171 reviews
4.27 / 5 based on 171 reviews
Useful |
3
anonymous
Academic
Course recommendations
Make sure that your tutor knows you are Erasmus/ a foreign student.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
More interaction with tutors and recognition from them that they have Erasmus students in their classes. Greater explanation of tasks to be done for the next class and a slower pace in classes.
Informal meeting at the beginning of the year for international students and local students.
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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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0
anonymous
Expenses
Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
I found that I was a lot richer in Spain than at home! Things were cheaper there but I ate the same amount of food so I spent less. The nightlife was fantastic so I was going out a lot more than at home, and I felt the urge to see different parts of Spain. At home I don't travel. The telephone was cheaper because I made less calls.
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Nightlife, Travel:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing, Overall:
was the same price as at home.
Food, Telephone:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Same as you would at home, try to have a budget. Use the bus to the airport instead of taxis, use the metro instead of taxis; buy a 10 trip metro ticket instead of 10 singles. Take taxis with friends - good anyway for safety.
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Useful |
0
anonymous
Languages
Language of instruction: Spanish
Was learning Spanish a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Spanish
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
The year abroad was the major factor in my language learning which has lasted 9 years in total. The experience of going to a university where you could not avoid listening to 4 or 5 hours of spanish every day was invaluable to me and is what has made me fluent. Over the year communication became easier and I felt more and more confident as time went by.
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Useful |
3
anonymous
Overall
I wish I had known...
How good it was going to be so not to book return flights at christmas/easter!
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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
A great place to improve your spanish, a highly regarded academic institution. Excellent way to investigate another culture because you can meet so many people and experience life in parallel to your own university in at home. Teaching and course content is of high standard. Options for courses are varied and interesting. There is the opportunity to get involve in clubs and activities within the university as well.
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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
Don't put too much emphasis on study so that it stops you from getting out there. Mixing with people and exploring your surrounding is also very important. Take a few trips out during the time you have, I went to Madrid, Salamanca and Barcelona and loved all three places. Had a great time! Oh, just beware of pickpockets.
Sort out a doctor as soon as possible. You never know what can happen and getting to see someone when something does can involve a lot of waiting, i.e. days.
Other than that, go for it! Enjoy yourselves and be safe!
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Useful |
2
anonymous
Student life
Describe host city:
Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
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Travel, Nightlife: 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
Irish Stones pub is a favourite with Erasmus as a meeting point at the beginning of a night out. Cafe Boulevard was one of my favourites, Gallerias de Urquijo for nightlife was brilliant fun. Also Congreso, Conjunto clubs and Casco Viejo bars are great. Events; carnival around feb/march in Bilbao and surrounding area, San Fermin and the running of the bulls in summer, not to be missed. St Patrick's day was celebrated to the full in the Irish Stones.
Also take a trip to the Guggenheim museum, interesting stuff there!
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Useful |
2
anonymous
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Independently - My choice
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
It was very handy to get in to university every day, close to shops and local services. Also there was a friendly atmosphere and opportunity to make friends from all over the world.
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Personal comments
The accomodation was overall very good, it was clean, spacious and had various facilities such as free internet, tennis, basketball and football courts/pitch. It was fairly priced and everyone got along well together.
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