Erasmus Experience in Hamburg, Germany by Carmen

Why did you choose to go to Hamburg, Germany?

I was sure that I wanted to do my Erasmus in Germany after studying German at school, I was very attracted to Hamburg and the University of Law has some very good feedback.

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

I got the "Grant 0" from the European Commission and it's for €200 a month for 5-6 months.

What is the student lifestyle like in Hamburg?

It's perfect, there's a lot of student atmosphere and lots of Erasmus students especially, which means that you can meet a lot of people from lots of different countries and new cultures.

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

I just about spent two months in Hamburg, but yes, of course I would recommend Hamburg as an Erasmus destination.

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What is the food like there?

It depends on what you like to eat, I prefer to cook typical Spanish food for myself, but you'll always be able to find a typical local dish worth trying.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Hamburg?

No, I've seen that students coming for the second semestre here have been having a lot of problems finding places in the residence. Personally, I didn't have any problems getting assigned a place in the residence and it's also close to my university.

How much does it cost to live in Hamburg?

People say that Hamburg is expensive, and it's true that it does depend on where you go out or where you get your money exchanged makes a difference. But there are a lot of deals and loads of second hand markets, which are typical of Hamburg.

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

The language comes bit by bit, I prefer to speak German than English, but the good thing about Germany is that, if you are struggling with the language, you can speak English to everyone there. And the universities offer a lot of intensive language courses for all different levels.

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

I was actually surprised by the prices of the flights, I'd thought that they would be much more expensive, but if you look enough in advance, you can find flights from Madrid or Barcelona for €20.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Hamburg?

St Pauli is the typical party area, but I think there are still a lot of other places for going out for me to discover.

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

I'd just encourage them to go on an Erasmus experience, and that if they're lucky enough to do it in Hamburg, it'll be so much better.

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