Erasmus Experience in Gent, Belgium by yeliz

Why did you choose to go to Gante, Bélgica?

I applied for Erasmus Mundus programme and my organizator uni was in Belgium so I had to take my compulsory modules in Gent.

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

2 years, Starting from this year, Turkey is in the category B, so I am taking the amount of Cat B.

What is the student lifestyle like in Gante?

Actually it's a really nice city but quite cold. For Bachelor students, it can be fun but since I am in a very intensive course I can't say the same. The city centre is very pretty and full of museums and believe me Belgium beer, waffle and chocolate will make you crazy :) At least this is a very good reason to choose this city.

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

Yes, it is not a cheap place but you can find cheap opportunities for students.

What is the food like?

First of all I really like waffles, they are amazing and you will find very different type of beers which you cant find in Germany. For sure don't forget chocolates!

Additionally for Turkish students, they are lucky because there are many Turkish shops so they will not have any difficulties to find Turkish foods and other stuff..

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Gante?

My university KU leuven provided my accomodation. I only had to pay the rent everymonth.

How much does it cost to live in Gante?

If you cook for yourself and don't eat and drink out a lot, you can survive with 500-600 €.

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

Yes, I didn't have problems with language because in this district people speak both English and Dutch but in Brussels, you need to know French. The Universty provides language courses but I don't have information.

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

I flied with the company "Pegasus" and took the bus from airport.

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

Overportstraat is very famous in terms of bars and the night life is good. Sharlatan can also be a good option for night life and there are many others.

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

I don't eat out, but there are some nice restaurants in the city centre. There is Hema where you can eat cheap & tasty menus like Ikea.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

All the museums and churches are worth visiting for.

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

You can read about Flemmish culture and people before you come here. It is a cold city but you may like it.