Erasmus Experience in Durham, United Kingdom by Angela

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

I've heard really good things about the city and the locals. Also, after doing a bit of research about it, I found out that the university had a very strong reputation in England, as well as being one of the oldest just after Oxford and Cambridge, and that it offered high-quality degrees.

How long did the grant last? How much money did you receive as help?

As I'm here for the whole year, the grant lasts between 8 and a half to 9 months. The help that I received, without ever having been a recipient of a grant, was 3, 200 euros. However, the amount that I received from the Erasmus grant was 1, 500 euros (300 euros a month); the rest comes from the government support from my region (Andalusia).

What is the student lifestyle like in Durham?

There are so many students, as the University welcomes a lot of Erasmus students, but in addition, due to it being a prestigious University, there are a lot of students who come from England, China, India, etc to do their degrees here. The atmosphere is really good because due to their being students there from all over the world, you get to know a lot of different cultures and customs.

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

Speaking on behalf of my degree, Modern Languages, the University is really good and the relationship between the professors and the Erasmus students is also great, especially seeing as they help you whenever they can. We only have exams at the end of the year, the rest is just essays or coursework. So if you are studying languages, I'd recommend it.

As for the city, the city-centre is really pretty, full of people and with a good atmosphere. The rest of the city is made up of residential zones which are very quiet and easy to travel to and from via public transport.

Do you like the food?

Everyone knows that England is not well-known for its cuisine, and Durham's food certainly follows this trend. There are lots of supermarkets and you can always cook your own food.

But there are also lots of restaurants: Italian, a few Spanish tapas restaurants, Thai food, Mexican, Lebanese, a little bit of everything, and of course a Fish and Chips.

Did it cost you to find accommodation in Durham?

I found accommodation really quickly via the internet. There are lots of flats and apartments from letting agencies for students, and lots of halls. A popular and cheap area to live is Gilesgate.

Also, the University offers accommodation in their colleges for Erasmus students.

How much does it cost to live in Durham?

It depends on where you live, the flats can be cheap, between 100 to 140 pounds a week, but you might be able to find cheaper. The rent for most of them includes the bills.

Halls can be a bit more expensive, it depends on what type of room and accommodation you choose, clearly.

Everything else such as shopping, social activities etc... can be a bit expensive, coming from a Spaniard's perspective.

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

I didn't find the language difficult because I study translation, but the accent of the Durham locals and Northerners' is generally quite different to the English accents I am used to; so at the beginning on public transport, supermarkets and places like that, it was a bit difficult to understand.

What is the cheapest way to get to Durham from your city?

From Granada, my city, the cheapest way is to take a direct plane from Malaga. If you book your ticket in advance or search for deals, you can find return tickets for less than 40 euros!

What places do you recommend to go on a night out in Durham?

There are various pubs and clubs, and the young people are always out and about, so there's a really good atmosphere. The most popular ones are Lloyds, Jimmy, Studio and Klute, and the most popular pub with Erasmus students is the Library, but that's more for going for a drink at. They also have nights out with reggaeton or Latin music quite often.

If not, you can always go to Newcastle which is really nearby, which has a better party vibe.

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Is it good to eat out in Durham? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

For something other than Italian food, Tango, Chiquito, Fat Hippo or Bills.

To grab a coffee or a snack, there are lots of cafes such as Flat White, Riverview Kitchen, Cathedral Durham or Tealicious Tearoom, amongst others. There are also chains like Starbucks and Costa Coffee.

What good cultural sights are there to visit?

Durham cathedral and castle are the most representative sights of the city, being World Heritage Sights, and both offering a medieval feel.

You can visit the Cathedral anytime (for free), but the castle, due to being part of one of the University's colleges there are more specific opening hours (free for students).

The areas around the river are really pretty as well, in addition to the panoramic views from the bridges. You definitely have to go for a stroll down the medieval streets in the city-centre.

For Harry Potter fans, various scenes from the films were recorded in the courtyard of the Cathedral. Also, they were interested in recording one of the Great Hall scenes in the castle, which didn't end up happening, but they got one of the potion class there!

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What advice would you like to give to future students heading to Durham?

1) Durham: if you are looking for a calm place that is sometimes lively, Durham is ideal.

Also, Newcastle is really nearby and you can always go there if you want to spend time in a more urban city.

2) Do lots of travelling: Scotland is also close by so make the most of that and travel a lot around England and Scotland, they are great areas.

3) Societies: The only advice is to enjoy your experience and to join lots of societies to go to events, parties and get to know lots of people. Some are free, some cost between 1 and 5 pounds a year. Don't worry, I'm sure that you'll find a society that will suit you, they have all sorts, ranging from a chocolate society, sports, dance, video-games, food, religion... to a society of Chinese tea art.

4. Student cards: Find out more about these, as with a student card you can save a lot of money and find travel deals (Railcard) or have discounts when shopping (Totum). These are only two examples.

5) Revolut card! If you want to save yourself from having to open an English bank account, this is the best solution. This card doesn't charge a transaction fee when you withdraw money (not at any cash point nor any bank) or when shopping. Also, with the app, you can control the time that the currency exchange occurs; thus saving money by changing your money to pounds when the rate is low, so you will spend less money. It's really handy. Revolut haven't paid me to say this, but they have saved my life and I think it's good advice to say to get this card, so there you have it. :)