Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Pécs: Not the New Prague but still Fun and Rewarding Past Review

By (University of Denver) - abroad from 08/28/2019 to 12/20/2019 with

University of Pecs: Pécs - Direct Enrollment

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile still. I learned a lot about Hungary and different European cultures.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were easy but informative, professors were understanding.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Difficult to interact with numerous offices across the city. Lots of paper work that seems unnecessary in the age of computers.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Good rooms but poor services. Laundry machines are constantly broken and even when they are all working there are not enough for demand. No air conditioning makes the rooms hellish for first half of the fall semester.

* Food:

Never tried university food. Not many places near dorms, restaurants near city center are good and inexpensive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Not very integrated in local culture but very integrated in cultures of other Erasmus students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Never interacted with healthcare.

* Safety:

Never felt unsafe myself but did hear stories, specifically from females. Best not to go out alone at night if female.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I believe I could have had a more enjoyable time at a University in a larger city with more people and with easier travel opportunities.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Very easy to live off of $120 a week so long as you cook your own meals occasionally.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own food!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Course was not largely practical. Didn't learn useful phrases until late in the course, focuses to much on learning the language on an academic level and not at a survival level.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Try to learn basic phrases and basic pronunciation before you get there.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The international students I met
* What could be improved?
  • Administration, too much paperwork, sometimes no English explanations
  • Neptun System is horrible
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Pecs is not the new Prague.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.