Reviews of Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) | Spain

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anonymous

Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Through my University

Student life

Describe host city:

Students equally interact with the local and student community

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

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

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

Night Spots include Whelan's Pub, Panadería, Clandestino, El Casco Antiguo, El Empecinado, Complutum, Cafe Rock Louisiana, Maná Maná, Gabanna, and La Vaca Flaca. Cafés include La Tertulía, Jamaica, Tercia, El Gringo viejo, Indalo, Café Continetal, Café Renacimiento, El Pajaro Grifo, and Piazza.

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anonymous

Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Through my University

Housing

Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

In order to more closely interact with international students of my same age.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

I enjoyed living with the family that housed me but the cost and living with another American were disadvantages.

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anonymous

Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Through my University

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: At ease in most situations

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

I learned how to communicate myself in almost all situations. However, When speaking a second language there will always be difficulties with new words and situations that don't happen regularly.

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anonymous

Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Through my University

Expenses

Main source of funding:

A private grant

Other sources of funding:

Family
Personal savings
Government assistance
A private grant

Work opportunities:

It was not legal for me to work

Personal spending habits

I spent more on food because I ate at restaurants often and more on housing because it included food and laundry service as well. With regards to nightlife and travel, I spent more because I travelled and went out more than I normally do at home.

Food, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:

was more expensive than at home.

Telephone:

was less expensive than at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

Use the low budget airline websites www.rumbo.es and www.despegar.com for travel between Madrid and the larger cities along the coast like Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao, and Malaga.

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anonymous

Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
Business Studies, Undergraduate, Through my University

Overall

I wish I had known...

Use the planes instead of trains and don't buy a Hostelling International Card.

In my opinion:

Everybody loved it, you will too!

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

4

Culture

4

Costs

4

Activities

2

Campus life

3

Party / people

4

Weather / location

4

Personal recommendation

Alcalá is the ideal place for the international student to experience Spain. It is easy to travel and the accent is not difficult to understand.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

4

Improved language skills

4

Met people from other countries

4

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

4

Advanced my studies & career

4

Final comments

Be constantly aware of your bags, some people had things stolen. If at all possible plan longer trips around Europe at least two weeks in advance. The best deals are for triple and quadruple occupancy and stay at 1 star hotels if you can afford it. Be prepared for frequent strikes.

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