Erasmus Experience in Bremerhaven, Germany by Sandra

Why did you choose to go to Bremerhaven, Germany?

Because I want to learn German and my University only has an agreement with one German University, Hochschule Bremerhaven.

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

I only receive €115 monthly. And in spite of the fact that I came here for one semester, I only receive €115 for 5 months.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Bremerhaven?

Bremerhaven is not a big city. It has some entertainments but these are not like in Bremen. But it depends on the relationship you have with other students. There are some Erasmus students and you can have a higher degree of student lifestyle if you establish a relationship with them.

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

It depends on the motivations of the student. Bremerhaven is a small city and it hasn't the party that you could find in Bremen. But the Hochschule is cosy, the organisation of the university is useful and people have been friendly with us. Then yes, I recommend this university to other students.

What is the food like?

We arrived here thinking that food would be horrible, but in the supermarkets you could find all what you need and more. Mensa is the dining hall, the canteen of University and it is really good and cheap. We are really glad about that.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Bremerhaven?

Well, we are 3 students who travelled together, and we are not in the student's dormitories. We are living in a flat not so far from the Hochschule and we found it by Internet offers. It was a bit difficult because some owners of flats that we contacted with, didn't answer us. And you should be careful because some flats which are offered on the Internet are not furnished.

How much does it cost to live in Bremerhaven?

It's not so expensive. Hochschule gives you some conveniences like the "Semesterticket" which permits you to take trains, trams, buses... to Bremen, Hamburg or Hannover. It is a ticket that costs €271 and is used for one Semester.

The food and acommodation are not so expensive either.

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

At the beginning it was difficult because we came here without knowing any German. But the University offers you free courses for beginners and for all levels. It is really helpful.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Bremerhaven from your city?

We came from Barcelona and the easiest way to come to Bremerhaven is taking the low cost airline "Ryanair", from Girona to Bremen. And from Bremen to Bremerhaven you have to take the train, which costs €11, but when you have the Semesterticket, it is for free.

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

There are some pubs and bars, which are not very big. There is only one disco which is called "Nacht Schicht". In my opinion, it is only good on Wednesdays because is when all students go. But on weekends, I recommend you to go to Bremen. It is there where there are big parties. Next to the train station there are some big discos of different styles, and there's a lot of students at night.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

In Bremerhaven there are some history museums related with ships, maritime life... There is a Zoo, a submarine museum, the Klimahaus... But there are more interesting cultural sites in Bremen, Hamburg and Hannover. And as I said, with "SemesterTicket" you can go there for free.

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