Mobility specification

Country:Cyprus

Institution:University of Cyprus

City:Nicosia

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2021/2022

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of Media Studies and Journalism

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?no

Does the university offer enough courses in English?none

Are your credits converted?yes

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The classes were very similar to MUNI in the teaching methods.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?There is an amazing ESN group that organises great activities.

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:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?When you enroll into university they usually add you to a WhatsApp group. There are 2 private providers with Erasmus buildings who contact you and offer a room in one of their buildings (Achileos, Aereos, Oxi). Only Erasmus people live there and it’s great place to stay. There are bigger and smaller apartments and the buildings are just a street away so you are in constant contact with other exchange students.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?When eating out or going for a drink, coffee, etc. just cross to the Turkish side of Nicosia city. The prices there are much better and you will save money.

🗺 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?terrible

And what about transport outside the city?terrible

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Cyprus public transport is horrible. There are buses but the schedule is almost always wrong. You just have to take your chance and wait around the scheduled time on the bus stop. Sometimes (not frequently but it happens) the bus will never come.
There are buses that take you to Paphos, Larnaca or Ayioi Napa. Those are scheduled and you can buy tickets online. There is no train in Cyprus.

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?Nicosia is not the most beautiful city but it has its spots. The old town (mostly Turkish), fruit market, cafes.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Paphos, Aiya Napa , Larnaca, Kyrenia, Famagusta (ghost town).

Share your best experience:A 3-day roadtrip around the island. Cyprus is not big so if you rent a car for 3 days you can visit pretty much most of it.

💅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

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Just make sure you are landing in Larnaca or Paphos. There is an airport in Nicosia but it is in the Turkish side and you might encounter issues because of that - sometimes it’s considered an illegal airport (hence illegal entry) since the Turkish side is not officially recognised by most countries. The Turkish airport usually is used for travels to Turkey.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Sunscreen - the UV can get up to 12 there. Charger adapter.

🥳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?Cyprus is a beautiful place, it is full of life and I found friends for life there. It might not have the greatest universities but it definitely has the greatest spirit.