Mobility specification

Country:Spain

Institution:University of Cantabria

City:Santander

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Economics and Administration

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

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The classes were held in smaller numbers (20-30 people) but I did not find them as good as at MUNI.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, in the beginning they organised an orientation week and then they worked with ESN, which is a pan-European organisation that helps Erasmus students to integrate by participating in their various events.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Other

Special needs - Other:I haven't done much research so I don't know.

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:18000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I searched for accommodation by paying for an Airbnb for the first week of my stay and asking students if they were looking for a roommate, which got me a nice place to stay at a good price. But of course, finding accommodation this way costs a lot of nerves, mainly because of the uncertainty involved. Other students searched for apartments on FB groups or on https://www.idealista.com.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?No

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I probably don't, maybe find friends who have a car because it's cheaper and easier to travel then.

🗺 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?You can search for connections on google maps or on the website of the carrier https://www.alsa.es, which offers transport throughout Spain.

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?Here's a google map with places I think are worth visiting: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aGSxXweF6YMQT9Nc8.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?See the map but otherwise the Picos de Europa mountains, Bilbao, San Sebastian - northern Spain is beautiful all over so interesting places to go are everywhere. Since there is an airport in Santander where RyanAir flies so you can buy cheap tickets almost anywhere - for example we flew for 500 CZK (return ticket) to Morocco (Marrakech). But of course Santander's biggest asset is the beautiful surfing beaches so I recommend taking advantage of that!

Share your best experience:Definitely go to Ampuero for the Corrida (bullfighting), but beware if you are going for the fall semester you only have the option in early September and then not after that. Amazing local event, we were the only tourists there. Otherwise Ampuero is a small village not worth visiting.

💅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?Probably not, just take your passport with you for trips outside the EU - there is an international airport in Santander.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?It rains a lot and it gets cold sometimes, so a waterproof jacket. If you've got a wetsuit for surfing.

🥳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?The teaching was not as good as at MUNI but otherwise it was a great experience because the nature of northern Spain is really incredible (reminds a bit of Ireland/Scotland). Plus you learn Spanish well because in the north they speak one of their purest versions and it's still a long way to the Basque Country.