Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Usually cheaper for foreign sutends that being on campus, and gives a real sense of the city.

Personal comments:
A few issues: we had to sign a contract without seeing the flat. It was extremely hard to change location (some of the flats are way too far to be suitable), the organisation made it impossible to terminate the contract, which is illegal... And blackmailed the students of pushing the host university not to recognise their exams result if students wished to terminate the contract... I suppose this is not the way to do business, but again I escaped from this by getting my own flat! :)

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

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

Personal comments:
In utrecht you cannot miss going to the Mich O'Connels. It is an irish pub where all international students meet up every Tuesday. It is a must if you want to get to meet some people! Utrecht has a very organised Erasmus Student Network (http://www.esn-utrecht.nl). It is an organisation responsible for getting the Erasmus exchange students to aquanted to Utrecht, Holland and the dutch way of life in general. In order to accomplish this it organises all sorts of events where exchange students get the opportunity to meet each other. Some events I participated in was a trip to Amsterdam, a volleyball tournament at night and rowing in the dutch canals to name just a few! I would say that the key is to join the activities that the Erasmus Student Network organises! Clubs and cafes i will not bother to name cause I think it is the company you have with you that makes the difference!

Course recommendations:
I have no special recommendations regarding courses. Just take courses that YOU find interesting!

Personal comments:
The one improvement in the Academic life I can spot is better food in the canteen! I am used to free great food in my university in Greece but I was very much disappointed with the quality of food that the university had to offer.

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
A private grant

Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work

Personal spending habits:
Because in here they seem to eat less than we do in Mexico. I had to buy things in small amounts and that is more expensive. Telephone, here is way more expensive for local calls. Accomodation, I live with my parents, so I don't have to pay anything. Nightlife, here it is much cheaper; drinks are not expensive at all. Travel, it cost a lot to travel. Plus I don't on my own back home. Overall, here are lots of things like the bycicle, books are really expensive also.

Food, Travel, Overall, Telephone, Housing: was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
how really difficult housing would be

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.