Stories from Overseas: Czech Republic

My Story: Studying Master in Czech Republic

by Dyah Meita Nugraheni

(Old town and historical bridges of Prague, Czech Republic. Source: Dyah)

Hi fellas!

My name is Dyah and I am one of alumni of English Literature. Currently I am living in Prague, Czech Republic and studying Anglophone Studies. Have you ever heard about this? Anglophone Studies is a major to learn about English-speaking countries (Anglosphere). The aspects that we learn are Literatures, Linguistics, Histories, Politics and International Relations. Why Anglophone Studies? When I was a Bachelor student, my favorite subjects are literatures and cultures and societies. Therefore, for further studies I was looking for a major which provides both of those materials. Then why in Czech Republic? I have a relative who temporarily lives in there and fortunately I found a university which has follow-up master program for that major located in Prague. The university is the best and most reputable private university in Czech Republic named Metropolitan University of Prague (MUP). Similar to Binus University in Jakarta, MUP also has three campus buildings located in three different accessible areas. The international office and library are at Strašnická campus and the Anglophone Studies department is at Jarov campus. The distance is only 10 minutes by bus.

(MUP Strašnická campus. Source: Dyah)                                            

(MUP Jarov campus. Source: www.mup.cz)

In Czech Republic, the admission procedures for new full-time international students is quiet unique. Universities or Higher Education Institutions there require the applicants to provide “nostrificated” academic documents and join entrance exam which takes place at the designated institution(s) or in Czech Republic. “Nostrificated” academic documents are academic certificate and transcript that has recognized by one of Czech public institutions and Ministry of Education (MoE). In certain conditions you can be exempted from the sitting entrance exam, such as study with scholarship or join the partnership program that has been established between your previous institution and Czech institution. Therefore, I suggest you to manage your time well to apply if you are interest to continue your further studies here.

Study abroad as international student means meeting new people from many different countries and getting acquainted with new teaching and learning methods. My classmates are not only Czech Republic’s locals, but also Russians, Ukrainians, Turks, and Slovaks. There are also some Erasmus students come from many other European countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece who join in our class. My lecturers, in my opinion, are very concern toward their students. All of them notice each student’s progress and will be more assertive when the progress or contribution rates in class are unbalance. The lecturing style is discussion, so students really need to read and understand the materials before the lecture begins. All stuffs about lectures and lecturers can be found in an online system named Student Information System (SIS) similar to Binusmaya. While communication among students and lecturers is conducted in university’s electronic mailing system.

(Pedal boating on Vltava River, Prague. Source: Dyah)

(Hiking at countryside, Karlštejn. Source: Dyah)

(PPI Walk. Source: PPI Ceko)

Apart from academic activities, some of my classmates and I couple times organized trip around Prague or to countryside, or just going to the city center after lecture’s time. Besides European students, I also mingle and keep in touch with Indonesian students who are studying in Prague and outside Prague, and join in the Indonesian Students Association in Czech Republic named PPI Ceko. Although the number is not as big as in any other European countries such as Germany and Netherlands, Indonesian students in Czech Republic are also unite together and held regular meetings and activities to share about our routines or problems, and discuss about latest topic around the world or in Indonesia. We are indeed having a right to concern about our own future, but we shouldn’t neglect our actual role as the next generation of Indonesia: to build the country and nation of Indonesia.

Prague,

Dyah Meita Nugraheni