Mobility specification

Country:Germany

Institution:Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg

City:Würzburg

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Law

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 classes I took were very much geared towards international students. It was therefore clear that we were learning, for example, "the basics of German public law," a subject that would have been unnecessarily general at home university. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the possibility to agree on anything, whether it was the form of the testing or the time of the exam. I ended up finishing most of my classes with presentations, which was probably the best way for me - I got to study quite a bit about one topic, but at the same time avoided the stress of some "testing" such as written exam.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?We had an introductory meeting with other Erasmus students directly at the faculty, and the university in general offered several workshops to help with orientation with administration, accommodation, etc. However, a large number of social events were offered by the Würzburg International Network - and these were really cool. For example, they organize kick-off parties/meetings, speedfriending, a wine basket, walks in the hills and vineyards, trips to nearby towns and international dinners. In the end, though, the KHG (Katholische Hochschulgemeinde) was the most helpful in making local connections, which is an incredibly friendly and open environment for everyone in Würzburg (including LGBTQ+ or just 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:16000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?After all, they were paying something like tuition fees (even if it was an administrative fee and the price of a public transport ticket for the whole semester). You had to pay quite a large deposit up front for the dorms, and if you left before the semester was over, no one refunded the money (unless there was another person interested in the room).

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Sozialverkauf! An incredible re-use centre where you can get everything. Also, I probably wouldn't go to IKEA for basic necessities again, but to a big Kaufland where it was cheaper. And the student version of the monthly pass for all public transport throughout Germany (except ICE trains) is still amazing - for 15 Euros you could go anywhere.

🗺 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?neutral

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Public transport in the city has its own app that works just fine. You can also buy a monthly ticket for public transport throughout Germany.

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

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?perfect

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Ugh. There's a lot of it! And I'll start with my two favorite hills: Käppele and Bismarckturm. The first is a monastery church and pilgrimage site with an amazing view of the whole city. A monumental baroque staircase with ancient plane trees leads up. The second is a lookout point right at the main railway station. I had it close from the dorms and ran there almost every day. The view is spectacular and you look out from the vineyards directly over the city and the fortress above. And no one can leave Würzburg unless they've had wine on the stone bridge. And my favorite place under the roof is the beloved Rock-Inn Boulderhalle, where they not only have hilarious bouldering challenges, but also a cafe where you can eat your own lunch or make presentations.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I guess I was a bit specific: I used to go on weekend backpacking trips in the surrounding villages and towns and have fun with the locals. I wouldn't change it, but it's not for everyone. Of the nearby places, my favourite is Sommerhausen: a medieval wine town just upstream with a wonderful Christmas market. From the countryside, the red trail from Retzbach back to Würzburg is probably the best.

Share your best experience:Several times the locals got to talking to me and some even offered me free food. For example, I tasted local bourch or talked to a physiotherapist for a whole afternoon. So the Nacht der Lichter (Night of Lights) in the cathedral will definitely stay with me for a long time.

💅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

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The buses run pretty well from Prague. But you'll have to find a direct one. With DB (the German equivalent of ČD) you need to check if they're not stopping at the moment (they often do and then nothing goes).

Can you pay by card?neutral

What not to forget when packing?In Würzburg, the best means of transport is by far the bicycle (there are hills, but there are bike lanes everywhere!). So take a bicycle and buy a bicycle in the bazaar. And if you climb, add scaffolding and a seat, you'll definitely use them.

🥳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?Würzburg offers just enough of everything: English and German, nature and culture, sport and relaxation. For me, it's the love of my life and I love going back.