Erasmus Experience in Brno, the Czech Republic by Laura

Why did you choose to go to Brno, the Czech Republic?

It's a cheap city, in the heart of Europe and they have classes taught in English.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

9 months. €6, 000 in total.

What is the student lifestyle like in Brno?

The classes are dynamic and practical. They're usually given in groups with only Erasmus students, so that the level of the material is more accessible. They have field trips outside of the university, too.

I went to the Mendel University, and apart from those at the Economics faculty, the classes were really easy.

It's a university city, there are people on Erasmus here from all over Europe and some from the Americas and Mexico.

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Would you recommend the city and the university of Brno to other students?

Yes, absolutely.

What is the food like there?

The food is pretty strong, but it's good for the cold weather there in the winter. Everything is really good and very cheap, in the supermarkets as well as in the restaurants. There's not much fish and it's hard to find it, due to its location (not near the sea).

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Brno?

No, everyone stays in the residences there. They don't have a lot of facilities, but you'll be living with all of the Erasmus students and the residences are very cheap (€97 a month and it only cost €5 for a meal at the canteen).

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How much does it cost to live in Brno?

€600 if you're spending a lot.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the university?

The people you'll have around you, meaning people at the university, all speak very good English. It was difficult to communicate with other people. You'll find all kinds of people, but Czech people aren't usually very interested in understanding you.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Brno from your city?

There isn't one... The best way was to fly from airports along the Mediterranean coast, since there are flights to Bratislava with Ryanair (and some seasonal flights to Brno) and it was quite cheap. Then from there you get to Brno with the Student Agency, which is a very cheap bus company with good service. The others, flying from Madrid to Prague (which also had Student Agency) or from London to Brno.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Brno?

There are a lot of places, but I had the best time at the Mandarin.

And to eat in Brno? What are some of your favourite places to go?

The Medieval and the Pegas.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The castle, the Cathedral and, in general, the whole city centre is very pretty.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Brno in the future?

Take advantage of the opportunity to sign up to get an English qualification. They teach a very good level of English there (their Cambridge English: First teaches a higher level of English, for example), and since you do not have to study hard, you should take the opportunity to learn English.

If you go to Mendel University, take as many subjects as you can, including the final project (as I said, the only one you have to study for, since you go to the same level as the Czechs in it, is the project for economics).