Erasmus Experience in Aachen, Germany by Alberto

Why did you choose to go to Aachen, Germany?

RWTH is one of the best technical universities in Europe and a lot of services for students will be provided. Actually, I think that Aachen is not such an amazing place compared to Dublin or Valencia or other nice cities in Europe, but if you have a good friend and you want to travel a lot, it might be perfect because it is on the border with the Netherlands and Belgium. Don't forget that if you're a student of RWTH you'll get the semester ticket that allows you to use buses and trains in the whole region of North Rhine-Westphalia.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I was there as an Erasmus placement student and my scholarship was enough because the city is not so expensive. 700 € was ok!

What is the student lifestyle like in Aachen?

The university organizes some parties and there's always something to do on the weekend and even during the week. If you love live music and concerts as well as me, it's not the city fo you! A lot of clubs and so on are not enough for people that deeply like music!

Would you recommend the city and the University of Aachen to other students?

Yes! Definitely for studying, but not so much for partying. Basically, you often have to organize them in apartment.

What is the food like?

It depends... I am an Italian, so I don't think it's really good...

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Aachen?

This is one of the worse things. If you are able to get a room in some dormitory you're very lucky since you won't pay more than 220 €/month all included. If you prefer a flat, it would be a little more expensive from 270 to 400 €!

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How much does it cost to live in Aachen?

The city is quite cheap especially for grocery shopping. It doesn't need more then 40 euros/week! Parties included!

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

If you are a student of RWTH university you'll have free language courses. German is difficult, but there you can find the easiest way to learn it!

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Aachen from your city?

By bike or by bus! It's the same because even bus are for free for students.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Aachen?

Mostly you enjoy the night in places that are all close to Pontstrasse.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Aachen?

There's one street where you can find the food you prefer: Pontstrasse.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The cathedral, parks and I suggest you to visit also Koln, the closest best city!

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Aachen in the future?

Yes! Try to travel as much as you can because the position of the city allows you to travel to all the biggest cities in the Netherlands and Belgium taking only 2/3 hours by train!

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