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Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

South Africa 2018/2019 ISEP Exchange

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Arts

Another faculty at MU:
Faculty of Science

Field of study:
Geography and Cartography and English Language and Literature

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2018

Period of placement (from-to):
2018-07-04 - 2018-12-28

Number of months:
6

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
They have official web page and there you can find it.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Visa, grades in English, proof of my English level, and a lot of official documents that were sent to me via email from the university

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
I started to fill in the documents about 4 months before I came

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
official form, criminal record, bank statement dating back 3 months, X-Ray of my chest and report from doctor that I don't have tuberculosis, statement from my parents that they will take care of me if something happens, flight tickets to and from the country

Length of wait for visa:
2 weeks

Fee for the visa:
1000 CZK

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?:
yes

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
Registration took place in waves during the first week in South Africa. We came to a room with computers and looked for courses we wished to take. After that we were told if we can or cannot take the courses and if there were any problems, we had to find other courses. Additional changes were possible during the first two week of the semestr.

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:
divided by 2

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
It depends on the subject. Mostly we were discussing or lectured on things. In literature courses, I wrote essays. In other I had tests.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
lower

How did you receive study materials?:
Received some textbooks, other materials (notes, additional reading) I had to provide myself.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Community Service Learning

How well is the school library equipped?:
pretty well

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
available at library and computer labs

Options from printing and copying:
available at library and computer labs

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

If yes then what?:
mainly in the first week - orientation, hikes, traditional dancing

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

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
student accommodation

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
400 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
gym, parking, washing machines

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
kitchen equipmnet (from spoons to pots, just everything), pillow, blankets, bed sheets

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
through university, don't remember how far ahead

What are the catering options?:
self catering

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
fruit is cheaper, rest is twice as high, milk product even more expensive

Transport to location of placement:
by foot, Uber, student bus, bike, taxi

Rough prices for transportation:
20R for Uber, 5R for taxi, bus was free but always full

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
rent a bike, never use taxi alone or after dark, rent a car, there are some cheap options

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
by foot isn't good, everything is too far
taxi is cheap but not safe alone or after dark
buses are cheap but not regular
trains are simply bad and not safe at all
best is to rent a car

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
visa, health insurance

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?):
Momentum Health, it has to be local insurance, not Czech

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?:
nobody will hire you with student visa

Tips for free-time activities:
hikes, swimming, surfing

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
110000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
18300 CZK

Number of supported months:
6

Total number of months:
6

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

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

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
70000 ZAR

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
6000 ZAR

b/ amount of tuition fees:
7000 ZAR

c/ amount of other fees (which):
7000 ZAR

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
16000 ZAR

a/ of which for accommodation:
6000 ZAR

b/ of which for catering:
8000 ZAR

c/ travel and recreation:
2000 ZAR

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
46

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
23

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

What problems did you have with recognition?:
none

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

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
4

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

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
higher fees than were estimated by the official document - nowhere did they say that you'll pay for subjects

What would you recommend to take with you:
old clothes - you'll feel safer than in fyncy clothes

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Some amazing teachers, hard-working people at the international centre, mokeys and zebras on school premises

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
slow pace of teaching, unfriendliness of local students

Further comments: