Where should I go on Erasmus?
Where should I go on Erasmus?

Thousands of students pass through the Erasmus programme each year and agree it’s one of the best experiences of their lives, but how do you make that all-important decision of where to go? Here’s some things to keep in mind…

How good the uni is: Ask in the Erasmus office of your university what places are available to you for the course you’re doing. Some universities are better than others when it comes to the quality of teaching in certain subjects.

Cost of living: Your Erasmus period will only be partially covered by your university and the amount may not cover the cost of renting an apartment, or student life in general, so you may wish to choose a smaller city that’s slightly cheaper. However, these can often be out the way of major airports and not have great public transport links, which makes getting there and flying home more difficult, as well as less easy to get out and see the rest of the country.

Work, rest and play

Learning a language: Erasmus gives you the opportunity to get to know another culture, but it’s all too easy fall in with a group of other Erasmus students. This is alright since you’re all in the same boat there together, but it doesn’t necessarily help to learn the local language. In cities with fewer Erasmus students, it will be easier to make friends with natives and brush up on your Italian.

Leisure time and nightlife: Many European cities have a wealth of art and architecture to offer. For History of Art and Architecture students, Rome is a must-see. You should also check out which cities offer free entry to museums and other sights. On the other side, each city has something different to offer in terms of bars and clubs, with the larger cities having event nights and student nights every day of the week.