Erasmus Experience in Ghent, Belgium by Nicola

Why did you choose to go to Ghent, Belgium?

I didn't have another option.

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

It's from February to May and I received a grant of €300 for each month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ghent?

There's a lot of students so there's lots to do.

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

Yes I would.

What is the food like?

It's hard to find proper restaurants but there are lots of cafes and the supermarkets are good too.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Ghent?

I really struggled to find accommodation because there is a housing crisis in Ghent so I live about half an hour out of the city.

How much does it cost to live in Ghent?

It costs me €300 a month for rent and about €20 a week for food shopping.

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

Everyone speaks English so that's helpful but I also took Dutch lessons through my uni course and that has made it easier.

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

I took the ferry.

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

Overpoortstraat.

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

I haven't been to any good restaurants because they're quite expensive and there's not many.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Lots of different places in the city which you can see through doing a free walking tour.

Source

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

If they like alcohol then they'll have fun but if not then they should go to the sports classes or clubs to make friends and have a good social life. Definitely hire a bike, best and easiest way to get to places.