Mobility specification

Country:Iceland

Institution:University of Akureyri

City:Akureyri

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2021/2022

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?There is an emphasis on preparation for the class, which involves reading various materials such as academic articles, publications, court decisions, with the bulk of the class time devoted to active discussion.
Unlike at MUNI, the grades here are made up of multiple parts, i.e. each performance or exam is counted towards the final grade and corresponds to a certain percentage of the grade, e.g. an exam corresponds to 51% of the grade, and the rest is fulfilled by other activities.
During the semester, there is what is called LOTA, which is a kind of project week, where each subject does it differently. For example, in one course we did a model UN states meeting where we discussed the treatment of human rights and ways to improve it.
Compared to MUNI, I think it's an advantage that each course has its own timetable, so it can happen that you finish one course after 2 weeks and another one doesn't start again until the middle of the semester.
Due to the overall organization of the university there is a great possibility of distance learning and therefore some classes are combined and at the same time during project weeks, when attendance is mandatory, there is a possibility to use (by appointment) robots, on their screens are then seen by students.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Unfortunately, my Erasmus took place towards the end of the covid pandemic, so these options were rather limited.
Despite this, there was an introductory meeting, events such as karaoke, and more.

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:18000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I answered no, because the university arranged for students who did not fit into the dormitories to stay in guesthouses at a better price, but it was more expensive than the dormitories.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Expensive food, excursions, that's something you pay extra for.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?In supermarkets, they have discounts on food that is about to expire, or vegetables and fruit that are no longer in the best shape.
Rather take advantage of the cheaper supermarkets.

🗺 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?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?They have an app on public transport where you can find your connections. In Akureyri, public transport was free (I hope it still is;))
For trips rather rent a car.

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?The city itself is beautiful and you can walk the whole city within an hour, so I recommend places around the city.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?There are many beautiful places around Akureyri. Must see is definitely the Godafoss waterfall, and all the places around.
Towards the end of your stay, it's a good idea to arrange to go on a round trip around Iceland.
And try as many hot springs as possible.

Share your best experience:Round trip around the whole coast of Iceland, with sleeping in the car and showers in hot springs ;)
Thanks to the sunshine even at night (rather late April, May and summer) the possibility to go to some places even at 1am without all the other tourists.
And last but not least, the aurora borealis is definitely worth mentioning, which you'll be chasing for hours.

💅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

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?If you're going to be in Iceland over the winter, make sure you have enough warm clothes and even a few layers that you can wear at once.
If you already own spikes for boots to walk on ice make sure you don't forget them, or at least buy them (this will avoid bruises after falling on the ice)
Although it may seem unnecessary so be sure to pack a raincoat or waterproof jacket, it will come in handy at waterfalls or if it just rains for x hours straight.
Something not to forget is a swimsuit, there are countless opportunities to take advantage of the hot springs, either natural or in "wellness" centres like blue lagoon.
Oh, and definitely a warm hat and gloves.

🥳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?An unforgettable and unique experience of a lifetime!