Glasgow, Scotland: an underrated city

Why did you choose to go to Glasgow, Scotland?

It was one of the few universities in the UK that had an agreement with my home university. In the end, for one reason or another, it was the place I was most attracted to, and I wasn't afraid to take on the dreaded Scottish accent.

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

9 months in total. Between the grant, well at least in the year I went, and the Autonomous Community of Madrid grant for Erasmus, I managed to cover the cost of the student residence. My year was 2007/2008, and I think the criteria to receive a grant have changed since then.

What is the student lifestyle like in Glasgow?

It's excellent. The University of Glasgow is very important and is internationally renowned and is attended by people from all over the world. The experience of sharing classes and daily life at the residence with so many different people is very enriching.

Besides, because of how Glasgow is (its size and the type of city it is), there is an endless amount of things you can do and not just limited to the weekends.

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

Absolutely.

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What is the food like there?

Scottish food ranges from average to awful. Scottish dishes are complicated, to put it one way. But, of course, with all of the different cultures that come together in the UK, the "national food" ends up being international food and it's wonderful. People there go out to eat a lot and all of the restaurants are very good and pretty affordable.

Indian food is probably the best type of food there.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Glasgow?

I found it through the university, I stayed in one of the student halls (dorms) there.

How much does it cost to live in Glasgow?

Accommodation in the residence isn't cheap, it's actually more expensive to live there than it is to rent a room on your own. But the atmosphere in the halls and it being so much easier to arrive here and already have somewhere to live, I think, makes up for the price difference. The prices depend on which hall you live in and what kind of room you get, it costs around £450 a month if I remember correctly.

The prices... well they're more or less the same as the prices in Madrid. I didn't find them too shocking and I thought that a lot of things were actually cheaper here. People on exchanges in other cities in the UK find it more expensive, but not by too much.

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

The English spoken in Glasgow is possibly one of the most difficult versions on English. Coming here with what would be considered a high level of English in Spain was a traumatic experience: you won't be able to understand anyone and very few people will be able to understand you. But after a couple of months, you'll adapt to it and it's the same anywhere else in the UK you'll go to. The English spoken on the streets here is not quite the same as the English you hear on the BBC.

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

Flying with Easyjet to Edinburgh and then taking a train/bus to Glasgow. It's best to take a taxi from the train or bus station to the residence (the taxi services are good and cheap).

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Glasgow?

1. WestEnd on Ashton Lane and the Student Unions
2. City centre on Sauchiehall St. and the adjoining streets
3. Merchant City in Sin club

And to eat in Glasgow? What are some of your favourite places to go?

An Indian restaurant called the KamaSutra in Sau. It's a bit more high end, but the decor and the food are amazing.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Glasgow isn't really a city that you can "visit" but rather a place to live. There are some nice things, but there's nothing anywhere near as spectacular as Edinburgh's tourist hot spots.

If you live here, you have to go to the museums, they're free and they're really good. The cathedral and its cemetery are also mandatory sites to visit. The Scottish Events Campus Centre (SECC) is a cutting-edge concert venue in the UK and it welcomes artists from all over the world.

You also have to rent a car to go on a road trip to the Scottish Highlands.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Glasgow in the future?

Don't neglect your studies there. Erasmus students in Glasgow don't get special treatment, you're just another student there... so you'll have to put some work in. But you'll still have time to enjoy yourself.

Are you liking the sound of going to Scotland for university? Or perhaps just Great Britain? In that case, follow this link for the top 10 universities in the UK!