My Erasmus Experience in Prague, Czech Republic

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

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To start off with, I wanted to go somewhere English-speaking to improve my language skills, and since it was impossible for me to choose Ireland or England, I just opted for the closest to home. Apart from this, I'd already been to Prague and loved it. My third reason was because I didn't want to go where everyone goes, since most of the people I knew were going or had gone to Italy, and I didn't want to do that.

How long did your exchange last? How much were you paid?

The length of the exchange varies. It depends on the agreement between the sending and receiving institutions. Mine lasted ten months, and I received 350 euros a month, an amount which also depends on which autonomous community you're coming from.

What's the student life like in Prague?

Really friendly and welcoming. Since there are people there from all over the world, it's easy to start a conversation with people, and since there are simply so many people, it's easy to adapt. In terms of classes, they weren't that difficult. It all depends on what course you're studying, of course, but my Erasmus exchange was quite easy, meaning that the pressure was less intense.

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

Definitely. Its location isn't too good though. The important thing is to just get yourself invovled in everything.

What's Czech food like?

Mostly meat and soups. Fish is quite expensive, since Prague is a long way from the sea, and I don't really recommend the fruit there as it's pretty bad quality. Although if you look hard, you'll find something tasty.

How did you find your accommodation?

Online. It was complicated, as it's not normal here to put up adverts on lamp posts and at bus stops. You don't even see them on balconies. If you're looking for somewhere to live, you'll have to use an estate agent or the internet, and if you use the latter, do it quickly, as flats go like hotcakes!

What are the accommodation prices like? How expensive is living in Prague in general?

Expensive. The landlords exploit the fact that you're foreign and don't know any better, and charge you a small fortune for flats that should really be worth much less. This is without even taking into consideration that in Prague it works differently to in other European cities: there you pay per room, meaning that it ends up being much more expensive.

The prices in general are very good. The cost of living there is pretty low. If you don't spend money like water, you can get by okay. Food is cheap, and drink, too. It's expensive to go out, too: if you don't go somewhere which charges an entrance fee or with high prices, with 500 CZK (so 20 euros) you'll be able to have a pretty good night.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

Czech is the first language of the country, and it's a hard one, but if you make the effort to learn it, you'll get by fine. It's like everything, make the effort and you'll see the results. People speak a lot of English there, almost everyone does, so it's easy to communicate with people.

At Karlova Univerzita there are Czech classes for international students. The best thing to do is to look for information on your university's webpage.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Prague from your home city?

By plane. It take two and a half hours. The prices always vary, so it's not easy to say exactly how much it costs.

What are the best places for partying in Prague?

I personally used to go to places like Kain, Wagon and Hell's Bells, aside from the concert halls at the uge. I went there almost every week (the concerts there are very cheap). They play heavy rock, and blues and jazz are played at other calls like Agatha, Jazz Dock and Jazz Club.

If you're looking for proper clubs, there's always LAvka, Karlovy Lazne, Club P. M....

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What about eating out in Prague? What are your favourite places?

I usually ate at home or at fast food places. If you look hard though, you'll find places with a good price to quality ratio.

What does Prague have to offer in terms of culture?

Prague Castle, places in the city centre like the clock tower, the dynamite tower, the national museum, as well as the nearby towns such as Karlovy Vary, Brno, Plzen or the city of Kutna Hora (famous for its chapel made entirely out of human bones).

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Do you have any advice for future students coming to Prague?

Don't miss out on going on a Erasmus exchange. It doesn't even matter which country you go to. The most important thing is what you learn from it, and not only in terms of your university studies. Make the most of your stay, and remember that post-Erasmus syndrome affects us all... I'm still suffering from it.