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Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil 2022/2023 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Social Studies

Field of study:
International Relations / European Studies

Level of study during period of placement:
Bachelor

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2022

Period of placement (from-to):
2022-08-03 - 2022-12-13

Number of months:
4.5

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
Disciplines offered in English: https://www.puc-rio.br/ensinopesq/ccci/download/incoming_classes_offered_in_english_2020-2.pdf

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Motivation letter, recommendation letter, proof of insurance, transcript of records, proof of yellow fever vaccination, a visa confirmation protocol from the Brazilian embassy, apostilled birth certificate

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
About 8 months in advance

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Flight tickets, acceptance letter

Length of wait for visa:
About a month

Fee for the visa:
2600 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?:
No

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
There were multiple dates to both register and drop classes, every time online, in a specific time window. We were always reminded per email about the upcoming times for registration.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Finals took place twice during the semester (“G1” and “G2” exames), they were a mix of in-class written exams, online exams, essays, presentations, and oral examinations

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

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
The credits used by the school have 0.5 higher value, e.g. my Portuguese class was for 6 credits that were equal to 9 ECTS

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Mostly only a monologue of the teacher, additional home readings that were equal to what was being said in class

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
I only took classes in English, that is, classes mostly intended for exchange students. I was surprised by the poor English skills of the teachers. They rarely wanted students to participate in classes, were not expecting us to express our opinions.

How did you receive study materials?:
In a digital form on the PUC student platform

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
There are drawing classes at the Design department for 2 and 3 credits for anyone interested

How well is the school library equipped?:
Well equipped, materials mostly available online

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Very complicated to access uni Wi-Fi, you need to register for acquiring an access. You need to register again if you want to use school computers. Generally very bad experience.

Options from printing and copying:
Yes, you can print for free in the RDC building. You first need to register to use the computers for printing.

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

If yes then what?:
Orientation, City tour, farm stay, goodbye party

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
4

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
In a host family via PUC housing program

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
290 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
There are 2 packages, one with breakfast, one with breakfast and one additional meal. This price included breakfast and one meal.

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Host family stay is a great opportunity to practice Portuguese on a daily basis, HOWEVER host families are mostly elderly (80+ years of age) that are renting a room in order to have some kind of income. A contract is signed that describes your duties and rights, from my personal experience the hosts don’t always follow it. You will have your own room with bedsheets changed weekly, your own or shared bathroom with towels provided. The host family provides laundry machine, internet, use of kitchen equipment.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
Many students opted for looking for a shared apartment, it is quite easy to find shared apartments with both exchange student and/or locals. It is possible to find a room after your arrival. I recommend facebook groups (“Quartos para estudantes PUC RJ”, and “Dividir Moradia,Apartamento,Quarto,Aluguel”)

What are the catering options?:
Host family always provides breakfast, optionally one extra meal. There is a cafeteria at the campus for 12 R$ and other kiosks.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
In Rio they are slightly higher, prices get lower once you leave Rio and visit other places.

Transport to location of placement:
By plane

Rough prices for transportation:
I flew via USA with two extra stops there due to personal interests so my flight tickets were much more expensive than if I would have just gotten direct tickets from Europe to Rio.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Purchase in advance, even if MUNI administration says you should wait for a confirmation of your studies on the partner university. I still haven’t gotten a confirmation 1 month prior to my departure, getting flight ticket this late would be much more expensive.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Public transportation is paid per ride, you can get a rechargeable Rio Card at any metro station so you don’t have to purchase single rides.
— buses (cheapest, unreliable, sometimes dangerous) for 4R$. Metro (reliable except for electricity blackout) for 6$. Relatively cheap Uber. Shared bikes Bike Itaú (monthly plan was for 30R$), there is a bike road on the beach all the way to the PUC campus

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
Visit of federal police to issue your Brazilian ID

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?):
I had to get insurance in order to be granted a study place. Covered both my stay in the US and the study period, therefore it might be higher. I paid roughly 7000 czk

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
Only medicine

Did you work during your studies?:
No

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
You are not allowed by your visa

Tips for free-time activities:
There are free activities offered by the city, you need to get a certain app to join. PUC offers surfing classes BUT for very little number of people, register before your arrival to get a spot. Surf Matrix Arpoador is a surfing school between Copacabana and Ipanema that offers classes for a good price and they also have English speaking teachers.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
90000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4,5

Total number of months:
5

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

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

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
4000 CZK

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
3000 CZK

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 CZK

c/ amount of other fees (which):
1000 CZK

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
25000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
10000 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
4000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
11000 CZK

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)?:
14

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
21

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):
3

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
2

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
I got into a car accident when biking, the traffic rules are very vague and drivers don’t respect them

What would you recommend to take with you:
A fanny pack that goes UNDER your tshirt, second “trash” phone, your own hiking/camping equipment (locals don’t really do hiking so it is really tricky to get gear)

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
The amount of exchange students, almost a mother-to-child approach from the international office staff

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
The poor English skills of the teacher teaching classes in English

Further comments:
Travel light, you can get really cheap clothes at a flee market organized in the Centro quarter every saturday, if you need some gear you can check out an online secondhand https://www.enjoei.com.br/