Lucía's Erasmus Experience in Coventry, United Kingdom

Why did you choose to go to Coventry, United Kingdom?

I mainly chose it because I wanted a destination in the United Kingdom as I had already been there before and it is one of my favourite countries. I then discovered that the university was quite good because it was very modern and the city was thought out with students in mind, so I didn't doubt the decision.

How long was the grant for? How much money did you receive as support?

My grant is for a full year, which I totally recommend because just going for one semester is a very short amount of time. In fact, there are people who had chosen to stay for a semester and have now extended it to a whole year.

Throughout the year, I will receive between 2500€ and 3000€, which is absolutely not a sufficient amount for the UK because everything is extremely expensive, above all accommodation. If you are going to come, keep in mind that you are going to pay a lot of money and you are not going to be able to rely solely on the grant (more than anything because it arrives after the year has started).

What is student atmosphere like in Coventry?

The student atmosphere is perfect. Everything that there is in the city has been thought about with students in mind; parties as much as businesses (exactly why there is a party every day). If what you are looking for is a student city, I recommend Coventry without a doubt.

Would you recommend the city and Coventry University to other students?

As a city, it doesn't have much charm because there isn't that much to see, although now I have spent a few months here, I have already become quite fond of it. With regards to the university, it's not bad, especially if you study the Sciences because it has very good equipment. All the buildings on campus are close and you have a building designed just for student entertainment. Also, the university has a lot of different societies (clubs) for all tastes.

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What is the food like in the UK?

Anyone who has visited the United Kingdom will join me in saying that their food does not compare with that of Spain. But, it's not something that has to be imperative when choosing your Erasmus destination because you are going to buy your own food and make your own meals.

Was it difficult finding accommodation in Coventry?

If you have thought about living in a shared house, I strongly recommend that you visit the city beforehand, and that you find an agency or flats that interest you, get in touch with the owners and make an appointment with them all on the same day. What I did was come in July and planned to meet with various agencies and landlords over a two-day period so that could show me houses. It makes me happy that I did it because it let me see the worst house of them all (dirty and in a neighbourhood filled with drug addicts). The photos have nothing to do with the houses, so if you can, come beforehand.

The two best websites for finding accommodation are: PrimeLocation and Gumtree.

In terms of residences, I would personally recommend Singer Hall and Study Inn. The advantages of Singer Hall are: the kitchen and the rooms are big; you don't share with many people; you can access the university gym for free; and, they throw the best parties. As for Study Inn, it's like a hotel: the rooms are really cool, you are situated right in the city centre, and you have everything you need in the residence. Mind you, all of this is reflected in the price.

How much does it cost to live in Coventry?

To give you an idea, my rent was around £300 a month and you are not going to find anything decent for less than this. If you are looking for a residence, prices won't be any less than £400. If you choose a residence and it includes food, bear in mind that the English have dinner very early. I have friends that are "forced" to have dinner at 5pm because they won't save you dinner for later.

What is the language like? Did you go to any language classes at the university?

My English level is B2 and I am not having any problems understanding, neither out and about nor in classes. In any case, if you are worried about your level of English, you can always go to classes here at the university, do an intensive summer course, or practice with an English person who wants to learn Castellano.

The university offers a selection of quite cheap language courses in a wide variety of languages, but you must secure your place straight away because they sell out quickly.

Coventry University Language Programme

What is the cheapest way of getting to Coventry from your city?

Valencia is my home city and, for me, the fastest way is fly from Alicante to Birmingham. Then, you take a 10 minute train from Birmingham Airport to the centre of Coventry. But, if you decide to go from Valencia to London, you can also take a bus to Coventry in 2 hours or so.

Which places would you recommend for nightlife in Coventry?

When you arrive here, you will see that you won't be struggling to find parties to go to. You can go out every day and there will always be a good atmosphere. With regards to pubs, the most popular are Quids Inn, The Phoenix and Ivy House. The most popular nightclubs are JJ's, Scholars, Kasbah and Empire.

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And eating in Coventry? Can you name your favourite places?

There are quite a few good places to eat in Coventry, for example:

• Las Iguanas
• Mercia Lodge
• Bella Italia
• Turmeric Gold Restaurant

And cultural hotspots?

In terms of cultural hotspots, there aren't that many. You can visit the city and all of its monuments in just one morning. The most interesting thing is the Cathedral, which was bombed during the war and now only its structure remains, giving it quite a pretty touch.

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Any advice you want to give future students in Coventry?

Coventry is situated roughly in the centre of England, which means you can travel around the country quite quickly.

I recommend that you find housing as early as possible, and if you can, visit some houses in person (English people aren't the cleanest in the world).

The mobile phone network I use is giffgaff - it's really good. You can get a SIM card sent to Spain for absolutely no cost through this webpage.

If you want to work here, you are to going to have to apply for a National Insurance number. It's free to apply, but it takes one month to get an appointment, so it should be one of the first things you do upon arrival.

And, finally, I will leave you with this link.

If you have any doubts, don't hesistate in contacting me!