Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Because I liked sharing a flat with other students, but if I could go back I wouldn't rent an apartment near the University, but in the center of Athens

Personal comments:
I think this University isn't very well organised to host Erasmus students. But I've met some nice teachers, even if I've never understtood who was my coordinator

Describe host city: Students interact with the local community without much university involvement

Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Activities, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
Find the MENSA, or student restaurant, off Benaki Street in Exharia -- an enormous amount of Greek faves for less than 3Euros (and if you save your ticket, you can go back for a free dinner). Find the Otta-Athens-Non-Tourist things to do: there's a monastary not too far from the airport that teaches Byzantine sacred music -- you can go in and watch/listen to the nuns singing. Evia island is an easy getaway with amazing mountain villages and nice beaches. Anyone intersted in Karagiozi (Greek Shadow Puppet Theatre) should check out the shop at 20 Apollonos Street and talk to Stavros.

Course recommendations:
The language intensive is, well, not very intense. For students to really make strides in their Greek, they must take it upon themselves to find additional work outside the classroom. Athens is a city where students don't have to speak Greek if they really don't want to, so an effort MUST be made to use the language at every chance (no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel).

Personal comments:
Some students (and some of those on scholarship) are more interested in Greek vacation than Greek studies. There is little to no evaulation of students by the university -- a strong ability to work independantly is essential (if you really want to improve your Greek). The weekend excursions provided by the university are FANTASTIC and a terrific opportunity to work on your Greek. Not to be missed.

Language of instruction: Greek

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
work

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
the city is far cheaper altogether

Food: was the same price as at home.

Travel, Nightlife, Overall, Telephone, Housing: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
To qualify for the weekend excursions, you must receive the additional government grant AND place into a language class above the third-year level. These trips are the best part of the program -- so fight for the grant and study before your placement exam.

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.