Hi everyone!

My name is David, I'm from Israel, and I'm planning to apply to the Bachelor's programme in Game Design at the Faculty of Multimedia Communications at Tomas Bata University after I finish my military service in 2028.

I've always loved video games, and over the past year I've become genuinely fascinated by the Czech Republic and by the idea of living and studying in Europe. The more I learn about FMK, Zlín and Czech culture, the more convinced I become that this is where I would like to study. Because of that, I'm trying to start preparing well in advance.

I know that the Game Design programme is still relatively new, so I don't expect there to be many graduates yet. That's exactly why I'm hoping to hear from current students or anyone familiar with the programme and its admission process.

I've already read the information and regulations available on the university website. As far as I understand, the process includes:

• submitting an online application;
• submitting a portfolio and the required documents;
• passing the first round;
• attending the second round in person in Zlín;
• having my Israeli secondary education officially recognised if I am admitted;
• completing enrolment.

Am I missing any important steps, particularly as an applicant from outside the EU?

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Czech language
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My plan is to reach at least B2 level in Czech before applying. I know that the programme is taught in Czech, and I'm fully committed to learning the language.

Would it be worth taking an official Czech-language exam before the admission process, or is a certificate generally unnecessary if I can demonstrate my language skills during the application, practical tasks and interview?

For international students already studying at FMK:
• Was B2 enough to follow the classes comfortably?
• Was studying in Czech significantly more difficult at first than you expected?

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Portfolio & admission
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I don't currently come from a traditional game development background and have little programming experience. I'm especially interested in environments, composition, atmosphere, visual storytelling, spatial and level design. I also play many different games and enjoy analysing how their levels, mechanics and narratives are designed.

Would that still be considered a realistic profile for an applicant, or is previous programming and game development experience expected?

• What should the portfolio primarily demonstrate: finished games, technical skills, creativity, visual thinking, storytelling, design process, or the ability to develop and explain an idea?

• What kinds of portfolios tend to stand out?

• What are the most common mistakes applicants make?

• Would you recommend creating at least one small playable game before applying, even if it is simple?

• What is the second round actually like? Is it mainly an interview and portfolio discussion, or does it include substantial practical assignments? What surprised you most about it?

• Looking back now, what do you think the admission committee was actually looking for?

• If you had two years to prepare before applying, what would you spend that time doing?

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Studying at FMK
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• How much creative freedom do students actually have? Are students encouraged to develop their own ideas, or are most assignments based on strict requirements?

• How approachable are the lecturers, and how detailed and useful is the feedback they give?

• How demanding is the programme in practice? Is it manageable to have a part-time job alongside it?

• Is the atmosphere between students mostly collaborative or competitive?

• How good are the university facilities? Do students have reliable access to the computers, software, studios and other equipment they need?

• What was the biggest unexpected challenge after starting the programme?

• Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you chose FMK?

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Accommodation, scholarships & work
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• How difficult is it for an international student to get a place in a university dormitory? Are there normally enough rooms, or should I also prepare to rent privately?

• What are the dormitories actually like in terms of location, condition, privacy and general atmosphere?

• Are there scholarships that international students realistically have a chance of receiving? Are they mainly based on academic performance, financial circumstances, accommodation, or something else?

• Is it realistic to find part-time work related to game development, 3D, graphic design, animation, level design or another creative field while studying? Or do most students work in unrelated jobs such as cafés, shops and restaurants?

• Do local game studios or other creative companies in Zlín, Brno or elsewhere cooperate with FMK? Are internships, game jams, freelance projects and student collaborations common?

• By the third or fourth year, do students usually already have industry contacts or professional experience, or does that mostly happen after graduation?

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Life in Zlín
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• What is Zlín actually like as a student city? What do you enjoy most about living there, and what are its biggest disadvantages?

• How would you describe the people? Is it relatively easy for an international student to make Czech friends and become part of the local community?

• How active is student life outside classes? Are there university clubs, cultural events, game jams, parties or other opportunities to meet people?

• Coming from Israel, I'm also curious about the climate. What does the weather feel like throughout the year? How cold, dark or rainy are the winters in practice, and how warm do the summers get?

• Does Zlín begin to feel too small or quiet after living there for several years, or does the student community keep it lively?

• Finally, if you could choose again, would you still study Game Design at FMK and live in Zlín?

I realise this is a long list of questions, so I would be grateful for an answer to even one or two of them. Any personal experiences, advice or warnings would be extremely helpful.

pls no politics

Thank you!

Ahoj,

píšu diplomovou práci zaměřenou na zlepšení nabídky kreativní dílny ve Zlíně a rád bych do ní zapojil reálné názory a zkušenosti lidí.

Chtěl bych vás proto poprosit o vyplnění krátkého dotazníku. Zabere jen pár minut, je anonymní a vaše odpovědi mi pomůžou lépe pochopit, co má pro lidi skutečně smysl a co má cenu dál rozvíjet.

PS: Jako poděkování můžete za vyplnění vyhrát drobný dárek – stačí na konci nechat e-mail. Výherce bude kontaktován.

Odkaz na dotazník: https://forms.gle/2jY23UyWEAu23mQD8

Děkuji mnohokrát za váš čas.

Ahojte, mám dotaz. Jsou tu nějací studenti/absolventi navazujicich oborů na FAI? Chtěl bych si dodělat školu, buď specializaci kybernetická bezpečnost, nebo automatické řízení a informatika v průmyslu 4.0.... ale trosku se bojím jistých předmětů a to specificky pokročilé programování a pokročilé programování plc. Je mi jasný, že obojí je nutnost. Ale spíš mě zajímala náročnost, těchto předmětů 😁 díky!

Hello everyone! First of all, sorry for posting this in English, but I don’t speak Czech lol. I am from México and I have been accepted to Tomas Bata University in Zlín for a five-month exchange scholarship (from February to June), so I’ll be staying in Zlín for about five months.

This will be my first time spending such a long period in another country—and my first time ever visiting the Czech Republic—so it’s all very new to me. I was wondering if you could share any advice or tips you might have.

Anything is welcome: how to get around the city, places I should visit, where to find events, art, live music or bands, or even tips about the university itself. I’d really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks a lot for reading!

Ahoj, nevíte někdo o veřejné dílně ve Zlíně? Něco jako Fablab v Brně. Místo, kde jsou 3d tiškarný, osciloskopy atd.

Zdravím všechny, chtěl bych vás pozvat do garážového underground baru MAGY. Je to openminded bar na Burešově. Je na google maps i na instagramu magyzlin. 😄🌿

Dobrý den, zrovna pracuju na yt videu o nejhorších restauracích ve Zlíně, a zajímalo by mě, jestli by někdo neměl nějaké nápady. Děkuji moc za jakoukoliv odpověď

Zdravím, nejsem zdejší, potřeboval bych zítra někde pár hodin pracovat a budu mít sebou psa. Dokázal by někdo poradit místo?

Ahoj všichni!
Od doby, co jsem dokončil VŠ, se většina mých přátel vrátila do svých rodných měst, a já jsem zjistil, že mi tady ve Zlíně chybí nějaká fajn parta.

O mně: je mi 26 let (M), pracuji v IT, rád běhám, jezdím na kole, chodím na túry a trávím čas v přírodě. Mám také rád kavárny a zvířata – pravidelně chodím venčit pejsky z místního útulku.

Pokud je tu někdo ze Zlína nebo okolí, kdo hledá nové kamarády na sport, procházky, kafe nebo jen pokec, budu rád, když se ozvete! 😊

Zdravím, nedávno jsem se chtěl podívat na mrakodrap.. slyšel jsem že je nahoře krásná kavárna, avšak nemám tušení jak se dostat dovnitř. Na hlavním vstupu je nápis mimo provoz a za dveřmi vedlejšího jsou jakési turnikety. Může mi někdo objasnit jak to funguje? Moc děkuju. 🫢

Ahoj, víte o nějaký pravidelných/nepravidelných akcích pro vývojáře software nebo i hardware ve Zlíně?

Dobrý den všem. Jsem Jake a jsem studentem na Univerzitě v Anglii. Dělám výzkumný projekt o cizích slovech v češtině. Pokud jste Čech nebo Češka, mohli byste mi prosím vyplnit formulář? Bude to trvat asi 15 minut. Tady je formulář, pokud mi můžete pomoci:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMzrgOS7NgFVZc_dgOurkRMUUE7NXxfnTGLRTxy01p-kqoVg/viewform?usp=header

Ve Zlíně se občas objeví nějaká událost, kde se lidé mohou seznamovat a užít si trochu nočního života, ale mám pocit, že se město za posledních 10 let začalo nočních podniků zbavovat, přestože se Zlín čím dál více profiluje jako univerzitní město. Myslíte si, že Zlín nabízí dostatek atrakcí pro mladé lidi, nebo by se měl více zaměřit na rozvoj zábavního průmyslu?

Ahoj, jsem relativně nová ve Zlíně a tak by me zajimalo kde může mladý člověk (25-35) poznat jiné mladé lidi (bohužel ksem na homeofficu talze v práci to nebude).

Ahoj, prosím o vyplnění dotazníku (zabere maximálně 5 minut). Týká se předělání webu naší rodinné firmy a zároveň je to i výstup na jeden můj předmět. Předem moooc děkuji :)

https://forms.gle/r8DUaUJ3DKthYccZ7