591 reviews
4.09 / 5 based on 591 reviews

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Mathilde C
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
If you can live in a shared flat, that's the best way to meet good friends and discover the culture/language in an easier way.
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Personal comments
It's very hard to find a godd apartment (piso) in September. If you can, try to find one in the summer before your arrival. Try to read the diary "segundamano" where you can find a lot of ads. The university has a list of accomodations too but I haven't tried it.
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Mathilde C
Student life
Describe host city:
Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
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Nightlife: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
Madrid is the city that never sleeps. In the first semester, try to go to the erasmus meeting to make good friends then you'll quickly discover that there are 1000 of spots to go out. Cool zones include :
Huertas (cerca de Sol), it's known as the tourist zone but spanish people go there too.
- Torre de Europa, close to the Bernabeu stadium and Avenida del Brasil
- Malasaña for a younger ambiance
- Kapital, the huge club, close to the "Atocha" metro
My fav places are: Gabana 1800, Torero, Touché, Ludwig, Tequila, Joy eslava...so much places !!
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Mathilde C
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
none
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Almost everything is cheaper than in France. A drink in a club or bar costs 3 times cheaper, food is delicious and costs less too...
The only expensive thing is the cell phone, try to suscribe a contract if you can because the prepaid cards are REALLY expensive.
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Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
If you open a bank account there, be sure to get money in your bank's cash dispensers. If you don't, you'll have to pay big taxes !
Contacting with administration can be very tiring but never give up, they finally hear you !
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Mathilde C
Academic
Course recommendations
Don't think it's easier because you're an Erasmus, some teachers don't make any difference. Try to integrate a spanish group if there are group work to do, because spanish students won't naturally go to talk to you. But if you make the effort, you'll find good friends !
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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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Mathilde C
Overall
I wish I had known...
No.
I only had great surprises !
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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
If you can, live in the center of the city although the uni is far from the centre. As an Erasmus, you don't have much to go to school and it's better to be close to the city than in the middle of nowhere.
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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
This Erasmus exchange has been the greatest academic year in my life. I've made very good friends, experienced a lot of wonderful stuff, grown up too...Try to travel, Spain is beautiful and a lot of cheap bus travel all the country.
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Mathilde C
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: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Before living in Madrid, I had a good but very theoretical knowledge of spanish. But in less than 3 months, you can manage yourself in all the situations and you speak almost de puta madre ;-)
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