Erasmus Experience in Cuenca, Spain by Fara

Why did you choose to go to Cuenca, Spain?

I chose Cuenca because I wanted to discover the true Spanish culture and at same time enjoy the student life. In addition, I had friends there from ESPACU (Spanish teaching program) so Cuenca was a right destination for me

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

The duration was 6 months with €800 monthly scholarship. It was enough as Cuenca is not an expensive city.

What is the student lifestyle like in Cuenca?

Cuenca is not a big city so you meet students everywhere, some studying, others enjoying the picnic or social activities. Somewhere around you may see students from Journalism faculty taking interviews or filming a student life for their assignments.

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

I definitely recommend UCLM and Cuenca for many reasons:
Firstly, the city is situated in a perfect location from where you can travel all around Spain.
Secondly, city is compact so you don't need to use public transport and it is cheaper compared to other cities of Spain.
Thirdly, you will discover unique Spanish traditional atmosphere ranging from local festivals to cuisines

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Cuenca?

Department of International Relations offers available accommodation list in the city for foreign students and mentors will accompany you in your adventure of finding your room

How much does it cost to live in Cuenca?

It ranges from €180 to €250 on average. You can also find for €150 but conditions may be disappointing and you may pay for some bills like electricity or water. Also, landlords ask for 'fianza' (deposit)

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

Spanish is dominant language though people do understand English language too. University offers Spanish courses (ESPACU). Teachers are amazing and you will happen to have many Taiwanese friends :)

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

There's Avanza bus from Madrid for €13 and it takes 2 hours

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

'Jueves' (Thursday) is the start of night outs. Plaza España is a place for preparation and gathering with your friends before going to the clubs (they start parties at around 2am so forget about sleeping) All clubs are located in Dr. Galíndez Street

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

La Edad de Oro, La Barrica de Miguel and Taberna Jovi are cool places for wine and food tasting

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Casco Antiguo is the old part of the city so you will discover ancient buildings and panoramic views. The top attractions to visit in Cuenca are:
1.Catedral De Cuenca
2.Puente de San Pablo (Saint Paul Bridge)
3.Museo de Arte
4.Abstracto Espanol
5.Historic Walled Town of Cuenca
6.Museo de Paleontologia de Castilla-La Mancha

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

Approach Montero from MakingUCLM in the Journalism faculty building and take part in his projects. He is very kind person and you will definitely find amazing friends there and dive into the social life