Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I would live with friends because I feel more comfortable that way plus it gives me more freedom.

Personal comments:
The International Relations Dept at Belgrano is very helpful and always assists you with finding a room with a family close to the university and also has a listing of apartments available. The only drawback from staying with a family is that it is expensive (US$350 per month with breakfast).

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:
Ribera Este is the nicest nightclub I've been to in my entire life! Check out a soccer game and learn some tango. Bs As has got some of the best ice cream, in Recoleta and Palermo there are some great 'heladerías'. Do try and see more than just Bs As though (eg Mendoza, Salta, Bariloche etc) - the country is beautiful and has a lot to offer.

Course recommendations:
Choose courses with Argentinian students as they are more challenging and that way you'll learn more while at the same time getting to know the locals. Belgrano has many courses only for international students and although many of them are very good, if you only choose these courses you won't get to know any Argentinians (and your Spanish won't improve much!).

Personal comments:
More challenging courses (at least the ones for international students). Some teachers seem to think that you're only there on holidays and don't realise that you really want to learn something.

Language of instruction: Spanish

Main source of funding:
Government assistance

Other sources of funding:
None

Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options

Personal spending habits:
I lived near the university, so my transport costs were lower than in London. I didn't use a mobile phone nor a home phone so that cost was lower too. The nightlife in Bs As is expensive but Belgrano organised free parties at different nightclubs every week so that kept that cost down. The food in supermarkets was many times slightly more expensive than in London.

Food: was more expensive than at home.

Housing: was the same price as at home.

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

I wish I had known...
That it takes a while to get to know a big city like Bs As and that it's always a bit difficult at first and that the Argentinian Spanish was so difficult and different.

In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.