My Erasmus Experience in Ghent, Belgium. By Yolanda.

Why did you choose to go to Ghent, Belgium?

I was looking for a city that isn't too big, but complete. I was tired of all the big cities where you have to drive or take public transport to get anywhere.

Furthermore, they told me that Ghent was one of those cities that has a great student atmosphere; parties, festivals, etc.

Belgium also has an enviable geographical location. It's close to Germany, France, Holland, Luxemburg, etc. It is simple and almost obligatory to travel to all these nearby countries.

Ghent is a city that has all the cultural beauty of a capital city (more than Brussels), a lot of student atmosphere and a tranquil, civilised rhythm of life.

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

My grant lasted for 10 months, from September 2011 to June 2012. I received €600 monthly, before the government severely reduced the grants for the year 2012/2013. With this money I could manage myself each month, although rent is definitely a lot higher here than in Spain (I paid €350) and the cost of living is a lot higher.

However, this money was enough for me to get to the end of the month (without trips and other whims).

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What is the student lifestyle like in Ghent?

The atmosphere is the best thing about the city. There are more students than in Granada and there is a culture of going out every day.

In terms of parties, Ghent is the perfect city for this. There are many pubs, several discos and countless bars for both older people and kids of our age. In addition, there are monthly activities and festivals in the city such as KickOff (at the beginning of the academic year), fairs, light festivals or music festivals such as Gentse Feesten, a festival with stages in the most important areas of the city that attracts thousands of people.

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

I would recommend it 100%. The city is magnificent: it's beautiful with a lot of atmosphere.

As for the university, I received exceptional treatment, my tutor was very attentive when receiving all the necessary documents from Erasmus, he helped me with the paperwork, etc. The subjects and classes were a little harder than at my university, but I learned a lot too. Attendance is taken into account a lot and it is good that teachers know you.

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What is the food like?

The food... It's not as good as it is in Spain. It's more expensive and there are certain foods like fruit and vegetables that aren't as good as in Spain.

The food is a lot more expensive, especially the fish, meat, cold meats and coffee. But in the super markets there are products of a white brand that have a similar price to those in Spain.

The best things here are the cheese, chips, and 'bicky' burgers, and of course the beer and chocolate.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Ghent?

Not really, there are a lot of announcements on the internet about residences or "kots" (student buildings) offering rooms or flats.

How much does it cost to live in Ghent?

€600 per month

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

The language they speak here is Dutch, Flemish. It is quite a complicated language (it reminds me a bit of German), but I haven't had any problem communicating with people. Everyone here speaks English as if they were bilingual and if you ask them something in English they will undoubtedly be able to answer in that language (as well as in a really friendly way). That being said, I also signed up to a Dutch course in order to get an A1. It was a free course that taught the basics of the language (directions, food, greetings, etc. ) and it seemed useful to be able to know the basic vocabulary for my daily life.

Another thing that surprised me: a lot of people speak Spanish. It seems like they like the culture or the language and there are lots of students that speak our language.

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

From Seville, the most affordable way was by plane with a low-cost company to Charleroi.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Ghent?

There are various areas to go out to in Ghent, but the most well-known is the area of Overpoort.

For the first few weeks it is obligatory that you go to Porter's House, an Irish bar where all of the Erasmus students go. After a couple of weeks it will get a little boring going there every night. The areas I like to go out in the most:

• Molotov (Overpoort)
• Decadance (Overpoort)
• Pnuts (Sint Pietersplein)
• Charlatan
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• App

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Is it good to eat out in Ghent? Can you recommend some good restaurants?

It can be a little expensive eating out in Ghent.

For those days when you need some fat for your body, it is best to go to a chip stand, called "frituur", such as "Julieen", which is in the party area. Here you will eat very cheaply and you will love all the sauces that they put all over the potatoes or the hamburgers.

There are also vegan frituurs throughout the whole city.

Anothe rplace where they eat well, although it is a little more expensive, is GreenWay, vegetarian food. You have to try the carrot hamburgers and curry!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Ghent is full of churches and monuments throughout the city. Each walk through town is like a journey to the era of Carlos V. The city is full of history and legends that make the city even more interesting.

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What advice would you give future students heading to Ghent?

Don't think for a moment more about the place! Pick Ghent as your destination. I picked it on a whim and it was the best experience I have had in my entire life. I have spent more than two years of my stay here and each year I return to Ghent to keep on remembering why I am in love with this city.