Erasmus Experience in Alcalá De Henares, Spain

Why did you choose to go to Alcalá De Henares, Spain?

I wanted to be near Madrid and Alcalá was the best option offered by my home university where I could continue with all the subjects I study as part of my course.

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

I stayed for one semester and received the Erasmus+ grant (€220 a month at the time). This goes a long way in Spain however it won't be enough to cover all the living costs so it is recommended to have some savings before you move over there.

What is the student lifestyle like in Alcalá De Henares?

It's a small but lively college town with lots of students. There are always loads of people around the streets. What I liked was that studying in the Arts and Humanities faculty meant I was based in the centre of the city, as opposed to the other campus in the outskirts. It is quite easy to make friends, especially with other Erasmus students, as the city is so small that you always meet people you know around the town.

One annoying thing: If you're like me and you're not big into partying, there's sometimes not a whole lot to do in Alcalá. The university doesn't have a lot of student associations compared to what I was used to in Ireland and there aren't too many cultural events in the city itself. You also have to travel quite far outside the city centre to go to the cinema.

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Alcalá De Henares to other students?

Yes! The city is good if you want to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle but also be only 40 minutes from Madrid by train. It's also really scenic with lots of nice architecture and landscapes around. I recommend getting a pass for the public transport if you do want to go to Madrid a lot as you'll save a lot of money. The university works differently from universities in other countries (the admin can be frustrating and lecturers are sometimes disorganised, we often didn't find out about classes being cancelled until we got to the lecture theatre in the morning and saw the sign on the door) and it took me a while to get used to it but once you get the hang of it it's a good place to study. They have special classes for Erasmus students that allow you to improve your language skills and learn about Spanish culture.

What is the food like?

There are lots of very nice tapas and eating out is cheap in general so that was what I did most of the time.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Alcalá De Henares?

I found my accommodation online a couple of months before I moved over, as I was going on my own without knowing anyone there and I was anxious to get it sorted out early. In hindsight it would have been better to have arrived early and looked for accommodation in person as this was how most of the people I met did it. I ended up paying €350 a month which is expensive by local standards, many of my friends only paid €250 for rooms in nice apartments. The people who advertise online early on sites that target Erasmus students are sometimes trying to trick people who don't know what the local standards are.

Also do NOT live anywhere that doesn't have air conditioning and heating. When I was there it stayed hot for the first two months and then it got very cold at night in November and December, so these are really not worth sacrificing.

How much does it cost to live in Alcalá De Henares?

It's more expensive than some other Erasmus destinations further south in Spain but still very cheap. Accommodation is usually about €250-€300 a month, food and drink is cheap and transport is very reasonably priced compared to Ireland. Supermarkets are usually inexpensive but try to live somewhere that's close to a good supermarket. I had to walk a long distance if I wanted to shop anywhere other than Día where I was!

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

Spanish isn't the hardest language to learn, I had only studied it for three semesters before going to Spain and while I struggled at first I managed to improve a lot. UAH has a language school called Alcalingua that offers excellent courses for Erasmus students. You do an intensive Spanish course three evenings a week, the classes are streamed according to ability based on a test you do and not only do you get to really improve your Spanish but you can meet lots of other Erasmus students this way, so I definitely recommend signing up as soon as you get there.

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What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Alcalá De Henares from your city?

Dublin is the only place in Ireland you can fly to Madrid from all year, so I'd get a bus from my town to Dublin and then a Ryanair flight to Madrid-Barajas, from where you can get the 824 bus straight to Alcalá.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Alcalá De Henares?

The Green Irish Pub is the best place, it's where all the Erasmus students go. The ESN often had events in Viva la Vida which is a smaller nightclub but also a very fun place to go. I never went to nightclubs in Madrid but a lot of people I knew used to start the night in Alcalá and then get the train or bus into the city.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Alcalá De Henares?

La Española and La Taberna de Rusty were my favourite places. There's also El Gato Verde which is a more upmarket bar that serves really interesting tapas with each drink you get. The Urban Pizza is the best place to go for takeaway pizza.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The university itself has some beautiful buildings, it has a museum and you can get a guided tour. There's also the cathedral and the Museo Arqueológico Regional. As well as this, there are often lots of festivals and markets during the year, like the Mercado Cervantino which takes place in October, the cinema festival in November and the Christmas Markets in December.

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

Try and make friends with local students (especially if they're studying your language) and also with people from countries other than your own. Be sure to go on as many trips as you can seeing as you're right in the middle of Spain and can travel anywhere in the country you want!