393 reviews
4.16 / 5 based on 393 reviews
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Maria M
Student life
Describe host city:
Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
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Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
I enjoyed spending time at the polo club in barcelona as i became very good friends with the people there. the parties we had were incredible! primarily in clubs such as Carpe Diem or Buddah Bar. Favorite nightspots have to be Marie Cubie for bar hopping and then onto one of the surrounding clubs nearby.
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Maria M
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
I preferred to integrate myself with other spanish people instead of the other erasmus students. in spain people tend to stay closer to home for university, and for that reason a lot of university accomodation is primarily for those from abroad.
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Personal comments
I was never in it as i chose to live in a flat with other spaniards
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Maria M
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: At ease in most situations
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Host Language is Spanish, but locally obviously spoke Catalan. While understanding Catalan posed little problems, speaking and writing were very difficult. I didnt enjoy the classes we were given, and found them badly taught, so on finishing the basic course didnt advance. otherwise my spanish improved a lot, although perhaps not due to academia.
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Maria M
Academic
My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
It was hard as the courses (despite saying that they were assessed on grammar etc) were not. there was one instance where i had a spanish friend check over an essay i had written, not for content, but to check for grammar for me (it was not assessed) and i only just passed the essay. it didnt seem to tally.
the course options were not very varied. i attempted taking some of the non erasmus courses but they were very difficult as the differences in syllabus etc were huge.
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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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Maria M
Expenses
Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Other sources of funding:
Government assistance
Work opportunities:
I worked, but it was illegal/cash in hand work
Personal spending habits
I spent a lot trying to keep in touch with friends and family. otherwise the cost of living in spain is drastically less. Perhaps the only thing that was more expensive is the food and drink sector, ie when out for dinner or out for drinks it can add up perhaps a lot more in spain than in the uk, especially as primarily in the UK we would frequent student bars. i havent found any here!
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Telephone, Nightlife:
was more expensive than at home.
Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Food, Housing, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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Maria M
Overall
I wish I had known...
manana does literally mean manana!! do not expect for things to get done in the same timescale here!
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
im sure there are others you could go to. this one perhaps was not really for me.
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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
throw yourself into it and it will be a lot more fun. make the most of it.
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