Erasmus Experience in Berlin, Germany by Adam

Why did you choose to go to Berlin, Germany?

Not only does the famously progressive and egalitarian culture connect deeply with me, but this bastion of tolerance and freedom is also a global city with fantastic opportunities and a nightlife that nowhere else even comes close to.

Source:

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

I'm living in Berlin for one year and the only money I receive is my maintenance grants and Erasmus grant from my University which eqautes to about 14, 000 euros over the course of the year which covers my living costs just fine.

What is the student lifestyle like in Berlin?

There isn't a single student lifestyle in Berlin as there is such a massive variety of students from all walks of life who adapt a variety of lifestyles. Undoubtedly for student staples such as cheap food, amazing parties, a friendly atmosphere and good public transport this city has you covered.

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

Absolutely! Moving here is the best decision I ever made and without a doubt my favorite city on Earth.

What is the food like?

The actual supermarket food tends to be of a rather low quality with a very limited variety compared to the U. K where I am from - however eating out is very cheap and you can enjoy delicious Berlin icons such as döner kebabs and bratwursts very cheaply!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Berlin?

The only fee I paid was the 10 euro sign up fee for Erasmusu.

Source:

How much does it cost to live in Berlin?

The cost of living in Berlin is much cheaper compared to European capitals such a Paris, London and Rome but overall more expensive that your average mid sized city.

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

The vocabulary is easy to absorb if you speak any other European language but the grammar is notoriously tricky - if you are coming with Humboldt please sign up to an intensive course at the University language centre as it helped me massively.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel in Berlin?

Without a doubt the S-bahn/U bahn system - very quick and well connected and student travel passes are cheap - alternatively it's a great city to cycle around.

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

Obviously the legendary techno clubs in this Mecca of electronic music, such as Tresor, Watergate and About Blank - however these places have famously brutal door polices so you can have a similarly unforgettable night in more accepting clubs such as Ritter Butzke and Suicide Circus.

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

For Brazilian food Villa Rodizio was a memorable experience, for burgers it has to be Burgermeister, for fancy lunch try the Skydeck restaurant at KaDeWe and of course Mustafa's for the best kebab in Germany.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Berlin caters to the tastes of every culture vulture; Schloss Charlottenburg is a fantastic city palace of mind-blowingly extravagant proportions, Sammlung Boros is a former Nazi bunker housing one of the most important and valuable modern art collections on Earth, the Gemaldegalerie has a sprawling collection of renaissance and classical art with pieces from Botticelli, Caravaggio and Da Vinci, and for history the best museums would be the Pergamon, the Jewish Museum and the DHM.

Source:

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

Berlin is really a city where you can be yourself without anyone caring or being judgmental so use your time here to experiment and find yourself! !

Source