Mobility specification

Country:Spain

Institution:University of Lleida

City:Lleida

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

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?manageable

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Courses were for more credits compared to MUNI and also had a larger time allocation. Often they were divided into multiple days, which makes it somewhat difficult to set up a schedule, especially if you are combining courses from multiple disciplines or faculties. Some of the course information in the online catalogue was out of date, for example, courses that were reported to be taught in English were in Catalan or Spanish. On the other hand, I was very pleasantly surprised by the friendly teaching atmosphere and the personal approach of the teachers. Compared to MUNI, the lectures were conducted in a less formal way and the lecturers treated us as equals.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, two weeks before the semester started, there were Catalan classes every morning and various familiarisation activities or excursions around the city in the afternoon. The aim was mainly to get to know each other within the group of international students, I didn't see any events to integrate with the local students, which was a pity. During the semester we were offered two or three trips around the city, a welcome event at the beginning of the semester and an international dinner.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:20000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I got my accommodation through the idealist website, otherwise it's good to consult with coordinators or volunteers from local students. Since dorms are not an option, the university offers help in this regard.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Accommodation and transport was slightly more expensive than in Brno.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I definitely recommend farmers' markets, where you can buy seasonal fruit and vegetables much cheaper than in the supermarket. I also recommend a longer-term ticket, which allows you to take the slower trains to Barcelona for two or three months for 20 euros, and if you meet certain conditions, this money will be refunded to your account.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?neutral

And what about transport outside the city?terrible

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?The system around transport was quite complicated for me as a foreigner. I searched for connections outside the city by using a combination of apps from different carriers and transport websites. Tickets could mostly be bought online or at the station.

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?Lleida itself is a relatively small town and there is not that much to see. I definitely recommend walking through the centre to see the cathedral. Otherwise, the cultural events are more interesting. There's always something going on in the city and it's often quite bizarre events. I really enjoyed the carnival, the snail festival or Sant Jordi or the Day of books and roses.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I definitely recommend a thorough tour of Barcelona. It's great to head to the coast and enjoy both the beaches and the city. The nature around Lleida is beautiful, I recommend going to the mountains or lakes, even for multi-day hikes. There are also plenty of options when it comes to climbing or ferratas.

Share your best experience:The most used was probably a trip with friends to Portugal. We managed to get super cheap flights from Barcelona and went on a roadtrip from Porto to Lisbon. Along the way we camped or slept under a tent and besides the beautiful places we saw, the best part was the awesome group of people from all over Europe. Besides that, I think the most fun and enriching part was meeting people from different places, countries and cultures.

💅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
Train

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?If, like me, you're flying into Barcelona and from there getting to Lleida, it's good to take into account that you need to take a train from the airport to the station and the station in Barcelona is quite chaotic. It's also good to be on the lookout for pickpockets and thieves from the start, of which there are plenty in public transport and the stations.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?It is definitely good not to neglect warmer clothes. It's quite cold in Catalonia during the winter. Besides, it's nice to have at least a basic first aid kit with medicines from the Czech Republic - talking to a google translator in a pharmacy when you're not feeling well is not so good.

🥳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?It was a ride with a lot of fuckups, but it was also the best six months of my life. Great people, lots of fun and love.