My Erasmus Exchange in Braga, Portugal - by Nerea

Why did you choose to go to Braga, Portugal?

At first, I wanted to go to Lisbon, but didn't get a space. In the end I only had the choice between Braga and Castelo Branco. Since Castelo Braga was near to Extremadura, I decided to go to Braga.

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

My exchange lasted for nine months. I was given a grant by the European Commission, which formed 80% of my total grant. I received this in October, and it was 792 euros (88 euros per month that I spent abroad). In March, I received another 700 euros or so from MEC. If you quality for a MEC grant, they now give you more money in February or March time. I'm still waiting on the remaining 20% of the money which I'll now receive having finished my placement.

What's the student life like in Braga?

The truth is that Braga is a very university-based city. You'll always find the university full of people, just like the bars and restaurants nearby. When you go out at night, everywhere is full of people partying and feels great.

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

Definitely. I ended up falling in love with the place and I'd love to go back there now. In terms of the university, I studied Audiovisual Communication, learned loads and loved the professors. Some of them made more effort than others, but on the whole they were very understandable and friendly.

What's Portuguese food like?

Portuguese food is amazing. You'll find rice and soup on all the menus. You can also try the traditional food: Francesinha.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Braga?

Not at all. During my stay in Braga, I lived in the Torre Verde building. This building is usually one full of Erasmus students living on every floor. The landlady is Ms. Rosa, who requires you to be very organised and punctual with your bills. Don't forget to write it down and get it signed whenever you make a payment to her. This is a bit of a bind, but the great atmosphere you get in this building you won't find anywhere else.

How expensive is living in Braga?

You could get by on 300 euros a month, or if you're living the high life, 400. Your flat will cost you 125-150 euros, and bills on top such as electricity, water, internet etc. will increase this to 200 euros. Living in Braga is really very cheap.

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

I went to two Portuguese courses at the university, and reached level B1 in the language. Even if you don't want to attend the courses, you'll manage to make yourself understood perfectly with the Portuguese. It's very similar to Spanish.

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

I live in Badajoz, so I would catch a bus in Elvas (15 minutes away from Badajoz city centre) which went directly to Braga. I just had to change at Lisbon. The bus ticket from Elvas to Braga would cost around 60 euros (return). Here's the link to the bus company's website: www.rede-expressos.pt

What are the best places for partying in Braga?

We always went to Sardinha Biba and Rocco, which are two clubs which close late. If you prefer quieter bars to clubs, try B. A. O, or if you're just going out for some drinks, try Stephane, where loads of Erasmus students go and they serve really cheap beer.

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

There are loads of places to eat out, though I'd recommend going to Tasquinha, where the prices are low and the portions are big.

What does Braga have to offer in terms of culture?

You can't go to Braga without seeing the Bom Jesus, climbing up all the stairs and then enjoying a francesinha up there. You can also visit the Sameiro, which is slightly higher up that Bom Jesus. The town of Guimarães is very close to Braga - you can get there on the bus. There's also the whole of Braga city centre, which is really beautiful.

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

My first piece of advice is for the party-goers: the Enterro da Gata takes place in May, which is unmissable - I don't think I've been to a better party in y life. The Universidade do Minho has an ESN (Erasmus Student Network) which is always running trips and putting on various events. Sign up to everything you can, since they're people who love to party, and are also very open and kind. Make the most of this experience and learn about Portuguese culture, since there's a lot more to it than many of you will think.