Mobility specification

Country:Spain

Institution:University of Alicante

City:Alicante

Program:Freemover long-term mobility

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Biochemistry

Study level abroad:Master

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Natural Sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?MU website

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?During my internship, I joined an ongoing research group investigating cellular signals in cyanobacteria at the University of Alicante.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?Daily work in the laboratory involved various molecular biological methods and subsequent data evaluation. There was also a weekly lab meeting where the results were presented. During my free time, I read papers published by the group to better understand the theoretical background.

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?yes

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?no

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?perfectly

Did the institution have any special requirements?Technical knowledge (e.g., specific software skills)

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?In my case, the challenge was not to engage the whole institution, i.e. the university, but a specific research group. Don't be afraid to write to multiple supervisors and don't be discouraged if most don't respond, it's perfectly normal. Highlight in the email what you have to offer the group, what you can do and what you want to learn - show motivation.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?As internships in our field are not advertised centrally, the selection process was purely between myself and the head of the research group, with each having different requirements. So it's highly individual.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?An internship, at least in the natural sciences, is a great chance to delve into a different research focus, learn new methods and make contacts for the future. The added value is learning about a new country and its culture.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?18000 CZK/month

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?Many countries have apps like our Nesnezen, such as Too good to go, where you can buy food cheaper because it's older or the store is closing.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?absolutely flawless!

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

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?In Alicante, I found it useful to search for connections via Google maps. Tickets can be easily bought at any underground bus stop in a machine or kiosk. In addition, in Alicante and throughout the Autonomous Community of Valencia, tickets for public transport are often discounted in some way. It's a good idea to look it up on the website - for example, I hit a month when the student shuttle was completely subsidized.

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?In Alicante, the Castell de Santa Bárbera is definitely worth a visit - a castle with amazing views. It's also worth climbing the surrounding hills for views of the castle and Alicante.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?There are many places to see in the area - for example, the town of Altea, Elche - a city of palm trees with a beautiful botanical garden, the very famous Cartagena. There are also larger cities within driving distance, such as Valencia and Murcia. There are also many flights from Alicante at reasonable prices, and within half an hour you can be in any of the Balearic Islands, or even in Portugal within an hour!

Share your best experience:I would probably crown the spontaneous trip to Porto as the best experience. Tickets bought in the morning, by the afternoon I was landing in a stormy Porto with intense rain and 10 meter waves, on the way back the last plane that took off before the airport closed. As they say, an experience doesn't have to be positive, especially when it's intense - and Porto certainly delivered.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

How did you get to the place?Plane
Train

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?I don't think there are any inconveniences on the way to Alicante. If direct flights are expensive, or on the wrong day, I can recommend flying to Valencia or Madrid and taking the train. It works out pretty cheap at the right times.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Although Alicante is the sunniest city in Europe, it can get cold here too. Already in October, temperatures drop to 10 degrees at night, and as the Spanish know neither heating nor insulation, you'll appreciate a warmer pyjamas or sweatshirt.

🥳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 best last-minute decision, or when in doubt, go for it.