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Juniata College

USA 2021/2022 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Field of study:
English Language and Literature / English Language and Literature

Level of study during period of placement:
Master

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2022

Period of placement (from-to):
2022-01-13 - 2022-05-10

Number of months:
4

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
On their website. The coordinator sent us an email with a direct link to it.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Visa, COVID test

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
3 months

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Passport, an original form sent from the host institution

Length of wait for visa:
1 week

Fee for the visa:
it was quite expensive

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
no

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
Registration was opened two months before the beginning of the semester. We had to send our list of chosen courses to the coordinator who registered us.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
yes

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
- choose option -

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
1 american = 2 ECTS

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Each subject is taught two or three times per week. A lot of active discussions, home work, essays, projects, and presentations.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
It was really good!

How did you receive study materials?:
Some materials were distributed by the teachers. However, they expected us to buy most of the books. But I did not want to spend money so I just found all of them in the college library.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Literature courses with Amy Marthur

How well is the school library equipped?:
It had all the books I needed, plus a lot of fun stuff like comic books. It also has computers, printers, wifi, food and coffee.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Wifi is everywhere, printers in every building, computers in the library

Options from printing and copying:
In every building.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Orientation week, movie nights, bonfires, multicultural fests, ect.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
1

or describe in your own words:
I felt really engaged in the local activities. There are so many clubs and things to participate in. Every day there is something fun to do; and American students are very open and willing to accept the newcomers

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
Tussey Hall on campus

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
0 ???

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
our scholarship covered living in the dormitory and 185 meals in cafeteria

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
There is everything. Before coming I was afraid that there would be no linen and pillow. But don't take anything, previous students leave stuff that you can use.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
They'll send you an email about two months before

What are the catering options?:
185 meals in the cafeteria plus 75 dollars to spend in on-campus Starbucks

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
maybe a bit more expensive but not drastically. plus, you don't really need to buy anything unless you want to cook something special or buy something for a party

Transport to location of placement:
Amtrak train from New York; takes about 5 hours, and costs 57 dollars

Rough prices for transportation:
57 dollars

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
take round-trip! if you leave it till the end, it will get very expensive

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
nothing! There is only one train that goes in the New York direction in the morning and in the Pittsburg direction in the evening. But the town is very small, so everything is reachable on foot. If you want to go to Walmart, International Office organizes shuttles once in a while. Plus, local students have cars and are always willing to take you somewhere.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
everything is done before coming

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
You must pay local insurance

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
no

Did you work during your studies?:
no

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
open an American bank account, and you will be allowed to work on campus

Tips for free-time activities:
There are so many events every week, you don't even need to plan anything yourself

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
80000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4

Total number of months:
4

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
my own money

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
1000 USD

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
100 USD

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 USD

c/ amount of other fees (which):
900 USD

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
300 USD

a/ of which for accommodation:
0 USD

b/ of which for catering:
0 USD

c/ travel and recreation:
300 USD

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:
I had to pay 40000 Kc for the next incoming student which means that you actually get only half of the full 80000 scholarship

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
12

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
24

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
no problem

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
1

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
no

What would you recommend to take with you:
hairdryer

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
the number of clubs and events

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
amount of homework

Further comments: