Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)

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.

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 !!

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 !

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.

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 ;-)