My Erasmus Experience in Berlin, Germany

Why did you choose to go to Berlin, Germany?

Because it has universities that are good for my subject, to learn German and for the opportunity to live in this city.

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

Not applicable. :)

What's the student life like in Berlin?

Incredible! There are loads of students from every country you can think of, and the majority aren't even here on an Erasmus exchange, but instead live permanently in Berlin.

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

The city, definitely.

I'm not so sure about the Freie University. It's quite isolated in terms of location, and although the campus is incredible, the staff's attitude isn't that great.

What's the food like in Berlin?

Better than I expected. There's thousands of different types of food: Hindu, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, sushi, Turkish...

I liked the traditional German food too, such as the huge variety of sausages.

How did you find your accommodation in Berlin?

wg-gesucht.de is the best website to use. Put your details into the search box, and make yourself a profile. When you see a room you like, contact the landlord straight away so that you don't miss out.

What are the prices of accommodation like? How expensive is life in Berlin in general?

Cheaper than somewhere like Barcelona, for example. Food can be very cheap. It's more expensive to eat in the university cafeteria than bringing your lunch with you from home.

Rent is rising, but normally people pay between 200 and 300 euros per month for an unfurnished room, usually with bills included. The rooms are usually very big, since most flats don't have a lounge.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language course at the university?

Not very good, in my case. I learned the basics without having attended a course. I regret not having learned some German before I went. When you're actually on your Erasmus exchange, it's difficult to find time to attend a course, but it is possible. Normally, universities provide free language courses for the students with previous knowledge of the language.

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

By plane.

What are the best places for partying in Berlin?

Phwoar... there are so many... and so many areas...in addition to the open air parties and festivals organised every week which are normally held in a different place every time.

The Warschauer Strasse and Ostbahnhof areas are unmissable, and Kreuzberg also has lots of fabulous heavy metal and punk pubs and bars.

A place I liked was the Club der Visionäre, just next to the Spree on Puschkinallee.

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

Apart from pizza of course, you can order in any kind of food...amazing! I'd always opt for Indian food and sushi restaurants... but there are so many of them... I couldn't tell you which one was my favourite.

What does Berlin have to offer in terms of culture?

A fantastic amount: there are more than 300 memorials to the Holocaust and to the Second World War. In total, Berlin has eight or nine enormous parks, three or four lakes and the banks of the river Spree are also great.

Art breathes through the streets here, and there are art galleries around every corner and where you least expect them. There's also the Kunsthaus Tascheles (sadly closed now), an old house turned art gallery.

There are also endless museums and bars with live music...

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

Don't be scared about finding somewhere to live: the more places you look around the better, and it's really worth living with Germans and not with people from your classes or with other Erasmus students. You'll spend plenty of time with them at university.

Learn some German before you go, because if you don't then you'll miss out on crucial things in terms of your social life.

Absorb the mutual respect present on the streets, in trains, pubs etc.

Don't be fooled by first impressions, because it's almost definite that you'll see someone drunk on the street during the daytime.

Enjoy yourselves and go out lots, because the city's fantastic!