The survey among first-year students maps why they chose to study at Masaryk University, how they rate the admission process and the availability of information to applicants; what they expected from the university, and what their first experiences at university have been like. It is conducted annually at the end of the autumn semester by MU’s Strategy Office. At the end of last year, 4,850 students participated in the survey.
More than two-thirds of them went to university to obtain an education for a specific profession or to deepen their knowledge in a particular field. The decisive factor in choosing Masaryk University was primarily the field of study, and for half of the respondents, the reputation of the university was also a factor. At the end of their first semester, almost three-quarters of respondents said that their expectations of studying at MU had been met so far.
“What is very pleasing are the answers to the question of what first-year students are enthusiastic about. For several years in a row, teachers have been the clear leaders in the responses, with friendliness coming in second in the latest survey,” said director of the Strategy Office Šárka Řehořová, adding that new students are also enthusiastic about the Masaryk University premises and the people and community that exist there.
And it is precisely people, most often classmates and friends, who are very important at the beginning of university studies. They help newcomers find their way around their new environment. “Many freshmen may feel nervous, confused and doubtful in the first few days. It is their fellow students who help them overcome these feelings and impressions,” Řehořová noted.
Future freshmen can get their bearings at the university and make friends even before classes start. At the end of the summer, the university organises an eponymous event which aims to help newly admitted students find their way around the university, its systems, and Brno as such.
“Prvákoviny” traditionally ends with a November webinar called before the start of the exam period. The programme offers students tips on how to cope with exam stress and how to manage their time effectively during their studies.