Erasmus Experience in Dortmund, Germany by Carlos

Why did you choose to go to Dortmund, Germany?

To tell the truth, it was a bit of a blind choice, I didn't know much about the places before I choose it.

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

Nowadays, you only get the grant for 6 months, I think you get €250 a month, which will cover the cost of your student residence.

What is the student lifestyle like in Dortmund?

It's really good, there are a lot of people from all over the world.

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

Honestly, even though you'll always get something out of an Erasmus experience, this isn't the best place to come for it. But if you do decide to come here, don't worry, you will end up having a good time here.

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What is the food like there?

It's a lot like Spanish food, although what they are most known for are their sausages and their beer. As for the price, doing your food shopping costs about as much as in Spain. In the end, as meal for a student at the university restaurant only costs €2, you'll end up eating quite a lot.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Dortmund?

No, the university will look for accommodation for any students that needs it.

What are the living costs like in Dortmund?

It's quite an inexpensive city. It all depends on how much partying you do, but if you are careful with your money, you can live comfortably on €500-600 a month.

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

The language is quite complicated. It's best to go with an intermediate level, but it all depends on which university you go to. At mine (the Technical University of Dortmund or TU), the vast majority of the classes were given in German, but at other universities, like the Fachochschule, the classes are usually in English.

The German courses here are something else and you'll appreciate that. In September, there's a preliminary course, it's great for meeting people and for the throughout of the semester, the university puts on free courses for every level of ability.

What's the easiest way to travel to Dortmund from your city?

There are a few different ways. I'm from Zaragoza and, going there for the first time, the best option was to fly out with Vueling directly from Barcelona to Dortmund. When you're enrolled in the university there, students get a Semesterticket, which lets you travel by bus and train (apart from the high speed ones) around the whole region (Nordrhein-Westfalia) for free, so you get go home by flying from Düsseldorf to Barcelona, or even going to Brussels to fly directly to Zaragoza.

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

There are a few clubs in the city centre, like Nightrooms or the U. If you prefer going to bars, in the north, there are some pretty nice bars, like Subrosa. The bars at the residences are open from Monday to Thursday, a different one every day, until 1 am, and a pint of beer costs €1 there.

And to eat in Dortmund? What are some of your favourite places to go?

As an Erasmus student, I haven't actually been to a lot of restaurants. But there are a lot of bars and restaurants in the Reinoldikirche area (although they're a bit pricey).

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There's nothing particularly special in the city, you can see the whole city centre in an afternoon. If you like football, you have to go to the Westfalenstadion (the stadium of the city team: Borussia Dortmund). Every time there's a game on, the city turns black and yellow, the team colours, and there's a great atmosphere in the streets.

You can also visit the Westfalenpark, next to the stadium.

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

If you're someone who has decided to come to Dortmund in the end, you should get a move on with the language, or else you'll be very lost for the first few months. Don't be overwhelmed, because, in the beginning, everything is hard. Try to get in touch with your buddy, it will be another student who the university will assign to help the Erasmus students out. They'll get in touch with you, so you should answer them, as they will be a big help with all of the paperwork you'll have to do in the early days (which is not a small amount).