On February 23, 2026, Rostyslav Honcharenko, a student of the Finance educational programme in the speciality Finance, Banking, Insurance and the Stock Market (Master’s degree student, group F.m-51), began his studies at the University of Jaén (Spain) the Erasmus+ programme.
Rostyslav gladly shared his impressions of participating in the Erasmus+ programme and studying at the University of Jaén, speaking about student life, studies, the international environment, and travelling:
“If you are reading this after winning Erasmus, congratulations. You are the elite. At the very least, you have half a year ahead of you with electricity, without air raid alerts, and without the other consequences of war. I joined Erasmus in Spain, and here is what it was like:
At first, when I was looking for information about the city of Jaén, I thought it was some kind of desert: no sea, no greenery, no parks. This turned out to be only half true. Jaén is a city located deep in the mountains of the Andalusia region, at an altitude of about 500 metres above sea level. This location makes it possible to go hiking every week and enjoy unforgettable impressions of nature. There is also no need to worry about company, because for students there is an organiser who leads everyone along the route and has experience, while students have time to relax, get to know each other, and talk during the trip.
As for travelling, the Erasmus Students Network (ESN) organises trips to other cities for a symbolic price, where a guide introduces us to the local culture and recommends great places to try local cuisine and have a good time. ESN also often organises parties and events where you can enjoy yourself and get acquainted with different cultures.
Among the people here, there are representatives of all EU countries, as well as Mexico, Africa, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and, of course, Ukraine. So, there is an opportunity to make both Ukrainian and international friends.
Studying at the university does not feel burdensome. My coordinator helped me choose the subjects I needed, and there is also a Jaén Buddy from the university who helps with accommodation, gives campus tours, and assists with everyday matters (since they know Spanish). Even though I am on Erasmus as a Master’s student and do not have all my subjects entirely in English, I am studying Spanish from scratch free of charge at the same university. In addition, lecturers of subjects taught in Spanish allow me to complete tests and presentation assignments in English. You can also form a team with other Erasmus students in a course, and then there will be no problems at all.
So, to sum up, I would like to say that the Spanish mentality feels very close to me. People are welcoming, friendly, and far from boring. Therefore, I do not regret my decision to choose this programme, because, as the ESN coordinator said during the presentation: “Erasmus is not just half a year of your life, but a life in half a year.”
Such stories prove that international mobility is not something distant or unattainable, but a real opportunity for our students already during their studies. And for prospective students, this is yet another strong argument in favour of studying with us, because such opportunities truly broaden horizons and open up new perspectives.
