Going on Erasmus does not necessarily mean prolonging your studies. You can do it, says FAV student

When choosing a university abroad, he considered Crete and Spain. Having played football practically all his life, Spain seemed the ideal destination. What did he have to deal with, or what would he do differently today? Filip Chlad from the Faculty of Applied Sciences talked about all this.

Since childhood, he enjoyed logic games and puzzles, and mathematics was fun. "If I add my interest in computer games, I think the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of West Bohemia (FAV UWB) was a natural step. And I can confidently say that I don't regret my decision - studying here is excellent."

In the first year of his bachelor's degree in Software Engineering at FAV, Filip decided there was no time to waste. In the winter semester of his second year, he went on a six-month Erasmus study stay at the Spanish University of Comillas. He recommends that all students do at least part of their studies abroad. "When else will one have the opportunity to spend such a long time in a foreign country, and with significant financial support? I think it would be a great pity not to take advantage of such an opportunity. Life should be lived to the full and not left in the comfort of home," he said. He would also like to go on Erasmus during his Master's studies.

Especially at the beginning of his stay, Filip faced some minor obstacles: "I had to find my way around the new environment - where everything is, how the local transport works, and so on. But once I got acclimatized, I just enjoyed my stay," he added. Apart from studying, he also enjoyed the Spanish lifestyle. "The people there spend a lot more time socializing; the parks are always full, there's something going on in all the playgrounds - that was one of the things I really liked compared to the Czech Republic. On the other hand, I realized, for example, how grateful I am for our Central European climate. Even in November, the temperatures outside were still between 15-20 degrees, and it started to bother me. I was looking forward to the "normal" weather that I was used to from home," said Filip.

Filip considers the administrative process that precedes an exit to be relatively straightforward. Practically everything is handled through the online portal. Filip Chlad has a few recommendations and tips for interested students. So what to look out for? "Going on Erasmus does not automatically mean prolonging your studies; if you plan everything well, it can be done. I would pay extra attention to the choice of subjects I will study abroad. I would try to find as many courses as possible that are relevant to my program of study, and I would consult thoroughly with the supervisors of each course. This will increase your chances of getting credit for as many courses completed abroad as possible. In addition, I would keep a close eye on my departure and return dates - both to avoid having to return any unused portion of the grant and to ensure that I still have the opportunity to take some credits and exams upon my return if I choose to study certain courses at a distance. And general recommendations? If anyone hesitates whether or not to go, I can only say - go! You probably won't have that opportunity again after you graduate."

Did Filip's story inspire you? Maybe next time we will write about you. Just apply to study and start taking advantage of all the benefits of UWB.