Hi there, I’m Nathan, and I’m currently in the third year of my degree in Archaeology and History with a year abroad! I am in the last few weeks of my year abroad in the Czech Republic where I studied at Charles University in Prague. I have had an amazing time here and hope that sharing some of my experiences will show how worth it the year abroad is! I would like to share some of the insights I have gained while living here and show you all some of the amazing things that you can do while on a year abroad in Prague!
The differences in universities
Whilst the overall timetable is the same between Charles University and Southampton, there are still lots of changes that can trip you up if you’re not ready for them. The two biggest changes for me were the differences in accommodation and the difference in credits for each module. The biggest difference for the accommodation in Charles University is that you have to share a room! While this sounds quite daunting at first it quickly becomes a very normalised part of your experience and one that I can genuinely say that I will miss when I leave. The other major difference is that the credit system does not quite work the same as the sixty credit semesters in Southampton, as instead there are thirty credits for each semester with the modules usually being worth three to eight! This means that I have done eight modules for my first semester and six for my second. Again, this sounds a whole lot worse than it is as the wide array of modules allow you to choose lots of topics from lots of different subjects!
Life in Prague
The way of living in Prague is something that I know I will miss for many years to come. With pubs and cafes open late into the night and drinks being significantly cheaper than the UK it is deceptively easy to lose your sense of time (and sometimes direction) while being out and about. I have made some amazing friends while on nights out in Prague and even those you don’t befriend are incredibly friendly and will happily sit and chat into the twilight hours. Now, unfortunately, there is much more to life than drinking and Prague is more than capable of providing a wide variety of sights and activities for you to take part in. One of my personal favourites was the National Museum in Prague (helpfully found right beside the ‘Muzeum’ metro stop). Though I think it will be best for you to discover some of them for yourself!
Life near to Prague
One of the best parts of living in Prague is its close proximity to many other amazing Czech cities and even other beautiful countries. Personally, I have been to Cesky Krumlov and Kutna Hora within Prague as well as Budapest and Vienna in the countries that surround it! I cannot recommend making the most of how close these places are if you do end up coming to Prague as I did. The sights that I have seen around Vienna and Budapest were stunning and I will leave some photos of my favourites below. Furthermore, the transport between Prague and these places is simple and not insanely expensive which is always a bonus (in my opinion anyways…). In Budapest I was able to visit the Fisherman’s bastion, the gorgeous baths as well as the Victory Square while in Vienna I saw some of their Christmas markets as well as St. Stephens cathedral. I could spend days writing about my experiences in these places and the sights that I saw, however you’re here for a blog about my time in Prague and not my time out of it. So, I shall leave you with the recommendation to make the most of the places nearby to Prague while you have the chance!
Tips for living in the Czech Republic
My first and most major tip for living in the Czech Republic would be to purchase a public transport pass as soon as possible! You can do this at some of the metro stations for a physical copy, but I would recommend using the PID app as it is so much more convenient. You can buy the passes in increments of weeks, months and even a year and each one is very cheap for how much you get out of it! The pass covers any trips you make by tram, bus and metro within the city limits, and they run all throughout the day and with reduced services at night. Having the pass is not only a smart financial decision as plain clothed officers will periodically check if you have one and fine you about fifty pounds, but it also makes late nights a lot safer as it guarantees you a way home! Another important tip would be to do your best to learn at least the basics for the language as while the majority of locals in the city centre will understand English it still goes a long way to be able to respond in their language! My next tip would be to familiarise yourself with the area you are staying as quickly as possible, while you may spend much of it around the city centre it is still important to know any good restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops that surround you!
Final Comments
I cannot more highly recommend taking part in a year abroad, whether in Prague or somewhere else. As it has really taken me out of my comfort zone and made me feel a lot more confident in how I handle myself in situations without my usual safety net around me. You will need to work hard to make sure that your year abroad is as good as it can be but it is one hundred percent every bit of effort!