Ester's Erasmus experience in Brunswick, Germany

Why did you choose to go to Brunswick, Germany?

I was really interested in Germany in general. I was interested in the language and to live in a country so different from Spain.

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

My scholarship lasts a whole year. I receive €250 per month throughout the year, although this depends on the university you come from. Half a year is covered by the state and the other half is covered by my university (Alicante).

What is the student atmosphere like in Brunswick?

Braunschweig is a university city so there are many young people. Although it's a fairly quiet city too. I live in a student hall (APM), and we're all Erasmus students. The atmosphere is great because you always have something to do or someone to be with.

The nightlife is quite centered in one part of the city and the bars and pubs are nice.

There are several quieter bars in case you just want to have a beer.

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

Yes. When I arrived I wasn't totally convinced but after two months I'm very happy. The university is one of the best in the country to study architecture, I know that as much. Bachelor's classes are run in German, but master's classes are generally offered in English. I am a bachelor in Spain, but here I'm studying a masters here without any problems.

Geographically it's very good, because there are many interesting cities and towns nearby such as Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover, Goslar, etc.

The worst thing about the city are the hours, but I suppose that happens throughout Germany in general. Most things (not the bars, of course) are closed between 6 and 8 in the afternoon, and on Sundays there is literally nothing to do. But you can always join your friends of course and make your own plan!

What's the country's food like?

Better than I expected, besides the food is not expensive. There's a lot of junk food. Every 20 steps you find a Kebab shop, a Chinese or something like that. But the local cuisine is pretty good. I have a kitchen in my room, so often I cook at home.

Did you have trouble finding accommodation in Brunswick?

Yes. It's almost impossible to find an apartment. I've been sending a lot of emails to an accommodation search page for months (gesucht). In general, you need to speak German and go visit the flat, so remote searching is quite complicated.

Finally, I chose to go for student halls, but since there's more students than accommodation it's also difficult to get them to listen you. In the end everyone finds a place but it does get a bit desperate. To find a room I recommend you send emails to Studentenwerk, and also call them to get them to help you. The best located hall is APM, which is 2 minutes from the university. The best value for money is Michaelishof. It's the most "lovely" and is next to the area with the nightlife. Westadt and Shunter are far away but they are goo in terms of quality.

How much does it cost to live in Brunswick?

Well that depends on the way you live. I try to live with about €300 per month plus the cost of the room. A normal week can be about €30 for food from the supermarket and €40 for going out for drinks, night outs, buying a treat and college supplies.

How did you find the language? Did you go to any course at the University?

I arrived in Germany without knowing anything about German. The university offers free courses but I think they're 3 hours a week. It's not enough. I'm in a private academy and I go 4 hours a day 4 days a week. It's a complicated language so you need to be patient. The university classes were supposed to be in English (I study master's subjects, the bachelor classes are generally in German) and in the end I have 2 of 3 in German.

I advise you to learn German before coming to Germany, at least to A2 level. A2 has quite advanced content and you can start having conversations. It will also be easier to learn because you don't have to start from the beginning.

What is the cheapest way to get to Brunswick from your city?

I'm from Alicante. The best way is to fly from Alicante to Bremen or Hamburg. These cities are 2 or 3 hours away from Brunswick by train. The train ticket will cost € 30 at most. If you can, fly to Hannover, which is only half an hour away by train.

When you start university, you have to pay a €250 fee, but this includes the Semester Ticket, which allows you to travel for free throughout Lower Saxony. This includes Hannover, Bremen and Hamburg. Additionally, all public transport within Braunschweig is free with this ticket.

What places would you recommend to go out in Brunswick?

Eule, Fieber, XO, Priviledge, Hit... Eule and fieber are the most popular. Thursdays are free and on Saturdays they cost between €4 and €6.

Parties in student halls are quite popular. Many buildings are usually made up of student housing and have good vibes.

And eating out in Brunswick? Can you give us your favorite places?

If you want German food and beer, go to Schadts, which is also quite cheap and always has a lot of atmosphere.

Any advice you want to give to future students in Brunswick?

Get a big coat. Although it's not as cold as I expected, perhaps because I was nervous. In January it can reach -14 degrees some days, but those cold streaks usually last 4 days at most. Now in February it's about 10 degrees.

Shoes that'll keep you warm.

Get a bike. You can buy a second-hand bicycle in several shops in the city. I bought mine in Didis and I'm happy with it to be honest. Mine cost €50 including a basket and a good lock, but you can find them from €40. On the Facebook page there are bikes being sold by people who're leaving the city.

The telephone company Aldi is good if you're coming for 1 or 2 semesters.

Open an account in a German bank, (Deutsch Bank, Sparkasse), because in many places you can't pay with another credit card.

Learn German before coming, at least to A1 level.