Today, academic mobility opens up new horizons and opportunities for students to study abroad. One of these students is Zakhar YUVKO, who is studying Journalism at SumDU. He talked about his experience, difficulties of preparing for an internship, his first impressions of the new country, and differences in the educational process.

Even when he entered the university, Zakhar was not sure which specialty to choose. Since he did not pass the mathematics exam, the choice was quite limited.

“I could enter either journalism or history. Back in school, I participated in the “Young Journalist Tournament,” where my reports received high marks from the jury. But I did not expect to get into journalism: there was a high passing score and not many budget places. But it so happened that I ended up last on the list for a budget place,” – says Zakhar.

The choice of university was obvious:

“I was not guided by any special criteria when choosing a university. SumDU is located in my hometown, which is convenient. Besides, the chance of enrolling on a budget here was higher. Later, I realized how high-quality education at SumDU is: the university has a transparent system, good student self-government and a powerful scientific base”.

How Zakhar found an internship opportunity

Zakhar learned about an opportunity to study abroad after the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution that allowed male students to travel to study under academic mobility programs.

“This resolution appeared after the President asked him a relevant question during a conversation with SumDU students. I immediately began to be interested in possible options, followed the academic mobility page on Instagram, but there was nothing in my specialty at that time. Then, I started looking for information on the university website, analyzing what programs actually exist. That is how I came across the National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic and decided to try it”.

The application process turned out to be quite complicated, as the student had to independently contact the university in Slovakia and receive confirmation from it about its readiness to accept him for studies.

“I submitted the documents in April and received the results only at the end of June. This was my only opportunity to study abroad, because according to the rules, only Bachelor students under 22 years old can travel, and I was already finishing my third year,” – Zakhar notes.

First acquaintance with Slovakia

When he arrived in Slovakia, Zakhar did not experience a strong culture shock, although being in another country turned out to be an interesting experience.

“Slovakia is a small country, there are no megacities here, like in Germany or France. Sometimes even in Sumy there were more events than in Bratislava,” – he shares.

One of the most interesting moments was difference in the cost of living.

“Slovakia is alleged to be an unreasonably expensive country. Indeed, the prices here are higher than in Poland or the Czech Republic, but at the same time they are not as sky-high as, for example, in Austria. 620 euros per month was enough for me to live normally”.

The educational process: what has changed

One of the biggest differences between studying at SumDU and Comenius University is the format of classes.

“At Comenius University, all classes are held offline, while at SumDU most classes are held online due to the war. I was used to studying on Google Meet, so at first it was unusual to see classmates and teachers personally,” – recalls Zakhar.

The approach to attendance is also different:

“If you miss more than 60% of classes, you will not be allowed to take the exam. At SumDU, due to war circumstances, teachers are understanding this”.

Another important nuance is the form of exams:

“In Slovakia, we wrote all exams by hand. And at SumDU, I do not remember the last time I wrote something on paper: everything happens online or through the MIX educational platform”.

Adventure at the border

The most vivid memory associated with the internship happened even before it began – at the border.

“The border guards called me separately to check my documents. I answered all questions, and when I returned to the carriage, the whole train started applauding! People were happy, shouting: Congratulations! and Thank God! It turned out that while I was away, the passengers were actively discussing whether they would let me in. Some even managed to place bets,” – says Zakhar.

Advice for students

For those who are just planning to apply for the academic mobility program, Zakhar advises:

✔ Be persistent – do not be afraid to apply, even if it seems that the chances are small.

✔ Prepare your documents in advance, especially if you are a guy – the border guards may have additional questions.

✔ Choose the right way to cross the border – it is easier to do it by train than by car.

✔ Get a language certificate – this will significantly expand your opportunities for participation in international programs.

✔ Be morally prepared for meetings with Russians or pro-Russian Slovaks, although most locals support Ukraine.

“The main thing is not to be afraid. If one door does not open, knock on another!” – concludes Zakhar.

His story is another proof that perseverance and determination help to reach new educational heights, and SumDU helps students in this in every way!