Mobility specification

Country:Belgium

Institution:University of Antwerp

City:Antwerpen

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of Educational Sciences

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?yes

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?It was not surprising, but just like the French, the Belgians often jump into their language during the lessons and sometimes I had to ask what they were saying.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The University offers a number of events or clubs where one can buy a membership. At the same time, there are opportunities to buy a "sport sticker" and go to various matches and the like.

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
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:16000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?You have to remember that everything is a bit more expensive in Belgium than here.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The cheapest shop is Lidl. In the canteen (komida) they give books with coupons that can be used everywhere in the city. Two beers for the price of one, but also to McDonald's or burritos.

🗺 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?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Use the De lijn app to get around the city and then the SNCB app for trains.

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?Definitely the MAS gallery. Go there for the sunset. Also, take a walk around the historic center and the river. Then head to the red light district near MAS at night, which is bigger than Amsterdam. If you go outside the city then Brussels, Ghent are definitely worth a drive and you can go all the way to the sea in Ostend.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?As I already mentioned, it is worth going to Brussels, Ghent, Ostend, but also to Amsterdam is close and it is quite convenient to get to Luxembourg. It is also worth going to the Netherlands, for example to the city of Eindhoven where there is a futuristic museum.

Share your best experience:Probably the best experience was a trip on a 10 euro ticket, which is valid in one direction So I got on and off in Ghent, then got on again and went to Bruges and from there to Ostend. All on one ticket. A nice day trip.

💅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 airport is a bit further away, mostly flying to Charleroi or Brussels. There are buses that are direct but cost maybe 20 euros. But if you buy a train ticket, you also pay for the bus, which also stops there. And if you take the bus to the station and from there to Antwerp it costs up to 10 euros.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Pack something for the cold weather. Something like a windbreaker. It's really like England out there.

🥳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 scared to go at first, but in retrospect I really recommend going, whether to Antwerp or elsewhere. Antwerp in particular surprised me a lot and I had a lot of fun and interesting things. It's a really concentrated Western Europe and being here will open your horizons a bit. Even the subjects here are quite connected to the EU and the overall pro-European mindset. So if you're hesitant, don't hesitate anymore, pick a place to go and go. Don't be afraid of English, you won't be the worst. Even a relationship can stand it from experience, it's only one semester.