Erasmus Experience in Gent, Belgium by Urška

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Why did you choose to go to Gent, Belgium?

I chose Belgium because I study English and I know that I would be exposed to good- quality English here and I chose Gent in particular because I heard it was very similar to Ljubljana in terms of size and the atmosphere of the city.

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

It's a 5-month scholarship and I receive 350€ from the Erasmus fund and additional 150€ from the Slovenian government. I pay 390€ for my accommodation so the scholarship covers for about 2/3 of my living costs.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Gent?

Students are diligent, but they also know how to party.

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

I would definitely recommend UGent to other students.

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What is the food like?

The food in the student cafeteria is ok whereas the food in the restaurant is expensive. One can get a decent-priced meal in fritters and sandwich bars but I wouldn't say I'm impressed. If you live in the dorms or a private accommodation you would probably want to cook as much as possible to get the most bang for your money and to eat most healthily.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Gent?

No, the ad on Erasmusu did not demand any additional payment.

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How much does it cost to live in Gent?

Around 700-800€ per month.

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

The language courses are available at UGent for the price of 50€. There, one can learn basic and useful phrases quite quickly - in two/three weeks.

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

From Slovenia - Wizzair (Ljubljana - Charleroi) and then take a Flibco bus to Gent.

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

Charlatan.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Festivals.

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

Definitely buy or rent a bike.

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