faculty of arts
ERASMUS+
Study Report
This form needs to be completed by every student who has completed an Erasmus+ mobility.
Last name*As shown in your passport Francis
First name*As shown in your passport Claire
RUG student number S 3101622
Please enclose a 2-page report on your experiences abroad, using the following headings:
1. Your study programme or your internship programme 2. Language
3. Finance and other conditions
4. Preparation and contacts with the faculty before, during and after your stay 5. Housing 6. Culture 7. Free time 8. Travelling 9. Other
I hereby give permission to the International Office to publish my report on the Faculty of Arts
Repository to inform future students
Yes
Future students may contact me for additional information Yes Signature Participant Claire Francis ……… Date: 01/07/2020
10. Your study programme or your internship programme
University of Groningen, NL Groning01 Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility 2019-2020
1. Your study programme or your internship programme
I studied a minor in Archaeology at the University of Malta. My Degree is in American Studies but I really enjoy history so that is why I chose to study
Archaeology. Malta is known for its old neolithic ruins and has a very rich history so it was interesting to study there but to also travel around Malta seeing these historical sites. The University of Malta is a small University and the Archaeological
Department is in a small farm house building, separate from the main University building. It was a really nice study environment and the classes were small which meant it was easy to get to know your classmates.
2. Language
Everyone speaks English in Malta because it was a former British colony. People speak a mixture of English and Maltese. You pick up Maltese phrases, although it is a difficult language to learn because it has a different alphabet and has its origins in Arabic. There is no language barrier when living in Malta if you understand good English.
3. Finance and other conditions
The Erasmus money helped pay for part of my trip, I had to work and save up to pay for my own accommodation and living costs. It is very expensive in Malta. The cost of living is high and grocery shopping is expensive compared to the Netherlands. Maybe this is because it is an island and it costs to import, or because it is very touristy. If you have enough money in your bank before then it will not be a problem, and is definitely worth it. I also got accepted to study in America but I could not afford to go, Malta was a lot cheaper in comparison.
4. Preparation and contacts with the faculty before, during and after your stay
The courses I originally chose were not all offered when I arrived in Malta. Therefore, I had to change 3 or 4 of my courses to different ones. This was not a problem when I changed it in ‘during mobility’. The University of Malta is very relaxed and laid back so they did not have updated courses on the website before we arrived. It is useful
that the first two weeks of the courses you are not marked for attendance because this is the opportunity to switch and change courses to see which ones you enjoy most, so you can change them. I did not have a lot of contact with my faculty when abroad in Malta.
5. Housing
I stayed in the University Residence, which was good for meeting other Erasmus students and in a good location close to university where they provide a shuttle bus. It had a pool and there were a lot of pre drinks at the residence, and a bus to the clubs every Tuesday and Thursday. Perfect if you enjoy partying but it could get noisey in the evenings if you wanted to study. It is difficult to find other housing because of the scams.
6. Culture
Amazing Maltese culture, very beautiful architecture and old churches and buildings. It has great seafood restaurants and the typical Patizzi. Maltese people are very friendly and easy going. It is quite touristy, but if you are there off peak it is quiet. I got my diving qualifications in Malta, there are other opportunities to do things in the hot climate of Malta.
7. Free time
In your free time you can go to different villages, beaches and eat in nice restaurants. You can join various sports teams at the University. You can also go to Paceville to enjoy the nightlife of bars and clubs. It has a really nice busy vibe in St Julians which is the modern upcoming part of Malta. There are also various historical sites to visit such as Hagar Qim. There are stunning old churches and stately homes to visit in Valletta.
8. Travelling
It is easy enough to travel around Malta because it is so small. I got the bus
everywhere which are frequent, and you can get a student bus pass for the time you are there which is only 70 cent per journey. However, travelling by bus can take a
while because busses are not always on time and the traffic is bad. A car journey of 15 minutes would probably take a bus about 30 minutes. Everywhere in Malta is very accessible, just make sure to plan in advance the time it will take to get to where you want to go.
9. Other
If you go to Malta from September until February, be sure to bring hoodies and jeans as it does get cold. It is only very hot late 20’s/ 30 degrees in the summer months. Then from October onwards it is rain and storm season and usually 18 degrees. You still get nice sunny days, but be prepared for colder weather and pack accordingly. I loved Malta and had an amazing 6 months there.
