Brno, Czechia – Autumn
2025
Faculty of
Agriculture, Mendel University
I went on
exchange to Mendel University in Brno, Czechia, for one semester (autumn 2025).
I chose Brno for two reasons: 1) MENDELU is known for its agriculture and
horticulture faculties (named after Gregor Mendel, father of modern genetics),
and 2) I knew nothing of Czechia and Brno, and was interested in checking it
out and exploring central Europe.
I’m very happy that I did choose Brno, I had a fantastic time! 😊
About the university, courses and exams
The university is
located maybe 20 min. walk from the centre, and the neighborhood itself is a
lovely place to go for a stroll with the biggest park in Brno (Lužánky park)
and a bunch of historical villas to visit close-by. The university campus also
has a nice Arboretum with a fantastic tropical orchid greenhouse that is free
of access for students.
At the faculty
of agriculture, I took 4 courses for a total of 20 ECTS (minimum to be
considered full-time by Erasmus):
-
Herbology (would recommend)
-
Czech language for Erasmus
students (would recommend)
-
Environmental ethics (would not
necessarily recommend)
-
Phytopathology and entomology
(would not necessarily recommend)
The teaching was
solely based on lectures, with one course adding a couple of field excursions
to the mix (herbology). Assessments were a mix of oral presentations, one
essay, and final written/oral exams. The workload was a lot lighter than what I
am used to in Norway, with generally rather basic classes and no
required/recommended weekly readings (which gave me the time and opportunity to
explore the city and travel around quite a bit!). I think this was somewhat
intentional, since some professors explicitly mentioned they wanted to go easy
on us so we that could enjoy our stay more!
Housing
I didn’t want to
share a bedroom in one of the university’s dormitories, so I searched for a
private room on local Facebook groups. It turned out to take a little longer to
find a place to stay I had anticipated, but I eventually did! In the meantime,
I rented a bed in a local hostel, and it worked out pretty well.
I ended up moving
into a large flat close to the central station, with two other flatmates and a lovely
dog (rent about 4 200 NOK all included). I am very grateful for having had the
chance to live with a Czech flatmate, which allowed me to learn a lot about
Czechia through traditional food (veganised!), movies, music and gigs, literature,
and everyday conversations about culture and traditions. Looking back, I
believe that this close contact with a Czech person was a key reason I gained
so much from my exchange.
Are you
satisfied with your exchange stay, and would you recommend other students to do
the same?
Yes, I am more than satisfied! I would absolutely recommend Brno and Mendel
University to people who are looking for a relaxed academic curriculum and a
lively student city.
Was it
difficult to get the courses you wanted to take?
Yes and no. Originally, I wanted to take courses in two faculties: agriculture
and horticulture. But it turned out that NMBU doesn’t have an arrangement with
the horticulture faculty, and that they don’t receive many English-speaking
students at all. The horticulture faculty is also located an hour away from
Brno. After some back and forth with the exchange coordinator, I decided to
drop it and concentrate all my courses in the faculty of agriculture. I don’t
regret it.
Were all your
courses approved when you returned home?
I haven’t done it yet, but there shouldn’t be any problem regarding that since
I followed the learning agreement.
Are you
satisfied with the academic quality of the university?
Overall, I have had mixed experiences. Some courses were engaging and I learned
a lot from them, but mostly, I would say that the academic quality was
sub-average. But I already knew that when I chose Brno (thanks to past reports
from this blog!), and I wasn’t expecting academically enriching courses. So all
good for me! 😊
How far did
the funding from Lånekassen/Erasmus grant stretch?
It covered mostly everything, as the rent and living costs in Czechia are by
far lower than in Norway.
Did you
achieve what you wanted by going on exchange?
Yes, absolutely!
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