Erasmus Experience in Cork, Ireland

Why did you choose to go to Cork, Ireland?

Mainly for the English, it's an ideal place to practice the language. The city is used to having Erasmus students, therefore it's a very cosmopolitan city; there's music in the streets and the people there are really friendly.

Cork is the ideal place to practise English

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How long was the scholarship? How much money did you receive to help?

I was there 3 months to finish my work experience, by the end of the placement I will have received about 2000 euros.

A street in Cork

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What is the student atmosphere like in Cork?

It's great, as I said before there are lots of Erasmus student in Cork, for example it's easy to find people from your own country, the people are very open-minded. There are as many Irish students as well as foreign students who are all in the same situation as you, you don't need to worry, you will find life-long friends very quickly.

The University of Cork

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

Yes, I would, without a doubt.

There are a lot of international students in the city

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How is the country's food?

You can eat quite well if you look around... You will be slightly lost during the first couple of weeks but you will quickly get used to it.

How did you find your accommodation?

Through a body of the Regional Government of Castilla and León (region in Spain) which had an agreement with a local organisation called Eazycork, through them you can look for accommodation.

How are the prices of accommodation like? And general cost of living?

The accommodation prices are average, they are cheap is you compare them with the price of a hotel or hostel for example.

Food is expensive and transport is also quite pricey, but you have to take into account that the wages are higher there, for the Irish people the cost of living isn't expensive there.

How do you find the language? Did you attend a course at the University?

English is great. It's hard to understand the accent because it's very thick, but that happens all over Ireland. The best way to learn English is to get to know and to talk English with people from outside of Ireland, get yourself a girlfriend, that kind of thing haha!

I did an English course in the first two weeks which was provided by the company.

Whats the cheapest way to get to Cork from your town/city?

By taking a plane to Dublin and then a bus or a train to Cork.

Which places would you recommend for a night out in Cork?

An Brog, it's the place to be for Erasmus students, the pints are 3 euros until 11pm. Crane Lane has live music every day.... And then for the end of the night I recommend without a doubt The Bodega, they play music which is quite similar to Spanish music, some electronic music, it's the most commercial and the most similar to Spanish nightclubs.

An Brog

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Crane Lane

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And what about eating in Cork? Can you tell us your favorite places?

You have small pizzerias which offer 2 huge slices of pizza and a can of coke for 6 euros, then you also have places like Amicus, which offers an Irish Breakfast that I highly recommend.

An Irish Breakfast in Amicus

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A market in Cork

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And what about cultural visits?

Blarney Castle, the coast which is really close, Cork itself is a pretty cultural city.

Blarney Castle

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Do you have any advice which you would give future Cork students?

On the subject of food and parties... it's nothing like Spain at all! Here the nightclubs close at 2. 30am. This is the time we start going to them in Spain. The best thing to do in order to carry on the party would be to buy booze and have a house party.

I recommend Cork!

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