Erasmus Experience in Prague, Czech Republic by Maxime

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

I'm interested in Slavic culture as it's not very well known but its historical background and traditions are very interesting.

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

The scholarship is approximately 8-9 months.

I received financial help from Erasmus (the cheapest one dues to low-cost life in the Czech Republic) and from my home Region in France. Enough to cover most everyday needs.

What is the student lifestyle like in Prague?

I live just 5 min from the city centre and there are parties and events practically every night. I confess that I'm not a big fan of night parties but the city offers also a lot of very simple events like free music shows... etc. Just get outside walk some minutes in the street and you will find one.

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

I think the city of Prague is a "must-see" as it's probably the most beautiful city in Europe. Prague is a small city but with one of the biggest historical backgrounds.

Charles University where I've done my studies is also the oldest in Europe. However, It was hard for me, as studies I followed in France were very professional and practical and when I came here I need to come back to the school and to the theoretical world. A lot of courses were "nonsense" for me, but there were more because of the difficulty of courses here.

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What is the food like?

Mostly European and Slavic classics. A lot of meat with a lot of sauce like Goulash and some soups. And beer, cider, wine...

How much does it cost to live in Prague?

Life is very cheap here. Sometimes it looks expensive because of the different currency (1EUR=22-25CZK) but in reality, at least for everyday life it's very cheap. Beer or cider are generally less expensive than some water bottles.

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

Czech is one of the most complicated languages. It looks simple because they use Latin letters, not like Russians but it's not. I get the opportunity to do the Czech Intensive Course 1 mouth before the beginning of courses and I highly recommend it. It's in this course that you will meet your friends for the rest of the year and it's clearly the best way to be well introduced in the country and Czech culture. Probably the best part of the year for me.

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

I came from Annecy in France, near the Swiss border so the easiest way is by plane. Just took an hour and not so expensive if you plan in advance your travel. Otherwise, I've got a lot of friends from Strasbourg who come mostly by train or bus but of course it's significantly longer for just some euros in less.

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

All the city is interesting. I can't recommend a specific place. However, if your not a big fan of club like me, go visit some pubs there are very nice here.

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

Anything that is not in the tourist centre sometimes, since you will pay 5 times the price in some other places in the city.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

All museums of the city, including Prague's Castle, the Vyšehrad castle also, and even the city of Kutná Horá at 1h of Prague which is a beautiful place.

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

This is a very nice experience like other Erasmus one but the must here is the city and the opportunity to discover a country that we didn't talk a lot about but with a very strong background and culture. I definitely recommend it. However, especially for French people who come from professional studies such as DUT, BTS..., make sure to take courses that will not make you pass a bad year because you don't have enough theoretical basics.

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