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Institution:
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Faculty:
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The National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico 2018/2019 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Social Studies

Field of study:
International Relations

Level of study during period of placement:
Doctoral

Language used:
Spanish

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-01-21 - 2019-06-17

Number of months:
5

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
Web of the faculty or post-graduate studies, e.g. http://www.posgrado.unam.mx/es/ofertas-de-posgrado-0

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Standard package: confirmation of studies at MUNI, CV, copy of passport, transcript of records, language certificate, application form and nomination letter

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
I had to apply during summer 2018, which makes it at least half a year before the start of the exchange period

Did you need a visa?:
- choose option -

Documents and materials needed for a visa:

Length of wait for visa:

Fee for the visa:

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, it is a requirement to agree all these by means of the learning agreement

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Yes

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
During the welcome week, a meeting was organized with the people from the faculty helping us out to register courses in the university's system. Foreign students are generally allowed to choose whichever courses they like that correspond to their level and of studies. The changes can be made solely during the second week of the semester

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
No

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

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
There is an hour load of the courses in the syllabus, which can be transferred into ECTS

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Mostly the classes are comprised of the debates and discussions, while the teachers are actively promoting various extra-curriculum academic activities like colloquiums and conferences; post-graduate courses are heavily focused on one's research project, so a student is required to present it

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
Hard to compare, since the systems are fairly different; it is less formal and strict at UNAM though

How did you receive study materials?:
Sent by the teachers via e-mail

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Profesor Consuelo Davila is a very interesting narrator (New Actors Defining External Policy), while Dr. Roberto Peña Guerrero give a very illuminating theoretical insights (Theory of International Relations)

How well is the school library equipped?:
It has PCs and place to study/read in a quite atmosphere

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
There are computer labs

Options from printing and copying:
Printing study materials is free of charge at the compute lab

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
- choose option -

If yes then what?:

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
3

or describe in your own words:
Mexicans are amazingly friendly; however, UNAM lacks events and socializing activities for foreign students

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
Rented accommodation

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
450 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
Depends a lot on the area of the Mexico City; for students and acceptable rates I would recommend finding a flat in Coyoacan

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Daily stuff can be easily bought or tends to be provided with the accommodation

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
Can be rented a month-month and a half before arrival

What are the catering options?:
Many cafes and restaurants; eating at the campus is fairly cheap. Do not recommend street food, as it is not always safe. All food tends to be extremely spicy, always take a small bite first

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
Surprisingly enough, markets and supermarkets are more expensive. However, in some areas supermarkets are cheaper than in the others, since the chains differentiate between segments

Transport to location of placement:
Avia; depends, but to make it cheaper, you will probably have to have several flights (I had 3) to arrive to the destination

Rough prices for transportation:
12000 czk one way

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Public transport tickets are generally cheap. For traveling inside Mexico, Volaris, which is a low-coster, although they have issues from time to time (luggage arrival, etc.), since there are virtually no trains in Mexico

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Metro 5 pesos; metrobus 6 pesos

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
Insurance is required upon arrival

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 Axa, which is a good option. Cost around 8600 czk

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
Yes; got reimbursed from the insurance company

Did you work during your studies?:
No

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
Not applicable

Tips for free-time activities:
Traveling through the country whenever is possible, since the regions differ in terms of culture, gastronomy, etc. Near Mexico City: Puebla and Cholula (volcano); in the city: Xochimilco (Mexican Venezia), only castle in LAtin America - Chapultepec

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
100000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
5

Total number of months:
5

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
Regular PhD student scholarship

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
None

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 CZK

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 CZK

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 CZK

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

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
27000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
10500 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
9000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
7500 CZK

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:
Depends a lot; Mexico is a country of contrasts; I lived in a pretty expensive area without knowing it upon arrival, so the choices were limited

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
24

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
20

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Yes, it was stated in the Learning Agreement

What problems did you have with recognition?:
Everything should go as expected

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
5

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
4

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

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
There was virtually no information provided by the foreign office of the university

What would you recommend to take with you:
Cloths for all climate possibilities, since the weather differs a lot throughout the year (no need for winter cloths, though)

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Informality and friendliness

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Lack of activities and information for foreign students

Further comments: