Erasmus Experience in Brussels, Belgium by Rizos

Why did you choose to go to Brussels, Belgium?

Because Brussels is the heart of E. U. , so if you are, for example, a student in political sciences or international studies, you can visit the E. U. institutions and receive some direct information about their function and structure.

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

I didn't receive any scholarship in my case. Those who want to come to Brussels should know that living costs are high (at least 800 euros/month).

What is the student lifestyle like in Brussels?

There are many cultural events. If you are searching for the various music festival, especially, this is the right place to be.

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

Yes, but they need to do their research first, because there are many universities in Brussels, not of the same status.

What is the food like?

I don't particularly like Belgian food. The main problem is that it is really difficult to find some fresh, homemade-style food. Most people consume a lot of pre-cooked meals.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Brussels?

Rents in Brussels are considerably expensive. I would strongly recommend students to search for accommodation through the university's house services.

How much does it cost to live in Brussels?

Living cost is high. You would need at least 800 euros per month. If you rent private accommodation the total amount needed is over 1000 euros/month.

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

Usually, there are some language courses for the students. There are no major problems to communicate with the locals in English if you don't know French at all.

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

Search for a low-cost air travel ticket.

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

I don't have any particular recommendation about this. Generally speaking, Brussels has a wide variety of beer houses and wine bars. You should probably visit the Cimetiere area, the favoured meeting point of ULB's students.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Brussels?

I don't have any recommendation either. Unfortunately, you have to spend a considerable amount of money to find a really good restaurant in Brussels.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are plenty of them in Brussels. You should definitely visit Grand Place, Atomium, Mont des Arts, Place Royale, Palais de Bruxelles and Parc du Cinquantenaire. There are also some very good museums such as Magritte and Naturalis.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Brussels in the future?

Be prepare to deal with unstable weather conditions. Always bring with you an umbrella, even if it is a seemingly sunny day!