Erasmus Experience in Ostrava, Czech Republic by Luis

Why did you choose to go to Ostrava, Czech Republic?

I chose it because I could study in English. Improve my English was one of the reasons decided to ask for an Erasmus scholarship.

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

6 months. 600 hundred € per months. I consider myself very lucky because I had a perfect amount of money. However, Ostrava is very cheap and it is possible to live there and have a great experience for less money.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ostrava?

It's great. The students from Czech Republic are very kind. Besides, the dorms where Erasmus usually sleep are next to University (just two minutes by walk) and the environment and atmosphere there is very good. I met lots of amazing people, both Czechs and Erasmus students.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Ostrava to other students?

I do recommend. Great University, great treat and consideration with Erasmus students.

What is the food like?

The food is very cheap. You can eat at the canteen of the Universty for less than 50 czech crowns (less than 2 euros). Besides you can eat out in any restaurant and the regional food is quite good.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Ostrava?

No, there is a dorm next to the University with a lot rooms. It's very cheap comparing to the rest of Europe. The first impression is that the buildings are quite old and the rooms can be very cold and not very confortable, but, as soon as you start living there and getting used to the space, the experience is unforgettable. You share the room with another student and, at the same time, the little kitchen and the bathroom is shared with another room.

The dorm has facilities as gym, pingpong, laundry, hairdresser, little market...

How much does it cost to live in Ostrava?

As I have written is quite cheap. 80 € per month the room, 1. 5 € eat at the canteen (Menza), 40 € the full transport card (per 3 months).

The train in the country is very cheap, so you can visit other beautiful cities easily. Highly recommended.

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

The language is not easy at all. The language of the subjects are in English and there are languages courses availables in the University.

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

By Plane to Prague and by train from Prague to Ostrava.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Ostrava?

Stodolni Street. By far the best street to go out. Lot of pubs. Tasty beer and best of all: Less than 1 € half a liter!

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And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Ostrava?

There are, but I can´t remember the names right now. There is one which is decorated with the style of the famous restaurant that appear in Pulp Fiction... Awesome.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Ostrava in the future?

There is a group called "English Coffee" that started in the year 2012. The people meet once a week in different places that can be proposed by everybody in the facebook page of the event. Although the main purpose of this group is to speak English, at the end it's just a excuse to grab some beers and make friends. You improve your English by meeting new people and, since most of the people are Czechs, as the weeks go down, you know very good places to visit, you know other culture, and you can live very good experiences. (My friend met his current Czech girlfriend there and since then, he got a job in Brno and he moved there to live...).