Erasmus experience in Edinburgh, UK by Esther

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

I chose to go to Edinburgh literally on a whim. I was sure that I was going to enjoy my Erasmus no what where I went, so I just decided to go with my gut and I went to Edinburgh.

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

My placement lasted the whole academic year of 2014-2015 and I received 1500€, 300€ for 5 months which is the maximum amount I could get, although I was actually there for 9 months. I got my grant from Erasmus+ but I also knew that the Ministry of Education offered grants that were a lot more generous (around 2000€) but I couldn't get it. At first, the University of Salamanca told us that students of Philosophy and English didn't need any kind of certification to get the grant and that they would take care of it. But in fact, when the Ministry received our applications, they told us that official documentation was obligatory but it was too late to do anything so we missed out on getting another grant. I recommend you get a First Cambridge certificate before you do Erasmus because it makes things a lot easier.

What is the student life like in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a really relaxing city with lots of international students and students from other parts of the UK and Ireland so the student atmosphere is great.

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

The different between the University of Edinburgh and other Spanish universities, well at least USAL, is the organisation. The departments, the facilities, the course and the personal attention you get as a student is amazing. From the first day, we received so much guidance, from the professors to the library staff, I will miss this aspect of the experience so much. As for the city, Edinburgh itself is truly beautiful. It is so welcoming and calm, not like other large cities in the UK, it also has lots of green spaces on offer.

What is the food like there?

I'm not the best person to ask when it comes to trying new food. I only eat simple food but there are lots of restaurants in the city centre that cater to all sorts of different tastes. The Angus beef is a real speciality. The traditional dish is 'Haggis', 'normally made from the insides of a lamb or a sheep (the heart, liver, kidney) and mixed with onions, oats, herbs and spices. It is then mixed altogether in a bag made from the stomach of the animal and cooked for several hours. Another famous speciality is the 'deep friend Mars bar', which is a sweet treat full of calories.

Did you struggle finding accommodation in Edinburgh?

I was told not to reserve my accommodation before I arrived in case it was a scam, but I reserved a room in July before I went using Gumtree which is a reliable website. However I have to say it isn't the best option, the most ideal siutation is to wait until you get there. I heard about two girls that arrived at the start of September but they didn't find anywhere until the end of October since the demand is huge at the start of term.

How much did it cost to live there?

I paid £400 for my rent and with bills included. Rent is normally between £350 and £500. The student accommodation that I knew of was a lot more expensive. It is generally quite an expensive city, especially if you compare it to Spain but everything depends on the solvency of course. Eating and drinking out, and shopping can be pricey, but there are some cheaper places available.

What is the language like? Did you take a language course in the university?

The Scottish accent is rather peculiar, and I struggle quite a bit to understand it but generally, the Edinburgh accent is a lot softer than other cities in Scotland such as Glasgow. In the university, there are lots of students from England and all the professors speak very clearly so I had no problems understanding.

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

I come from Zamora so it is quite difficult to get to Edinburgh, but the easiest way for me was to fly from Madrid to Edinburgh. Flights to Edinburgh can be generally quite expensive so some people choose to fly to Glasgow then get an hour bus from there to the city.

What places would you recommend to go out in Edinburgh?

People go out very early and it ends early compared to the clubs in Spain. Normally, people meet in the bars around 21:00 and then they all close around 3:00. As for places to go, there isn't a huge variety and I didn't go to many of them because the entrance cost £4-5 which is ridiculous.

And eating in Edinburgh? What are your favourite places?

As I said before, I'm not a huge food lover in general and my budget doesn't allow me to eat out that much so I haven't been to many of the restaurants in the city. Those that I have tried and liked include 'The Elephant House', which is where J. K Rowling used to go and write, 'Tang's', a Japanese restaurant, some places on the Royal Mile like 'Garfunkel's' and 'Just Burgers and Beers'. One that I haven't been to but I've heard is really good is Jamie's Italian, which is owned by the famous chef Jamie Oliver. A special mention to Teviot, which is on campus and owned by the Student Union, it has a café, a restaurant and a pub.

What is there to do culturally in the city?

Edinburgh is a tourist city and the most popular places to visit are:

• Waverley Mall, next to Prince's Street Park, where there is the famous Scott monument with views of the castle.
• The same castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile.
• The National Museum of Scotland, the National Gallery and the Botanic Gardens.
• Calton Hill, that has views of the whole city and Arthur's Seat.

For special places to go and wander around:

• Dean Village, a small hamlet in the middle of the same city, minutes from the centre.
• Leith, a town annexed to the city which is now famous for being a 'a cosmopolitan area which boasts an animal cultural and art scene and a wealth of small shops'.

  These two areas are bound by the 'Water of Leith'.

Any advice to future students going to Edinburgh?

Tempus fugit, carpe diem- Time flies seize the day.