Erasmus Experience in Cologne, Germany by Monica

Why did you choose to go to Cologne, Germany?

To improve my German and because my brother was in Cologne last year and had a wonderful time here!

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

I’m staying 5 months. I received money from my home university. The amount of money received depends from university to university.

What is the student lifestyle like in Cologne?

People use to go out a lot, meet at Kiosks, drink some beer and have fun!

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

I recommend the city which is very open minded and offers many different activities. About the university I attend TH which has a different approach to study compared with the Italian one. We’re supposed to do many team works here!

What is the food like?

German foods itself is not that special but there are plenty nice restaurants that offer food from different countries.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Cologne?

No. I found an accommodation through Studentenwerk. It’s really important to register to their website as soon as possible in order to find an accommodation. It’s hard to get one! I’d recommend you to write them emails as well to put pressure on them and hope to get an accommodation. Better if you write to them in German.

How much does it cost to live in Cologne?

Not so much. It’s affordable.

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

I already had a knowledge of the German language anyways the University offers free courses after doing an entrance test

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

Airplane.

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

Zülpicher Straße

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

Yes. LU, Sweet Sushi, 485 Grad.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Dom.

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

Bring warm clothes, register to Studentenwerk as soon as possible, hope to find an accommodation which is not too far from the center!