Erasmus experience in Ghent, Belgium

Why did you choose to go to Ghent, Belgium?

I've heard a lot from people about how beautiful the city is and also I've searched and learnt. After I went to Ghent, I understood that it was a right decision. I had a chance to see many cities in Belgium, Ghent is the most beautiful and most affordable for students. Also it was different and instructive.

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How long did you get scholarship? How much money did you get to meet the costs of living?

I didn't have a scholarship. I had only Erasmus grant like every Erasmus student have. I got 80% of the grant when I went there and the 20% was given when I came back. The grant was approximately 429 euro per month.

How is the student life in Ghent?

Ghent is ideal for a student. There is a high population of students in the city. The interaction between students and their activities keep the city alive. Ghent is quite cultural and social. And what really got my attention is that students are taking part in almost every activity in the city. It was an amazing experience to do Erasmus in Ghent where students are cared.

Would you recommend the city and the university to other students?

I feel so lucky that I did my Erasmus in Ghent. In my opinion, no doubt that it's the best city for Erasmus. You'll realize that as soon as you get there. Train stations and roads are quite safe. The chance of getting in trouble is so little. Because the city is organized and students are valued. To see your peers in the streets is giving you confidence. I think the city is perfect for social development. It's history, museums, nostalgic structure and cultural activities are teaching you something new ever day. Ghent is a competent state university which has proved itself at a high level in Europe. But classes are for four hours, quite tiring. It's really hard for students to focus on the lesson, sometimes they're giving ten minutes break but still four hours is too much. Don't choose your classes by their name if you ask me. You should search the teacher before choosing the class. The better the teacher is, the better your education will be. If you choose by the name, you may be disappointed later.

How is the food?

Food in the cafeteria of school is reasonably priced. And everyday there are different meals ( vegetables, soup and meat ) You have three options for meat; pork, white meat or fish. You have to pay 3. 70 euros for three meals. For example soup alone is 50 cent. I didn't have any difficulty about food. The food in the cafeteria are also given in the dormitories of school, so students who stay in dormitory have this chance in the week days. Besides, Ghent has variety of foods. You can easily find a restaurant according to your taste.

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How did you find the house?

I stayed 5 months in the dormitory peacefully. There are four different dormitories, I stayed in the home astrid dormitory. I didn't have any problems. The price was 278 euros per month. The rooms are all single. Every floor has a kitchen and a bathroom. Students can also find house but if they stay in the dormitory it'd be a better experience because of the integration between students.

How are the house prices? How are other prices in general?

Like I said before, I stayed in dormitory for 278 euros per month. For other expenses, I asked from my parents. It wasn't really different from my hometown.

How is the language? Is there any language course at university?

I didn't attend any Dutch course. I am a graduate student but like other Erasmus students I had to choose Master's courses. Classes at the university are in English so I took five courses. People in Belgium know how to speak in English so I didn't have any trouble. And there are other language courses you can choose at university.

What is the easiest and most economical way to go from your city to the city of Ghent?

After the flight to Brussels, take the train to Ghent. There are two stations in Ghent, choose the one which is closer to the place you'll stay. You can buy go pass ticket for 50 euros ( you can use it for ten times )

Which places do you recommend to go at night?

At the city center, it's lively at night... You can go to Graslei site and Torens site.

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Which restaurants would you recommend?

You can prefer one of the many beautiful restaurants which are located in Sint Pieters Plein right in front of the university. You can also go to restaurants next to the opera building in Torens site. Besides, there's a nice restaurant named Pinocchio in Zuid which has Italian cuisine. If you're vegetarian, you can go to Sogo Bia o Yon 'd which is near to Sint Pieters Station.

Are there any cultural sites to see?

Ghent is full of history. Students should discover and see everywhere. Such as St Bavo's Cathedral, The Belfry, Royal Dutch Theatre, the amazing tower of Ghent; Castle of Counts, the Opera in Kouter site... Museum of Fine Arts, City Museum, Dr. Guislain Museum, Minard Theatre... And you can also join city trip by boat.

What advice would you give future students heading to Ghent?

Ghent university has an incredible course which is every Thursday and it's two hours. The course is free and it's about Flemish people, culture, history. I think every Erasmus student should take this course and walk around the city aware of everything. You can also attend the sport activities to integrate with Erasmus students. You can travel the other cities of Belgium by train, such as Bruges, Antwerp, Oastande, Knokke, Leuven, Mechelen, Brussels...

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