Mobility specification

Country:Costa Rica

Institution:University of Costa Rica

City:San José

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies

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?manageable

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?I UCR - 2,5 ECT (1 Costa Rican credit equals 2,5 credits at MUNI).

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The teaching method was quite different, the classes were almost 3 hours long with a small group of students (max. 25). The classes included, in addition, a lot of practical experiences, f.e. visiting the legislative assembly or national park for my course (green political thinking).

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Only at the beginning, some of the volunteers guided us throughout the university and helped with orientation. We also went on the first day of UNI to the botanical garden, where we played some games. Apart from that, we did not have any activities outside of lectures regarding the integration of internationals.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)
I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:19600 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I highly recommend the student accommodation called La Casa Banana, located near campus, with lots of other internationals.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Generally, Costa Rica was way more expensive than I expected. My monthly expanses were almost double the expenses in Czechia.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Shopping only at local supermarkets, avoiding touristic areas (not travelling which I do not recommend, but saves lots of 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?I've seen better

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

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?All essential information can be found on Google, both in Spanish and English.

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?San Jose itself is not a very touristy place, and there is not much to see, however, the National Theatre is worth visiting and the surrounding mountains with the views of the city.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?La Fortuna - waterfalls, National Parks (Manuel Antonio, Cahuita, Tortuguero), volcano Irazú, volcano Poas, the Caribbean - Puerto Viejo, Puntarenas.

Share your best experience:My TOP experience was La Fortuna - a small city in the middle of Costa Rica, surrounded by outstanding nature and with a view of an active volcano. There is so much to see, the National Park, hot springs - very warm water coming from the volcano, tropical rainforests with animals, hiking trails, lake.

💅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?Not really, students do not visa if their stay does not extend the lenght of 180 days

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Depends on what season, I stayed during the rainy season, therefore it was essential to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and lots of sweaters. Despite the fact that Costa Rica is located in the Caribbean, it gets pretty cold during the rainy season.

🥳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?The most adventurous, breathtaking, and valuable experience in my life! I will never forget it!