Erasmus experience in Edinburgh, United Kingdom by Pilar

Why did you choose Edinburgh?

I chose Edinburgh because I come from a small town, and Almeria (where I study) isn't a big city either. As I've never lived on my own, I didn't want to go to a huge city like London. As well as that, my family went on holiday to Edinburgh last year and they thought it was beautiful. On top of all this, it is home to one of the best universities in the world, of course.

What length of time does the grant cover and how much funding did you get?

My grant covered one year. Although I don't know the exact amount I got, the Council of Andalusia also gave me a grant as I am from Andalusia. Together with the European grant I think I got around 2000 euros.

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What is student life like in Edinburgh?

The student atmosphere is great, I live in student accommodation and it was a great experience. There is student accommodation across the whole city and the societies at university organise events throughout the whole semester.

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

One hundred percent. The city is stunning, I've fallen completely in love with it and the university is one of the best in the world. It's definitely demanding, and you have to put in a lot of effort but you learn a lot from it. The way of teaching is different than in Spain (at least, it's different to my university). It's mainly lectures and tutorials, where the teaching is more individual because the groups are very small.

What's the food like?

In my opinion, it isn't the best but there are some typical dishes which are good. As it is such a multicultural city, there are restaurants from every part of the world which serve a huge variety of food.

Was it difficult to find accommodation?

I live in student accommodation. If you have an Erasmus grant for the whole year, you can apply for a place in student halls. However, if you are only going for one semester then it's more complicated. You could also live in a flat or I even know people who are staying with families, but this isn't provided by the university, so you would have to organise it yourself on the internet.

How much does it cost to live in Edinburgh?

Living in Edinburgh is expensive, especially the accommodation. Since we are students, we don't pay Council Tax, therefore we save some money from that. University is free for both Scottish and European students (but not for English students), so we also save money in that respect. In relation to food, there is Lidl or Asda which are cheaper than other supermarkets such as Sainsburys or Tesco. I would say that accommodation is the most expensive part.

How did you find the language? Did you attend any language course at the university?

With relation to the language, it's true that the accent is distinct, but I became accustomed to it quickly. There are some words which are only used in Scotland but slowly I began to understand. I didn't have to go to any English courses because I already had level B2 which is the level needed to attend that university.

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

From my city, the best way is to travel by bus to Malaga and take the plane from there to Edinburgh. However, when I went for the first time, I went to Madrid and took the plane from there.

Can you recommend anywhere to go out and party in Edinburgh?

I like to go to the traditional pubs. There are many of them on the Royal Mile. Or, you could go to the clubs, such as Why Not or Boteco. The university even organises a party in Potterrow called Big Cheese which is also great.

What about eating out? Can you tell us about your favourite places to eat?

There are many, many places to eat. McDonald's and KFC are everywhere. For example, I liked going to a cafe called Snax Cafe, the food is great there and it's really good value for money.

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Do you have any recommendations for cultural visits?

There are lots and lots of places. The entire Old Town is full of places to visit: Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Calton Hill, Scott's Monument, St Giles' Cathedral, Old College, Dean Village... and these are only some of them!

Any tips for students going to Edinburgh in the future?

Future students: if Edinburgh make you an offer, don't hesitate, just take it. The university is demanding, but you will manage the workload no problem. The city is beautiful, and each day brings a new place to discover that you will love. The people are so friendly, they are used to people from other countries, and the student atmosphere is great.