Erasmus Experience in Galway, Ireland by Julia

Why did you choose to go to Galway, Ireland?

I chose Ireland in order to improve my English, to discover a new culture and lots of beautiful landscapes.

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

I am doing a 3-month internship and for this I received 1000€ from my region in France and maybe between 150 and 500€ later from my French department.

What is the student lifestyle like in Galway?

I can't say, I am not a real student because I am just doing a short internship.

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

Absolutely! Galway is a nice city with nice people and same for the University which has also new buildings.

What is the food like?

It's not as bad as I thought. Almost everything is good exept maybe steaks and we have to be careful with the milk because here it's almost just fresh milk, can't be keep for a long time and there is a lot of whole milk so don't make mistakes.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Galway?

No, I found my accommodation on a Facebook page dedicated to Erasmus in Galway.

How much does it cost to live in Galway?

Life in Galway is quite expensive especially to rent a flat, it's better to share a house or a flat with other people.

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

Yes, the Irish accent is not complicated to understand with some exceptions.

And I don't know whether courses are available in the University.

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

Most economical, I would say boat from France but it takes 12 hours to do Roscoff-Cork so not the easiest way. I took the plane even if I had to take several planes because I had just 2 days to do the trip and install myself. Plane was not that expensive.

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

Pubs, they are all great! Just walk during the night after a sunny day, is a good idea too.

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

The Quays. They are very nice people and their potatoes are awesome.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The city centre of Galway is lovely. Another option is the Aran islands, they are a must-see so as the Connemara lakes or the Cliffs of Moher but that is not close from Galway,

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

• Think about finding an accommodation before coming to Galway.
• If you plan to take the plane, buy the tickets as soon as you can.
• Take a coat and pullovers.
• When it's sunny, enjoy it and go for a walk.