Mobility specification

Country:Iceland

Institution:University of Akureyri

City:Akureyri

Program:Freemover long-term mobility

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Experimental Biology

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓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?yes

Can you give an example?I was always given credit for as many credits as I completed abroad.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Not really, it was quite similar but with a much more personal approach. Some subjects were online and some were face to face. Maybe there was a lot of work on projects or presentations in certain courses which I don't know at MUNI.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Definitely! Organising week with BBQ parties, frequent discos at the local bar and darts with free drinks, pub quizzes, beach clean up events and subsequent trips to the hot spring with free snacks. There were also local trips around the area organised by the student club. We also went on field trips in certain subjects (turf house, herring factory) including day trips more like a holiday than a study trip - probably the best school events.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
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?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Almost everything is extremely expensive. Energy and water are cheap :D. The most expensive is of course accommodation. Transport in Akureyri is free.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The school app provides discounts, but anyway restaurant visits are around 700 CZK per person. You can find a part-time job. In the summer months there is a huge demand and finding a job is easy.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?I've seen better

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?You can pay everywhere by card at the driver's. Transportation around the island is only by road so either by bus (straeto.is) or carpool (samferda.is or fb groups).

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?perfect

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Haha I can't even list it all. Check out some youtube videos. Probably the top thing to do in that town is to climb Sulur in the summer, ride the zip line and go to the forest lagoon. You can see the Northern Lights anywhere in winter when the skies are clear and puffins anywhere in summer. Nearby is the amazing Santa's cottage where you can ride a bike - a must see. Oh, and whale watching.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?EVERYWHERE. Really, rent a car and drive around Iceland. Don't be afraid of trips to the islands and ocean either unless you are seasick.

Share your best experience:Tough... whale watching, Santa's cottage, Diamond beach, view of a lava eruption, wild seal and reindeer watching, wandering the wilderness alone with only waterfalls and hot springs (+ maps of course). Can't say one experience given the nature of Iceland.

💅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
Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The international airport is 45 minutes away from Reykjavik, but buses (which you pay for) are available for every flight, even at night. However, you can also get to Iceland from England directly to Akureyri.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Merino clothes and socks, shoe covers, undershirts - you'll have layers like an onion and that's the basics. Don't take umbrellas - it's no use and they break as soon as you open them. A warm jacket is probably the logical choice.

🥳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?This experience was the best in my life and it gave me a lot especially in my life (a test of a relationship, I tried to live alone). I stopped being afraid to talk to others and I made my dream come true, and I'm not exaggerating. I had wanted to visit Iceland for years and I had to cry when I left.