My Experience in Birmingham, United Kingdom. By Elena.

Why did you decide to go to Birmingham, England?

Hello future Birmingham Erasmus students! The choice to go to Birmingham was not a direct one for me. If you are in the middle of the Erasmus process, you will know that the first thing you do is make a list of your three most-wanted Erasmus destinations and afterwards they will judge which one they send you to. Birmingham was not my first choice because it is not spoken about very much as a British city, I couldn't find much information about it and it isn't a very popular Erasmus destination at my university, the University of Murcia. however, after having studied there and comparing my experience with my friends who also went on Erasmus to different cities in the UK, I would have to say that Birmingham is in the top 10 destinations in England. I chose Birmingham from my other preferences because a professor at my university told me marvellous things about the University of Birmingham, UoB, but I knew little about the city and social life. However, I threw myself into it and picked it first before many others, only taking into account the academic success it had. And now, I am one thousand percent thankful of having taken that risk!

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How long did your grant last? How much money did you receive?

My Erasmus in Birmingham was for 10 months. It is one of the universities that only allow students who have an entire academic year's worth of grant. It is not like other universities in the UK that give Erasmus students the opportunity to study for only one semester. You need to take this into account when you choose the UoB as your destination university. If you go somewhere else other then Birmingham, this will not be the case. In regards to my grant that I received from the Spanish government in order to help me during my course abroad, I received €2, 500. Not any more or any less. The amount of €500 was given to all of the students who had a level B2 of English, in my case I had the level and they gave me the money. Therefore, if you do not have the B2 and you are thinking of going on Erasmus, I would recommend getting it as soon as possible. The economic help they give you in order to live abroad does not cover even 30% of the annual cost of living in England. It is sad, but if you cannot pay the high costs of rent, transport, etc, I would not recommend you go to somewhere like England on Erasmus. There are so many other destinations that are so much cheaper. We lost a lot of money (before Brexit) on the euro-pound exchange and this represents that the price of everything is increasing. Not in an overwhelming way, but you should think about it.

What is the student life like in Birmingham?

THe student life in Birmingham is amazing! If you're going to go to the same university as I did, UoB, you should definitely find accommodation close to it as that will mean that you will be living in the same area that I was, Selly Oak. It is adjoining to the uni and so 99% of the residents are uni students. Imagine... An area filled with good vibes, banter, parties and really lovely people. Sounds great, no? The university also has a great atmosphere, it is so big and beautiful. I have never seen a uni so impressive and grand. There are a couple of chill spaces where you can get a coffee or pass the time studying with your friends. This year, they were finalising the building of a gigantic library and I really wanted to go and see it finished - if you go, tell me! The student life is a marvel. The uni organises loads of activities meant to break the ice between Erasmus students in the first week and they have objectives to improve your language and socialise.

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

Without a doubt, I would recommend doing your Erasmus in Birmingham. It is the second largest city in the UK and it is full, overflowing with green spaces, loads of activities available and culture, too. The university is brutal in terms of a social and technological level - the university has put a lot of effort into Erasmus and they are very concerned with your comfort. Doing all of the paperwork with them was quite pleasant and they make you feel very at home. I never felt like a foreign student here, the offer exactly the same opportunities to me as they do to a home student of UoB.

What is the food like in the UK?

The food anywhere away from Spain is always going to feel like it is worse, and that's something that every Spaniard has to deal with. But in general terms, the food in England is not too bad. Chicken, potato and vegetables in general. And cake... lots of cake! The good thing about Birmingham is there are so many diverse cultures there that have joined and started living together It gives you the opportunity to be able to eat in different places that aren't typical British food that you can find in any pub. In Birmingham there are lots of Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, Persian, Mexican, Italian and Brazilian food places around. It is a huge city with lots of options available to you. If you want to cook for yourselves in Birmingham, you can also buy quality foods in the supermarket that you can visit once a week in the centre of the city. Inside it there is a butchers, fresh fruit stands, fresh fish and eco foods - a very interesting option for you if you would like to be on a healthy diet.

How was it finding accommodation in Birmingham?

Finding accommodation in Birmingham is quite easy. I found the house that I rented with three other friends on the internet. Online there is a wide range of houses on offer and you can be put in contact with estate agents and it is all quite easy. This is the option I guess most people take when they do not know the city that they will stay in. But now, you guys have me and I can tell you that there is a Facebook group that the majority of UoB students use which is called "Fab and Fresh", where all the bars and clubs post their news about parties, activities, nights out and accommodation. There are especially a lot of people posting about finding housemates with free rooms. If you are from Erasmus and you want to live with native speakers, that's the best option that I recommend. Publish an advertisement online and you will surely find someone replying to you that they are interested in living with you. Apart from being an accommodation site, there are also posts about nights out that you can go to. I discovered it after a few months, but oh well, everything worked out!

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How much does it cost to live in Birmingham?

Living in Birmingham costs about the average amount of living in the UK. I compared what I had spent with my other friends who were also in British cities, except London which is the most expensive, and on average we had spent about €900 a month. The good thing about Birmingham and studying at the uni is that if you live in Selly Oak, you don't have to spend money on transport which can be one of the most expensive things in the UK. If you live in Selly Oak you can walk to university as it is only about 15 minutes away, less if you live in the houses closer.

And what are your language skills like? Did you take a course whilst you were at University?

When I went to Birmingham, my language was at a B2 level, and in the end of year exam I achieved a C1. It is because of this that I can say that your language improves. In uni I didn't go to any English language courses because that wasn't my course I was studying, it was Italian language. I found myself studying during the 10 months and I learnt quite a lot, as well as practising my French (B1) with some friends I met there. Erasmus is the perfect opportunity to launch yourself into new languages because the University of Birmingham offered loads of free language courses that if you have enough time to do them, I would totally recommend that you do.

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What is the cheapest way of arriving in Birmingham from Murcia?

The best way to get from Murcia to Birmingham is by plane. The minimum price that I found with one suitcase was €100, which is quite cheap. The people who came to visit me from Murcia with just one piece of hand luggage only had to pay €70 to get here. I would recommend that you look at all the possible offers and deals before you book your flight and compare and contrast the prices, so that you can definitely get the best priced flight.

Where do you recommend going out in Birmingham?

To go out clubbing in Birmingham there are some in the centre like: Mechu, Snobs, Players and others, but these are the ones I went to the most. Also there is the student union club on the uni campus that there were parties in twice a week which was also very good, and really close to the house. Everything happens in Selly Oak in Birmingham as well. Yep, in my area. It could also be in your house - there are things called "house parties" where people drink until they die and the music is at an unbelievable volume, they play drinking games that everyone knows. It is a common thing in Birmingham, so if you choose this city you will be sure to enjoy lots of these parties. My best memories are at house parties in Birmingham.

And where are your favourite places to eat in Birmingham?

My favourite places to eat in Birmingham are right next to my house, but this isn't why they are my favourites! The first is an English pub called Country Girl, located on Raddlebarn Road. It is a big pub with really rustic decorations and comfy sofas, armchairs with cushions and it has fireplaces that are lit in the winter and it is so cosy. There isn't really a student atmosphere here because the majority of the people are families inside, but this is a sign that the food is so tasty - I would recommend it to you a lot! Especially Eggs Royale to eat for breakfast or the pancakes with strawberries. For dinner, my favourite dish is curry and rice. It's delicious! My second favourite place to eat is called Paprika and it is a local place where the door is just next to my house. We have had lunch and dinner here a lot throughout Erasmus because it is an affordable Persian place that is so nice. Also they are our neighbours and we have a marvellous relationship with them, one day I started dancing in the restaurant with all my Spanish friends because they played some Spanish music. The owner is a lover of Spain and Spaniards and if you go there and you are Spanish - don't forget to say!

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And what is the culture like there?

As a cultural visit, Birmingham is a city that has a lot to offer. It's not London, but you can see museums and the library of Birmingham which is in the centre of the city and is an absolutely magical place to go to visit. It is crazy modern and the views from the rooftop terrace are the best that you will find in Birmingham. As well as this, they have a Skyline designed with maps of the city so that you can go and locate all the corners from the heights. Very recommended. In the last room of the library there is an entire room dedicated to Shakespeare that you can't miss.

Do you have any advice to future students going to the University of Birmingham?

My advice is do not follow a plan. Take advantage of every moment of your Erasmus experience, because time flies. Birmingham is a large city that you'll feel like you will never get to know it. And apart from waiting to explore experiences, languages, cultures... I advise you to give all everything you have so that you can receive back. Mark the difference between the "Erasmus" label and the "friend" label. You are going to meet wonderful people who are also waiting for you to contribute things.

I'm sending you lots of energy and encouragement for this new adventure, live your Erasmus life guys! These are the days!

Thousands of kisses,

Elena.