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author
Zilola Fayzullaeva
Zilola
Fayzullaeva
faculty
Fakulta sociálních věd
academic year of the stay
2025/2026
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author
Zilola
faculty
Fakulta sociálních věd
academic year of the stay
2025/2026
University of Warwick
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
How does Zilola rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
I did an exchange at the University of Warwick, and the first thing that comes to my mind is that I can summarize this whole experience in one word: SOCIAL. It was really about community, and it was so nice. The vibes were totally different from Charles University, which is more city-based, while Warwick is campus-based.
I was staying on campus, and that created so many opportunities to engage with people and really be part of the community. There were always events and always something happening, so it was very easy to socialize and make friends.
Also, Warwick is not like the old universities in England, like Oxford, with very old buildings and that “ancient” vibe. It’s very modern. The buildings are modern, the classrooms and lecture halls are very nice, and everything feels comfortable and student-friendly.
At the same time, the campus life is really nice. It’s always green, there are literally ducks everywhere, and it feels very peaceful. And especially because I was there in autumn, the trees were yellow and orange, very aesthetic. I loved it.
I also really liked the location. I’ll talk more about it later, but I loved that it’s in the West Midlands, which made it easy to travel to other cities in the UK. It felt like being in Prague and traveling to other countries from there.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
One of the biggest differences was that at Warwick, they have terms, while at Charles University, we have semesters. Because of that, as a sociology student, I could only go in the first term, so my exchange was quite short: from the end of September until mid-December. Everything felt more intense and fast.
As an exchange student, I could only take four modules, which is how they call courses. The credit system was also different, because they use CATS instead of credits. Their grading system is very specific and based on class divisions. Getting a First Class is actually really hard. I would even say it’s nearly impossible.
Another big difference was the exam system. At Charles University, especially in political science, we mostly have exams. But at Warwick, almost everything was based on research essays. Instead of exams, you had to write around 3,000-word research papers for each module, which takes a lot of time and effort. So don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s easy just because there are no exams; the papers are actually really hard.
The teaching style was also different. There was more emphasis on personal and independent work. Lectures were only one hour long and not mandatory, which felt very short. The good thing is that all lectures were recorded, so you could rewatch them anytime.
We had seminars every week, and they were mostly discussion-based. Classes were small, usually around 10 to 15 students, so you got a lot of attention. Teachers were very approachable, and there were many office hours where you could ask for help.
One thing that was new for me was self-certification. If you couldn’t submit something on time, you could move your deadline, which was really helpful, especially when I was moving out and needed more time.
We also had tutors who supported students both academically and personally. Overall, the teachers and administration were very understanding, supportive, and communicative.
What is student life like at university?
Unfortunately, because of my documents and visa process, I couldn’t arrive on time and missed the induction week. But I heard that it’s full of events, parties, and activities where students can meet each other and join different clubs.
There are many student organizations called societies: https://www.warwicksu.com/societies-sports/societies/. You can easily sign up for them, some require a small payment, many are free, and in most cases, you can just show up and join. There are academic societies like sociology, PPE, finance, and Debate, but also very interesting and fun ones (Cheese and Chocolate or Boba Tea making, I heard about some freaky ones like fetish society). There were dance societies like bachata and salsa: the whole hall was full of around 70 people, and everyone came to dance together. They even had professional coaches, so it felt very organized and high-quality. There were also many cultural societies, such as Russian-speaking and Eastern European ones. Most of them had events every week, so if you joined just a few, you already had a very active social life. Since I lived on campus, it was very easy for me to attend these events.
The university also has great sports facilities. I tried rock climbing, and it was really cool because they teach you and help you. You can also join volleyball, basketball, and many other sports.
Social life was very active. Every week, especially on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, there were club and pub events where students went together to Coventry or Lemington to dance and have fun.
One of the most unique traditions at Warwick is something called “circling.” Every society has its own circling, where students play drinking games and wear themed outfits. At night, you could see people walking around campus in funny costumes, creating a very special, fun atmosphere.
You could also sign up for free language courses. I tried to join French classes, but unfortunately, my timetable didn’t allow me to attend. Still, it was nice that such opportunities were available.
If you live on campus, your accommodation also organizes events focused on mental health and well-being, like bonfires and social evenings. These were really nice and helped students relax and connect.
The campus is very student-friendly. You can walk around at night, find an empty lecture hall, and study there quietly. There are nice restaurants, cafés, and even an art center where you can play musical instruments like the piano without signing up. They also organize exhibitions and cultural events.
Overall, there was always something happening, and you never felt bored
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
Yes, we communicated in English. I submitted my IELTS certificate; my level was C1. At first, I could not get used to the British accent, but with practice, it gets better. Still don't understand Scottish accent tho.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Not gonna lie, at first I was a bit scared of the location. Before going there, I did some research and saw many posts saying that Coventry is unsafe, so I was worried. But after arriving, I realized that the campus itself is very safe. There are security services and special apps where you can report problems and ask for help, so you feel protected on campus. Well, if you go outside of campus, just take someone with you.
Coventry at night was a bit scary, mostly because of the stories I heard from friends. In some areas, you need to be careful with your phone and belongings. Personally, I never experienced anything bad, but I heard about some incidents. Because I lived on campus, I didn’t spend much time in the city and mostly went there just for the train station. The city is calm, but not very beautiful, and nothing to do.
Instead, I traveled a lot to other cities. London and Birmingham were very close, which was a big advantage. London was often too crowded, especially on weekends, but I actually enjoyed Birmingham more because it was less crowded and more comfortable. I would definitely recommend going to Cambridge and Edinburgh during your visit.
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
I honestly spent almost all of my scholarship on accommodation. Housing prices were high, and after paying for my entire stay, I had overall maybe 30 pounds left. So the scholarship mostly covered rent, leaving nearly nothing for daily expenses.
Overall, prices in the UK are really high. Eating out in restaurants is expensive, and clubs and drinks are also quite pricey. Some cafés and university places offer student discounts, so I would really recommend always asking, because it helps a bit. But compared to the Czech Republic, the difference in prices was huge.
Public transport is also expensive, especially trains, buses, and the London UNDERGROUND. I would definitely suggest getting a railcard, because it makes traveling much cheaper.
Because of the prices, we mostly bought groceries from Tesco or Aldi and cooked at home. I didn’t eat out much, simply because it was too expensive. Honestly, I think it would be much better if scholarships for the UK were higher, because it’s really hard to manage financially.
I spent around 600–700 dollars per month without accommodation. And I didn’t even go to restaurants or cafés that much. In Prague, I could spend 300–400 dollars and live much more comfortably.
!!! be prepared for high prices, try to save money, cook at home, use student discounts, and plan your budget carefully. The UK is great, but financially, it’s quite demanding.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
If you are going to live on campus, I would definitely recommend signing up for Rootes during the housing induction. It is the cheapest accommodation and basically the main option for exchange students, so just apply there.
If you live outside campus, I really suggest getting a student bus card. You can usually buy it with a discount, and it’s much cheaper than paying 3–4 pounds every time you take the bus.
Try to walk more whenever you can. For example, in London, with the underground, you just tap in and tap out, and you don’t even realize how much you’ve spent. Sometimes it can be 15–16 pounds just for one trip.
If you travel by train, definitely buy a railcard, because it makes tickets much cheaper.
For shopping, I would recommend Tesco and Aldi, because they are the most affordable. Co-op, which is on campus, is very expensive, so try to avoid it. Unfortunately, there are no big Tesco discounts like in Prague.
If you want to eat outside, there are many meal deals and student meal offers, so try to use them.
It’s not impossible to manage, but it’s definitely more expensive than Prague, which is very affordable. So be prepared
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about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
I chose to live in Rootes, which is an on-campus dormitory, and I would definitely recommend it, if you are an extroverted person like me.
We lived on one floor with about 16 small individual rooms. The bathrooms were shared for 16 people, there were several toilets and showers, and they were gender-neutral. Cleaning ladies cleaned them every day, so they were usually fine.
The kitchen was also shared between all of us, and honestly, it was often very dirty. Cleaning staff came a two times a week, but it still got messy very quickly. So if you really like cooking alone and having everything clean and quiet, this type of accommodation might not be for you. But if you like socializing, it’s great.
Because the kitchen was shared, people were always there, and they would bring their friends so it was a very easy way to meet others. Our floor had a lot of exchange students. When we were leaving, only 5 people were actually Warwick students, and most were from different countries like Canada, Japan, Italy, and Argentina. So it was very international and diverse.
We were very friendly and social. Everyone was open, talking all the time, and we had many small parties. It honestly felt like a little family. We celebrated birthdays and holidays together, and even though we sometimes got noise complaints, it was still fun. It was one of the best parts of my exchange.
If something was wrong in the accommodation, you could easily report it, and they usually fixed it quite fast, which was helpful.
It was quite noisy sometimes, especially at night, because people were always talking or hanging out. So if you like sleeping early and having complete silence, it might be difficult. But for me, it was fine, because we were very social anyway.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
I couldn’t go to Oxford because I arrived late, but I visited Cambridge, which was really magical.
My best travel experience was Edinburgh. I went there before Christmas, so it wasn’t crowded, and we stayed in a hostel with an organized group. Definitely the highlight of my exchange. I wish I had had time to visit Bath and the Seven Sisters, but I didn’t have much time.
I don’t recommend going to London on weekends because it’s too crowded. Weekdays are much better. Also, be careful with trains and try not to take the last one, because they often get canceled.
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
I was already studying in English in Prague, so moving to England was much easier for me. Everything in daily life was in English, from shops and supermarkets to everyday conversations, so it felt very comfortable.
English was also the language of my studies, and because I was speaking it all the time, I definitely made a lot of progress, especially in speaking and writing.
People were very open-minded and interested in different cultures, and many of them spoke more than one language. It was fun to talk about our backgrounds.
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
The University of Warwick has a strong ranking and a good reputation, which makes the experience even more valuable.
I met many people and built useful connections. There were many events, career workshops, and opportunities for professional development. You could also easily connect with professors and even apply for summer research projects.
Another big plus was that lectures were recorded, so you could travel and still keep up with your studies. This made my stay more flexible and enjoyable. I would definitely send my friend to this university.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
kitchen knife. I could not find any of it in the local shops and could not even order it.
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
What surprised me most was that...
The hardest thing for me was...
documentation and visa process.
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