Mobility specification

Country:Georgia

Institution:Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

City:Tbilisi

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2022/2023

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies

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?Teaching varies from teacher to teacher. Some are very progressive, some still sit down and just talk without any presentation. At worse, they actually say only what is also in the textbook (yes the textbook, not the technical text). At best, they can be engaging, including supplementary and practical activities.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?We had a welcome party during the semester, which took place a month after we arrived. A lot of events were organised by the local AEIESEC - two trips and some parties.

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:12000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?We were looking for accommodation through airbnb long in advance. Prices in Georgia were rising a lot at the time due to the geopolitical situation (rising inflation caused by, among other things, the influx of refugees from Russia).

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I was surprised by the price increase, which was rapid. In 2023 there were prices comparable to the Czech Republic at that time, especially food.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Local ingredients are always cheaper. You can save money by staying in the dorms, but they are not much and are a long way from the school. It's best to arrange to live with more people. At the same time, a friend there tried to scam her rent, so you have to be cautious.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?neutral

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?In Tbilisi you can pay by card in public transport, just like in our country. One ticket to anywhere cost about 8 CZK in 2023. Locals have some apps for connections, but Google maps is enough for approximate orientation. It doesn't run on time, but the connections fit. Outside the city there are marshrutkas which tend to be quite crowded or long distance buses.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Svanetie, Kakchetie - mountains, nature

💅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
Bus
Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?By plane it is better to fly to Kutaisi and then take a bus to Tbilisi. The ticket to Tbilisi is almost twice as expensive.

Can you pay by card?neutral

🥳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?Georgia is worth seeing. It's a safe country, but at the same time it's no longer the comfort zone of a backwater. The people are amazing - tough at first, but they never let you down.