Life in Aveiro

Why did you choose to go Aveiro, Portugal?

Friends of mine had spent the previous year in the city, and had really enjoyed themselves, so I decided to go to Aveiro too.

How long did your exchange last? How much were you paid?

My exchange lasted for nine months.

The amount of grant you receive varies from year to year, and depends on whether you're receiving the Erasmus grant or the one from the Spanish Ministerio. The amounts for the year I went were the following:

• 350 euros a month from the Extremadura Council Grant
• Approximately 450 euros a month from the Ministerio Grant

What's the student life like in Aveiro?

The student life there's great. The campus is enormous, and the professors treat you just like a normal student, though of course understand the difficulties each person can go through.

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

Definitely. I finished my exchange feeling very satisfied with having chosen to go there, and I'd passed everything, too. It's a very charming city, and in academic terms, has a variety of faculties. In addition to this, since it's a small city and in Portugal, the cost of living is much lower than in other places, meaning that you have enough money from the grants to live comfortably.

What's Portuguese food like?

It's similar to Spanish food, all Mediterranean. It's much cheaper here than in Spain, and they serve you larger quantities, too.

On campus, there's a canteen in which the menus cost little over 2 euros.

How did you find your accommodation?

I found it thanks to some friends who lived there beforehand. In any case, it's not difficult to find a nice flat to live in in Aveiro, since there are lots of flat agencies and adverts for rooms on display in the streets which make the hunt easier for you... this being so, I recommend looking for somewhere in advance, since it all hets up and you'll start to get stressed about it... I think it's really important to find somewhere you like that you're going to be living in for the next nine months.

What are the accommodation prices like? How high are prices in general?

Prices are similar regardless of what kind of flat you want. We paid a total of 800 euros a month for our flat (200 euros per person, shared between four of us)... taking into consideration that it was a 150 metre squared flat in a good, studenty area. I recommend the Liceo district, which is quiet and where the majority of the Erasmus students usually live, plus near to all the important part of the city... and avoid the area around the Jumbo shopping centre (it's not a bad area, but it's a little more dangerous).

How are you finding the language?

With the language, as is normal, you feel a bit lost at first, but you end up getting used to it and understanding everyone perfectly.

We took two Portuguese courses at the university, in the Language Faculty. I recommend taking them voluntarily if they are not already part of your course, since at the end of them they give you two credited certificates, which are always useful for your CV.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Aveiro from your home city?

The cheapest way is by car. There'll be more than one person from your city who'll be doing their Erasmus in Aveiro, so split the money and drive there together.

There are other ways of getting there, depending on where you're located in Spain. If you're far away from Portugal, I recommend flying to Oporto (with Ryanair) and then getting the train to Aveiro (which costs 2. 15 euros).

What are the best places for partying in Aveiro?

La praça do Peixe (meaning Fish Square) is the meeting place for all university students. It's a little square surrounded by clubs. Days for going out are Tuesdays, Thursdays and the weekend. Tuesdays are the quieter days on that square; Thursdays are the main day to go out, starting in the square and continuing on to clubs (usually Club 8) which is a bit further away...At the weekends, La Estaçao da Luz is the place to be. You have to get there by taxi or by bus (for free! ) and it's the biggest club in the city with several rooms.

I recommend going out in other big cities too, such as Coimbra, Lisbon and Oporto... since though Aveiro is nice, going out there every day and always seeing the same stuff can get boring... so don't miss out on the nightlife in other cities!

What about eating out in Aveiro? What are your favourite places?

There are loads of places to eat out at... the Forum is a shopping centre whose upper floor is a food court, and you can choose the place which looks best to you. There's everything: Italian places, kebab places, pizza places, hamburgers, self-service... there's also the Jumbo shopping centre.

There are also buffet places such as Evaristo and Paukar.

What does Aveiro have to offer in terms of culture?

The city's rivers, visiting the beaches, the lover's park... without forgetting catch the train and visiting places of interest outside of Aveiro, such as Fátima, Coimbra, Oporto, Lisbon... the waterfalls in Sever de Vouga are beautiful. Go to the tourist information office and get free information on the best places to go nearby.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Aveiro?

Enjoy everything, as before you'll know it, your time there will be over! Make the most of every day and every moment, visit more cities, learn Portuguese and get to know Portuguese people... you'll have an unforgettable time!