591 reviews
4.09 / 5 based on 591 reviews
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François G
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish I had known there would be so many foreigners. I have nothing against them, but many foreign students have an attitude I don't like in relation with the host country.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Don't come for the quality of the courses, but to enjoy a different way of life and an exciting city.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
It's a great experience, wherever you can or choose to go. Don't wait to learn the language and to have fun, you always stay a very short time.
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François G
Academic
Course recommendations
It may be better to choose courses followed by a small number of students, as you really have the opportunity to interact in a very easy and often friendly way with teachers, who are generally interested to hear students' views.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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François G
Languages
Language of instruction: Spanish
Was learning Spanish a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your Spanish?
My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Learning the academic language is less difficult than learning street's language and slang.
You should avoid to choose the easy way and spend all your time with other foreigners. That way you don't really learn the language.
People are generally patient, and try to understand you when you try to express yourself...
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François G
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Housing in Madrid is more expensive than in Brussels.
I traveled more while being in Spain than in my daily life at home.
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Housing, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Telephone, Nightlife:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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François G
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
It's the best way to really know a foreign place, as there are few constraints, and that you can choose on your own the location.
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Personal comments
In Madrid: there are many rooms to let in shared appartments, but you have to be patient if you look for quality. You have to look for a room on your own, and there's no service at university to help you.
You may also have problems with appartment owners who want you to rent for at least 1 year.
The good thing is that you can live in the best areas of the city center (and enjoy the best madrileña way of life) and go quite easily to the campus, as the public transportation system is excellent.
On the campus: I didn't see the rooms, but I wouldn't like to live on that campus. The rooms are very expensive (more than in downtown Madrid), you have to share them with another student (unless your dad is a millionaire), it's quite far from any urban life (you can forget about any night life), no shops in the area (you have to take the train...), and living on a campus while being abroad is simply the best way to get depressed.
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François G
Student life
Describe host city:
Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
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Activities, Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The best areas to go out: Lavapies (many alternative places, great multicultural atmosphere) and Malasaña, simply the best place to go out in Madrid. Just go out and let you guide by the night.
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