So I could get the possibility to study in another EU country for one or two semesters, has anyone here done something like this before? If yes, what were your experiences? Would you recommend it? Where have you been?
Possible options for me would be Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Maybe someone who studies/lives there could also give me a bit of info on what to expect in terms of university life (How hard are the exams, how much can you do if you only know english,...) and living costs.
I had two friends who went with this program, one went to Latvia other one to Spain.
There are classes on English language for this kind of students exchanges. They had great experiences, professors are extra helpful because you are from another country and new around that university, they told me exams weren't much of a problem either.
Also, going to a "better country (in terms of economical status)" or to say bigger cities gives you an opportunity to find a job as a student really easily, which means for student life living costs aren't much of a problem.
From their experience I would recommend it, its shame my uni isn't included in that program, I would probably try it out as well.
Also Finland & Norway are probably your best best, it wouldn't surprise me you even get scholarship as student from foreign country there.
(02-17-2014, 02:27 AM)Papa Oomaumau Wrote: Either way - when you let go, and stop holding on so tightly, life can actually be fun - you can't steer a train, but you can RIDE it!
Despite I'm from Bulgaria I can only recommend avoiding going there for the purpose of studying. For tourism - okay, but avoid like plague if you hope to learn anything. The living costs will be of no issue, though.
As for the rest, I have no experience, so no opinion there.
(01-27-2014, 07:15 PM)Jansen Wrote: So I could get the possibility to study in another EU country for one or two semesters, has anyone here done something like this before? If yes, what were your experiences? Would you recommend it? Where have you been?
Possible options for me would be Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Maybe someone who studies/lives there could also give me a bit of info on what to expect in terms of university life (How hard are the exams, how much can you do if you only know english,...) and living costs.
In any case - do go abroad, if possible for two semesters, those are lessons for a lifetime!
On the "where" - entirely depends on your field of studies and the goal you try to achieve ( aka are you in for the party or are you in it for sharpening out your CV/gaining advantages). The cost of living is substantially higher in scandinavia ad ireland than it is in germany, everywhere else it is cheaper. So if money is a deciding factor and you don't have rich parents or a stipend, scandinavia/ireland might be out already.
Assuming you are a good boy and you go abroad for your CV :
Bulgaria has no reputation at all( other than training entry level academics en masse) - in Hungary you might be lucky if you are some kind of engineer/plan on working there afterwards for a german company.
If you do some social affiliated studies, you might learn the superior scandinavian way of living and educating...
If you are a (communication/media)tech-guy ireland and estonia are your goto countries.
Engineering -> Poland+Czech republic
If you do physics, chemistry, biology and that kind of science it is very very university dependant, with best bets on scandinavia...
Also- if you envision yourself moving to one of the mentioned countries( if only for a few years) go there of course
Come to Poland
I can't say much about studying, since I have finished my long time ago, but I know that many people from various countries are studying here.
I can recomment Warsaw or Cracow Universities as the best ones in term of the scholarship level, and the possibilities what the cities can offer for students. University of technology in Lodz is also good, but the city is not, maybe because I live here, I don't like it.
The cost of living are less than half, than in the west or north countries of EU. Warsaw and Cracow are more expensive than Lodz.
The language should not be a problem. The knowledge of English is the higher, the younger people you will try to talk, but all of them will want to communicate, so you should not have big problem.
Ryanair is landing here, so no problem with communication with EU.
Here is a little colder than on the west, but much warmer than on the north.
I spent 6 months in Austria on an Erasmus exchange. I loved it and I highly recommend you go. Usually they have a specific set of courses they open up to international students. Often enough only the English ones and not the Local Language ones. We had a lot of specific courses for the exchange students in Kufstein but it depends on the destination how that is sorted out.
I would suggest any of the Scandinavian countries or Ireland. English is the language of choice on their unis as far as I am aware. Most unis there offer on-campus school arranged housing as well or have a bureau that helps you find these. I think I might have some prices lying around for Denmark and Sweden. If need be I might even be able to hook you up with some contacts in Ireland for practical questions.
I've heard mixed stories about Poland but I reckon it depends on the university. Again, I have some contacts lying around from all around Europe due to my own exchange. You know where to find me.
Ps. WHY NO NETHERLANDS?
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
Anyway, it also depends on where you will spend your time in those countries. Some universities have a better repute than others, so you find the university that you wish to attend in Ireland is less satisfactory than the one in, lets say, the Czech Republic.
What I can say about hungarian universities are: (I'm talking about BME and SZTE, located in Budapest and Szeged)
- They are hard. Really.
- They give you the data for knowledge (if you choose a fact that makes sense)
- Much of the knowledge has to sorted by you and your buddies. 'Internet is your friend' rule applies. Most of the teachers don't give a crap if you understand anything or not. Only few of them cares to explain in depth and actually teach you.
- They welcome students with english knowledge.
- The system of managing your subjects and studies is mediocre.
- They are cheap as dirt compared to western universities. (usually 300000 HUF (1500 USD) per semester. Except for medical studies. The fee of those are astronomical)
- In Hungary everything is cheap. This includes wages for workers.
- People are generally less open than those in west. The general mood here is bad. If you make friends they will last however.
- The ladies are beautiful.