Hiya! I'm studying art history at the University of Vienna and am hoping someone who's done Erasmus at the University of Ghent can tell me more about it.

I'm still in the process of considering whether to do Erasmus at all (I feel like the housing crisis is such a big issue in all destinations I have as options).

My main points of concern would be:

- I'm very interested in the technical art history and was wondering what the programme at Ghent looks like as well the format - are there just lectures, and is it very theory based (in the sense of the exams seeking just dry memorisation)?

-Also, I've done a bit of research and found out the lectures tend to be 3 hours long, so it sounds quite intense. While I'm not planning on treating my potential Erasmus as a holiday (not saying that's inherently bad, though), but I'd love to have some time to visit the neighbouring countries, as well as the rest of Belgium - I think It'd be a shame to miss out on the opportunity as someone who studies art history.

I'd also love to get an insight into exams - the format, difficulty etc.

- My third concern is already mentioned - the housing crisis. How difficult would it be to secure a dorm room as it seems the most practical and inexpensive option? Are they decent (another option I have is Prague for example and I've read the dorms there tend to be a bit disappointing)?

- What is the public transport like, did you find it easy to navigate?

- How expensive is the city itself? Other options I'm considering are Prague and Krakow, which seem more affordable (which I'm not so sure about because their programmes seem more traditional, but if anyone has more info on this I'd be happy to be proven wrong:)

- The weather. I'm used to the Viennese weather: so very windy, gloomy and (due to wind) pretty cold winters and winter depression tends to be a struggle of mine, so I naturally expect a semester abroad would be even more stressful and isolating anyway, but was wondering how brutal the winter tends to be.

Thank youuu:)

Hi everyone! I’m researching the factors that motivate students to study abroad as part of my Master’s thesis and I’d love to hear about your experiences! If will/you’ve participate(d) in Erasmus or another study abroad programme, I’d really appreciate a few minutes of your time to fill out my short questionnaire. Your input would mean a lot! It takes 3-4 minutes.

Thank you and have a nice day!:)

https://forms.gle/ZZCg4aN5Wb9ZkZQaA

Hiii everyone! :)
I'm from Mexico, specifically Baja California, and I'm planning to spend a semester abroad in Prague through an exchange agreement between my university in Mexico and a university there. At the moment, my first choice is Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU / ČVUT), but I'm still researching and figuring everything out before making a final decision.
I'd love to hear from other Mexicans who have done a university exchange, preferably for one semester, since I imagine some things can be quite different for people who move abroad for work, settle there permanently, or pursue an entire degree.
I'd really appreciate it if you could share your experiences and advice regarding the following:
University and classes: Which university did you attend? If you studied at CTU, what was your experience like? How were the classes, professors, workload, and overall university atmosphere? What level of English do you actually need to get by and follow your classes? Did you need to take an English exam or provide a certificate for your exchange?

Visa and paperwork: What type of visa or residence permit did you need for a semester abroad? What was the process like, how long did it take, and what documents were required? Did you have to travel to another city to complete any of the paperwork?

Budget and cost of living: Approximately how much did you spend per month and throughout the entire semester? I'd like to get a realistic idea of how much I should save.

Accommodation: Where did you stay: a university dorm, a shared apartment, or somewhere else? How much did you pay? Was it difficult to find accommodation, and what options would you recommend?

Food and groceries: Approximately how much did you spend on basic groceries per month? How expensive is food compared to prices in Mexico?

Transportation, entertainment, and travel: How much does it cost to get around Prague? Are there student discounts? How expensive is going out, exploring the city, and doing different activities? How much were you able to travel around Europe during your semester? Is visiting other countries from Prague affordable in terms of transportation and accommodation?

Health insurance and healthcare: How did you arrange the health insurance required for your stay? What were the requirements, and how does access to medical appointments work if you get sick?

Language and cultural adaptation: What was your experience with the language? Could you get by speaking English in your everyday life, or did you run into difficulties because you didn't speak Czech? How easy was it to communicate with locals and make friends? I'd also love to know what your experience with Czech people was like as an international student, especially as a Mexican. Was it difficult to adjust culturally, or did you feel welcomed?
General advice: What do you wish you'd known before going? Were there any unexpected expenses, paperwork issues, or difficulties? What would you recommend preparing in advance?

I'm also considering London as another possible exchange destination, so I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts if you've experienced both places or know them well. Do you think Prague is a good choice for spending a semester abroad as an international student?

I know everyone's experience is different, but I'd really appreciate hearing your advice before making my final decision. If anyone has a sort of "survival guide," I'd be incredibly grateful!! And if you studied specifically at CTU, I'd love to hear more about your experience and the application process. 💗

Thank you so much!!!

Hey! I’m from Sydney, Australia, and I’m looking to do an exchange next year during Europe’s winter semester (roughly September to February), but I’m struggling to decide where to go! My top 4 options are WU Vienna, University of Bologna, Nova SBE in Lisbon and Carlos III in Madrid, since those are what’s available through my uni’s exchange portal. My main priorities are going somewhere that feels culturally different to Australia and like a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience, where it’s easy to make friends and I can feel like a part of the city.

I love going out and dancing, meeting new people but also exploring streets, being outdoors whether its hiking, running or skiing. I originally wanted to go to seville because I love how rich in culture it is and the tapas bar/street culture but am unable to with my degree - so I guess something like that.

A few specific questions:

• Vienna: Is it too staid or quiet for a 21-year-old on exchange, or is the student life actually good?
• Bologna: How easy is it to integrate with locals, and how is the student scene for internationals? Also, I've heard housing and the administration is bad - is that an actual issue?
• Lisbon: Is it hard having the campus far away from the city? Also how did you tackle the difficult accommodation scene? And does winter ruin lisbons exchange appeal?
• Madrid: Ive been told it’s a very authentic Spanish city, but does it feel too modern/just like a big-city? Does it live up to its cultural richness?
• How is the weather and vibe from Sept to Feb in each? Does anywhere get dead in winter or is it just not enjoyable because it feels depressing?
• And should I put weight on exchanges lasting until the start of Feb over ones that finish before Christmas, from your experience

If you’ve studied at any of these or know of people or even been there, I’d love to hear your opinions and experience, anything at all - I am really struggling to decide. Thanks so much!