Erasmus Experience in Huelva, Spain by Priya

Why did you choose to go to Huelva, Spain?

I was in Huelva to work as an English Language Assistant with the British Council. My first preference was a city in Andalusia and I was allocated to Huelva.

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

I received the Erasmus grant which was around £250 for each 12 weeks I was there.

What is the student lifestyle like in Huelva?

Huelva is smaller than most cities you may think of in Spain. But that is what makes it a good place for students as people are always close by and you don't have to travel too far to meet. There are students from the University as well as those working as teachers and language assistants from all over the world which makes it easy to meet different students. There are lots of places to get tapas, meet at bars and although the Huelva isn't full of huge clubs, you can still have a good time at parties.

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

I would definitely recommend Huelva as it is cheap, a great place to meet new people easily. The centre is safe and you can walk to many places which also cuts down on costs. Although people may be dissuaded by the smaller aspect of the city in comparison with other Andalusian cities, you can easily access Seville in one hour and the regular buses and trains to other destinations also allows you to travel.

What is the food like?

The food is good for local specialties, especially if you like seafood which is fresh in Huelva. Although I struggled quite a lot as a vegetarian, there were some tapas options. There is also other cuisines such as Italian and Japanese if you want a change. But the supermarkets are cheap so if you enjoy cooking, it's always nice to cook fresh food, especially when the strawberry season starts and can be found a cheap prices!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Huelva?

I looked at websites before arriving in Huelva and followed links on facebook pages and looked at the flats when I got there. There are some nice places and rent isn't too expensive, even near the centre. But, one thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that you may have to learn to be patient with people whilst looking for accommodation as landlords may take a while to reply, particularly when things are closed on Sundays.

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