What inspired you to travel abroad?
Ever since I was a teenager I decided that I wanted to experience living in as many countries as possible during my youth. To study abroad is a great opportunity to fulfill that goal. I studied my bachelors in Sweden and did a bachelors exchange in Canada. When it was time to apply for masters I saw the possibility to do that abroad. I also saw the possibility of picking a home university abroad and then being able to go on a master’s exchange to yet another country. This is also what I ended up doing. I studied my 2 year masters at the University of Economics in Prague and I spent one of those semesters on a masters Erasmus program in Italy. I could not be happier with my decision. It has given me so many new experiences, friends and memories. My expectations were definitely fulfilled.
River
Why did you choose University of Economics, Prague?
I decided to study at the University of Economics in Prague because I knew that I loved Prague as a city (I had visited it before) and several of my friends had done their bachelor exchange semesters there. They highly recommended the University and the lifestyle that came with it. I then had to decide on the specific program. I knew that I wanted to study something quantitative and challenging to make sure that I was prepared for any type of financial job that I would want to apply for in the future. My friend therefore recommended me to contact the faculty and informatics and statistics. When I did I directly knew that their program was the right for me. The administrational staff was very knowledgeable and service minded from the start. They make you feel very safe and calm during your application, studies, and even after graduation. There is a lot of paperwork to be done when you want to study abroad and they will help you with everything.
What was your favorite part about Prague?
Prague is the party capital of Europe many people say and this was definitely my favorite part about it. It has endless opportunities when it comes to food places, bars ,and clubs. The university and the dormitories have lots of social events so that you quickly get to know new people that also want to explore Prague. They organize parties every week, faculty events like bowling, a grand ballroom dance and many more things during the year. That makes the study abroad experience way more fun. What I also really like about Prague is that there are lots of things to see. Friends and family love to visit you because they have a great time visiting Prague, especially when you can show them all the local hidden gems.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made my experience abroad extraordinary was all the people I met from different countries. Some you will only hang out with during a semester but others will be your friends for the rest of your life. Getting to know people from other countries and cultures is extremely interesting and you learn lots of new things. After you are done with your studies you will have friends from all around the world that you can visit during your travels in life. What I really enjoyed was that the University and the dormitories really give an effort for you to get to know new people quickly. It helps you adapt to the new setting without feeling lonely, leading to more fun and better study results.
Graduation
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff at the university was great when it came to both administrational staff and professors. The administrational staff will help you with everything you need from the first day of your application until even after you graduate. Having them support you regarding documents, visas, etc. lets you focus on your studies so that you can graduate in time. The professors are also very good and I still keep in contact with many of them even after graduation. They have a very personal approach where they make sure that students who struggle get extra help. If you give an effort and study, they will support you in helping you pass the courses. I also had the possibility to work on research papers together with a couple of the professors which prepared me well for my master thesis. I really appreciate professors giving you those kinds of possibilities.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
If I would have done something differently it would probably have rented for a private room in the dormitories from the start. I decided to have a roommate for the first semester and I was super lucky that it was a guy from Canada who became one of my best friends. So in that way I actually do not regret it in my situation. However, if I would recommend a future student what to do, I would recommend them to rent a private room. It will give you more privacy so that you get the chance to focus on your studies and sleep better. It is worth the money since it will improve your grades and your health. You will still have tons of people around you in the dormitories so there is no reason to share a room unless you really need to save money.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day for me in Prague would be to wake up at around 9am and to go to the University for Classes and then study for a few hours. You usually have 2-4 hours of classes per day and then you study for a few hours on top of that. I probably spent 7 hours per day on average when it came to classes/studies. After studies I would come back to the dormitories to play football/Frisbee/basketball or just hang out with my flatmates. Then at around 9pm we would have some parties or go to the bars (not every night though). I would eat all my meals at the university cafeterias that were situated at the university and also at the dormitory. That way I barely spent any time cooking on a typical day.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I really enjoyed sports, partying, and traveling. There are lots of great travel opportunities not far from Prague, both in the Czech Republic and its neighboring countries. I took the chance to go to Berlin, Krakow, Budapest, and lots of smaller places close to Prague. All those places can easily be visited during a weekend and the smaller places during a day trip. When it comes to sports the dormitories have football, basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts that are free for students to use. My friends and I would do sports a few times a week. It is a great way to spend time together after school. I also really enjoyed the parties and nightlife that Prague had to offer.
Festival
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
In Prague I stayed at the dormitories during my studies (1,5 years in total) but when I did my master semester in Italy I rented a room in an apartment. At the University of Economics in Prague I believe that the students are practically guaranteed a spot in the dormitories if they want one. This is really nice so that you do not have to worry about accommodation when you move to your new country. You can always search for apartments later on if that is a better option for you. I preferred the dormitories and stayed there because all of my friends were there. It was simply more fun. Money wise it is also cheaper to stay in the dormitories compared to renting an apartment so that is also a bonus.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
That you should not stress too much. The administrative staff and professors are always there to help you. They will make sure that you will graduate as long as you give an effort and study. I was very stressed during my first semester but then I realized that everything will be fine because they are there to help and support me. What is also good to know is that you should think about how you plan your courses if you want to do an exchange semester like I did. You might need to save all your electives for that specific semester. So speak to the administrative staff about this when you enroll so they can help you plan your 2 years of studies in a smart way from the start.
Would you recommend University of Economics, Prague to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend my program to others. There are two main reasons for this. The first reason is that I had two amazing years that I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed the time that I spent both in school and outside school. All the classes are good which keeps you motivated and the program is well structured so that you know what to expect. The second reason is that when you graduate you have really good chances of landing a good and highly paid job. I had success in working in Sweden within accounting and the Czech Republic within finance after I graduated within. In the Czech Republic the employers know that you have graduated from a good University and that you studied a challenging program. They are aware of your knowledge it therefore it is very easy to get a good job. In Sweden the employers told me that the reason I was picked for interviews was because my profile was standing out from the bunch. It gave me the opportunity to attend lots of interviews and land a good job quickly.
Roof top
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
There are several benefits from traveling abroad. Improving your language skills is one of them. As a nonnative english speaker getting to spend two years studying and speaking English is a big advantage for the future. It improves your language skills and makes you more comfortable in situations. If you are a native speaker on the other hand you get the chance to learn a second language if you are interested in that. The university offers Czech classes as electives to students. Another benefit is that you get to know a new culture and that you get to meet lots of new interesting people. You will become a more educated and confident person after your two years abroad.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I actually decided not to go home and I am currently working in Prague. After my graduation I went home to Sweden to work for a year and then I decided to come back to Prague to try the expat life. My life was impacted in the way that I met some of my best friends during my time abroad and also the love of my life. That’s why I decided to come back to Prague. When it all comes down to it, people are the ones that impact your life the most and you will for sure meet lots of amazing people during your studies abroad. That is a promise. My time abroad also impacted my life in the way that I confidently can take on new challenges. I know how it is to move and live in different countries and I am not afraid to move to new ones in the future. It gives you the feeling of freedom in life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me is to have fun and learn at the same time. It is to go to places to gain a deeper understanding of how people live. You can read and watch the news about places but you really do not understand what a place is like until you actually visited it. It’s seeing new things, eating new meals and trying new activities. Meaningful travel for me is also to feel the freedom of not having to worry about everyday life problems. You can focus on living right where you. I think it is important to not always get stuck in the past or think about the future. Travelling lets you focus on where you are right now. That is also why it is easier to meet new people and gain better study results when you are abroad. It is a more simple and direct lifestyle.
