Katowice, Poland , Erasmus Experience by Merve

Why did you choose to go to Poland?

I had only three choices and Poland felt like the best one.

How long have you received scholarship? How much money have you received to help you with living costs?

Scholarship was equal to 10 euros daily. They give you most of it at once and depending on the school you receive 20% or 30% of it later when you go back (also depends on your marks). If you decide to go later or return earlier, they take away 10€ per day.

How is the student life in Katowice?

Not really active. The city is good for its location because of Polskibus and Wizzair. Especially the students coming for the first semester should think twice as the weather just started to get warmer and streets are crowded again.

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

It depends on the expectations and the other choices. It has a beautiful nature. You will spend nice time if you have good friends but if you ask Budapest or Katowice, I would say Budapest.

What is the food like?

You have your own kitchen in most of the dormitories so you won't really have to eat local food. You can try but I found it in the middle, not so good, not so bad.

What are the accommodation prices like? What are prices like for other things in general?

About 300-400 euros with the expenses of dormitory and travel. Of course it depends on the person. People shouldn't be afraid about the expenses here. Scholarship is quite enough for it, you wouldn't really have to ask money from your family.

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

Polish is a hard language but there was a course at the university.

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

To Berlin with Pegasus and to Katowice by Polskibus. Or to Budapest with Wizzair and again by Polskibus.

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

You shouldn't have high expectations. It is easy to live but boring sometimes.