because sangría is for tourists).

💅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

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?I might mention that I've never had a problem getting along anywhere. I can speak Spanish, but I'm pretty good with English, too. And even though a lot of people may not speak English, they are always very willing to talk any way they can, with their hands, with their feet.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?I underestimated the weather. I went for the fall semester, but I thought it would be a bit warmer than in the Czech Republic anyway. But it was definitely really cold and I had a proper winter jacket sent from home.

🥳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 was a bit disappointed with UAM, but Madrid and the energy of the Spanish people made up for it.