Barbara Mac

Why did you choose to study at UCT Prague?

I always wanted to live in the Czech Republic. Since both of my parents grew up in Czechia and most of my extended family is here, I spent summers in Moravia or in the Central Bohemian Highlands (České středohoří). Leaving the Czech Republic to go back home to Germany was always the worst.

When it was time to decide what I wanted to do after secondary school, I came up with the idea of studying in Czechia. After doing some research, I came across UCT Prague. With its excellent chemistry programme and the beautiful city of Prague, choosing UCT Prague was an easy decision.

How is studying here different from studying in your country?

The studies here are not easy at all. I was definitely challenged and struggled greatly when I first got here. I barely scraped by the first semester, but after that, I got used to how individualized studies here are. I was not used to managing my own time without compulsory attendance forcing me to attend all the lectures. Now I have figured it out quite well!

Do you have any ideas on how to make studying at UCT Prague better for foreigners?

I have quite a few suggestions and that's why I am actively trying to make changes. I work together with the Full-Time International Student Organization (FISO), the Department of International Relations, and tutors to solve the biggest issues international students face at our university. We are focusing primarily on providing more study materials in English, helping out with translations, and helping students adjust to university systems like the Student Information System (SIS) and the EMIL system. Another thing that needs improvement is the communication between local and international students; as foreigners, we barely know our Czech counterparts!

Is there anything you appreciate at UCT Prague?

I was very positively surprised with how helpful and friendly most of the staff here are. Be it our instructors or Faculty staff, everyone makes an effort to help you out.

How do you like life in Prague? What do you like and dislike about living here?

I love living in Prague. It's a beautiful city with amazing public transport and endless activities. Living in the dorms is fun too, even if they’re so far away from campus. I like that I get to practice my Czech here; my language skills have improved significantly since I arrived.

6) What was the biggest culture shock you experienced?

For me, the biggest culture shock wasn’t from Czechia itself, but from my classmates. Being thrown into a mix of so many different cultures was pretty intimidating at first, but the experience has been amazing!