Full name of the host university: ULACIT, Universidad Latinoamericana De Ciencia Y Technologia
City, Country: San José, Costa Rica
Homepage of the host university: www.ulacit.ac.cr
Degree programme at FH Aachen: Mechatronics Bachelor, FB 8
Start and end of the stay abroad: 05/09/2013 - 01/03/2014
The semester abroad was completed in: 7 subject-specific semester (old Examination Regulations)
Assessments:
Quality of the programme content: 2,7
Study conditions / facilities at the host university: 2.0
On-site support and assistance: 2.0
Campus: 1.7
Transport links to the campus: 2.0
Food on campus (dining hall (Mensa), etc.): 2,0
Sports facilities: 1.7
Leisure activities: 2.3
Bars / discos / nightlife: 1.0
Quality / cost of living: 1.7
Contact with locals: 1.0
Preparations
When did you start the preparations? About a year in advance.
How does the application process work and what documents are required? You should find out what is required from the AAA and the UAS well in advance.
Does the host university require a language test? Yes.
Useful tips or further information on preparation: Take care of the language certificate or the language of the destination country early enough.
Formalities
Do I have to pay fees at the host university? No, you only pay the semester contribution in Germany.
Did you receive a scholarship to finance your stay abroad? Yes, PROMOS.
Which route to the host university is recommended? What are the approximate travelling costs? Flight for approx. 800€ (return flight).
Did you have to take out additional health insurance?Yes, international health insurance. I was insured for the first 90 days via my credit card (Sparkasse) and for a further 90 days (with two months travelling) I took out insurance for approx. 75 euros.
Is further insurance necessary? No.
On site
What formalities have to be completed after arrival? I had to reselect my modules at the university, otherwise there wasn't much to do. You don't need a visa for Costa Rica! If you wanted to, you could get a student visa, but this is expensive and involves a lot of work. Simply tick tourism as the reason for your trip when you enter the country, leave the country once for Nicaragua or Panama within 90 days and then get a tourist visa for 90 days when you return!
Where is the best place to live and what are the average housing costs? I lived in the San Pedro student neighbourhood near the UCR. There are a lot of (local) students here and everything is a bit cheaper. Depending on traffic, you have to take a 30-minute bus ride to the city centre. The rent is around €200.
What was it like looking for accommodation? You can live with families arranged by the university. This is organised by the university, but is quite expensive. There was no help with finding accommodation.
What is the average cost of living? About the same as in Germany.
What is cheap/expensive? Travelling by bus is cheap, as is eating out in so-called "sodas".
What are the shopping facilities like? There are supermarkets, markets and street stalls. Markets and street stalls are cheaper, but you may have to bargain.
About the host university
Briefly describe the host university! ULACIT is a bilingual private university. You feel more like you're at school than at a university, with homework, group work and compulsory attendance. The campus is about a 15-minute walk from the city centre. The local students are open and curious, and there are a few meetings organised by the university to get to know each other.
How was the quality of the courses? The professors were very friendly and helpful. The standard of the courses and lectures was not particularly high, but this may have been due to the modules I chose!
How are the facilities at the host university? There is a dining hall (Mensa), a computer room, a study room, a courtyard, car parking, no Library.
What are the opening hours on campus, how are the libraries, are there scripts for the lectures? The university is open until late in the evening and on Saturdays. You can get books online to go with your lectures.
How many hours per week did you have on average? The credits are different to those in Germany. I had 4 hours per week (2 subjects).
Did the professors prepare you well for exams? There were no exams, you had to give one presentation per module. The professors were always open to questions, even outside the lectures.
Are there special introductory courses for visiting students? Yes, there is an introductory week during which you get to know the other exchange students and the university.
What do I need to bear in mind when the certificate is issued at the foreign university? It is assessed in points from 0-100 and the credits from Costa Rica do not correspond to the German ones.
What did you like / dislike about the campus? I thought the prices in the dining hall (Mensa) were a bit too high. The campus has a few nice seating areas where you can spend your breaks in a cosy atmosphere with other students.
How are the transport links? What should I bear in mind? There is no train in San José, but there are plenty of buses, which make it relatively easy to get to ULACIT. It's just better to allow a little more time for the journey, as it varies greatly...
About the courses and lectures attended at ULACIT
Course attended: World Religions Lecturer: R. Darren Smith Course duration & scope, teaching format: 2 hours/week Course description keywords: Overview of major religions
Course attended: Organisational Behavior Lecturer: José Humbenro Quiros Course duration/scope: 2 hours/week Keywords for course description: Management topics
Leisure activities
What is the range of sports on campus? Sports activities are presented during the introductory week and you can leave your email address for your favourites. However, you should check again yourself if you really want to take part in the sports courses. I did not receive any further information (although I registered for four different sports).
Do I have to pay for the sports programmes? No.
What leisure sports opportunities does the study location offer? The nearest beach is about two hours away by bus, many people didn't like the beach (name of the place: Jaco), but it's perfect for learning to surf in the winter semester!
What sights are there locally? There isn't much to see in San José itself.
What tourist attractions does the surrounding area have to offer? Rainforests, nature and animal parks, volcanoes and beaches.
Are there organised (possibly subsidised) excursions for visiting students? Yes, there are organised day trips, e.g. to a sugar cane and coffee plantation. There are also more extensive tours (approximately 4 day tours) to various places. I can highly recommend the day tour to the plantations!
Are there many good restaurants and bars nearby? What do you recommend? There are many restaurants and bars in San José, it's best to ask the locals.
Are there any specialities to be aware of in the local cuisine? There are rice and beans in all variations and many new fruits to discover. You don't have to pay attention to anything special.
Final considerations - Conclusion
How would you rate your stay abroad overall? Very good! Costa Rica is a country with beautiful nature and relaxed people. As the semester is very short, I would recommend using the time afterwards to travel.
Did you choose the right time for your semester abroad? Yes, I had passed almost all my written examinations and was therefore able to concentrate on life abroad in peace.
What will you never forget? The mentality of the people.
What advice would you like to give to other students on your degree programme who decide to spend a semester abroad at this foreign university? Don't take on too much at university, otherwise you will have to spend too much time in San José. There are also people who like the city, but I definitely preferred the smaller places on the beaches.
Any criticism or suggestions? If you don't speak Spanish, the choice of subjects to take is very limited. I had to choose my subjects again on site and could only choose between four modules. Also, of course, the locals are the ones who make the country special. Personally, I regretted not having learnt more Spanish before my trip because you lose out on important impressions.
