Outgoing, returning and international students inspire mobility

The ceremonial hall of BME’s Building K was filled to capacity on Wednesday afternoon for the Erasmus Meetup, where prospective mobility students had the opportunity to hear not only fellow BME students’ first-hand experiences, but also university recommendations from international peers.

The first half hour focused on practical information: staff members of the Department of International Relations introduced themselves and outlined how they support students in Erasmus mobility matters. Director Bíbor Klekner walked prospective outbound students through the next steps in the process, while those interested in applying received detailed guidance on the necessary tasks and deadlines.

Among the Erasmus veterans, the first to speak was Eszter Pintér from the Faculty of Architecture (ÉPK), who shared her experiences from spending a year at Lusíada University, a private institution in Lisbon. In short: it was not only enjoyable, but also highly beneficial. Over the course of her stay, she completed a design course and even learned Portuguese. In addition to countless local events and trips of varying lengths, Eszter emphasised that the adventure didn’t end upon returning home: “I’m still in touch with other Erasmus students and have already organised activities for them when they came to visit Hungary.”

Jázmin Antal, also from the Faculty of Architecture, gave a presentation on the term she studied at Sapienza University of Rome. She did not shy away from acknowledging the challenges: navigating a university with 120,000 students can initially feel overwhelming, especially when faced with the pace of Italian administration. However, “you get over it quickly once you make friends,” she reassured the audience. Jázmin also spoke about the academic requirements, offering another compelling comeback to those who dismiss Erasmus mobility as a leisurely holiday funded by the EU.

Benedek Zentai from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (VIK) reported from a far more exotic destination, one that even warranted a brief introduction of the country itself: Singapore. He described the city-state as densely populated, yet clean and safe, with a tropical climate and an official language that, while English on paper, contains strong Chinese and Malay influences in practice. His host institution, the National University of Singapore (NUS), is a true elite university, characterised by strict protocols and state-of-the-art infrastructure – and even for Erasmus students, gaining admission is no small feat.

Following him were two students spending a week at BME through the ATHENS Intensive Seminar Programme. Bryan Inggas presented one of Europe’s most renowned technical universities, TU Delft in the Netherlands. Ranked 49th on the QS World University Rankings, even a single Erasmus term there can significantly enhance a CV. However, Bryan noted, that is far from its only advantage. The university is located in a highly liveable city by Dutch standards, nestled between The Hague and Rotterdam, with top-tier facilities ranging from laboratories to sports centres – although, he remarked, the local nightlife may not rank among the world’s best.

The programme concluded by returning to Lisbon, with Guilherme Amaral highlighting the advantages of Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal’s highest-ranked technical university. According to Guilherme, the city’s nightlife is far from dull, although, as in most capital cities, living costs may exceed foreigners’ initial expectations.

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