Experience Report at CTU in Prague
For almost half a year I went to Prague. I studied and lived there for a semester abroad. My experiences and what I can recommend in Prague.
Preparation:
Since the beginning of my study, I planned to do a study abroad, but then applied for my study abroad relatively short-term for the fifth semester. I didn’t plan so much and applied in the online portal. It was relatively easy to apply. I had to write texts and research online which courses I could attend at the universities, but I managed to do it relatively fast. One reason I chose Prague was that the chance to get into a university in Prague was more likely than in other countries because not so many people apply there, in comparison to e.g. Scandinavian countries. So I really recommend taking a look at the table with the number of applicants of the last years. Also, it is a very beautiful and big city, so my decision was quickly made.
Accommodation:
I was accommodated in the Masarykova Dormitory and I really liked it. You share a room with another person, usually someone from your own country. But you need a bit of luck to end up with someone you get along well with. It is a minimalist life, because the kitchen is very small, and you have not much space, but it is a great way to meet other people. Especially at the beginning, it is nice to have contact with your flatmates without having to actively reach out to people.
Also, it is very cheap, I think I only paid around 250€ per month. If I could choose again, I would still go into the dormitory. But I think you should be careful, there are differences between the dormitories. Masarykova, Bubenec and Sinculey are the best regarding what I heard. The Strahov dormitories are very big, but the comfort there is worse, and I didn’t hear much good about it. I think the Erasmus students have better chances to get to the dormitories like Masarykova than local students, because most of my friends were also in the Masarykova dorm. In the most cells there were not pots, pans or dishes in the kitchen (At start of WiSe, maybe it is different in SuSe), so we bought something at a flea market but maybe the International Student association in the Masarykova dormitory can also give you things from people who were there in the semester before.
Studies at the host university:
The studies at the university are nice. In my experience the courses were easier than at the RWTH Aachen and the semester is also shorter. I was happy to not have to work so much for the university like in Germany and have more free-time, explore the country better and do activities. The equipment is very modern and newer than at the RWTH. The approach of learning is more practical than the very theoretical approach at the RWTH, this was a new and good experience for me. My courses were around 20-30 people big because most of the Czech students visit another version of the course which is in Czech (for both bachelor and master courses), so I had not much contact to Czech students but much to other Erasmus students from many different countries. I would nevertheless recommend attending a Czech language course, it was nice to learn a bit of Czech to know some basic sentences and I had the feeling that the most Czech people also valued the attempt of speaking a bit of Czech. My favorite place at the university was the NTK library . It has a very wholesome atmosphere and looks very nice. In general, the mood is very relaxed.
Sustainability:
I drove with Flixbus to Prague and back, and it was comfortable. The N69 drives directly from Aachen to Prague and back. It drives at night which was nice for me because I could sleep a bit and didn't spend a whole day traveling but just a night to get there. If you don’t book it too late, it is also not so expensive. I paid around 30€ per ride. In Prague, you should definitely buy the public transport ticket. It only costed 15€ for three months, and you can buy it in the “PID litacka” app. The tram and metro system in Prague is very good and reliable. Also, I can personally really recommend second hand shops in Prague. There are many and the things there are mostly very cheap. I liked the Genesis Stores, The Textile House and Praha Thrift Store.
Everyday life and free time:
Mostly I went shopping to LIDL because I think most products were a bit cheaper than at other stores like Billa, but it probably depends on what to buy. LIDL also had better vegan/vegetarian options. If you like cafés you should to go to the Scout Institute Cafe . It has a very nice ambiance with balconies like you can see on the picture and a student vibe. I attended the trips of the ISC. I took the trip to Cesky Krumlov, it was very beautiful, I met many nice people, and it was for a fair price. Also, I made some trips with friends. I can recommend you to travel to Kutna Hora, Brünn/Brno and Budapest. The people in Prague were mostly very nice. I had the feeling that the atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly, I also always felt safe in the city.
If you want to make some sport, you should register early for the university sport courses, because they are often booked out relatively fast, but I really liked their offers and the prices were good.
Living expenses:
I think the expenses for food in the supermarket were higher than in Germany. The canteens are also more expensive than in Aachen, but restaurants were often cheaper than in Germany. But mostly I cooked myself and with friends. Recognition process for credit: For the learning agreement I had contact with Dirk Thissen and he really helped me. He answers quickly, and I had the feeling he really liked to do it. It was possible for me to do master courses there and recognize them as bachelor courses at the RWTH. For the Erasmus scholarship, I had to do 15 credits at the foreign university.
Summary:
All in all, I would definitely recommend making a semester abroad to everyone who can do it. I learned much about the Czech Republic, met many international people, found new friends, had a nice time, traveled a lot and learned another approach to studying. You get good funding by BAföG and Erasmus, so money was no problem for me there. Also, the living was cheaper because the dormitory was very cheap. I would totally do it again, and also want to make a semester/year abroad in my masters.