Erasmus Experience in Koper, Slovenia by Iva

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Why did you choose to go to Koper, Slovenia?

The first two things that came to my mind when I thought about Koper were, of course, the sea and the sun. Perhaps it was an idealist view, but I liked the idea that you can go to a lecture and, then, go to the beach. You must agree that it's a good idea. If the environment is like how you want it to be, you will be more satisfied when doing your job. I came to Koper because I wanted to study Archaeology, of course. I wanted to known how another country with a similar culture to mine deals with Archaeology. Besides, I thought that studying in Koper was a good opportunity because it a young university with completely new methodological approaches.

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

I am a master student and the scholarship lasts for two years. My scholarship only covers tuition fees.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Koper?

Like I said, this is a small city by the sea. If it is compared to other cities, it can be boring, although this depends on your expectations... I must say that this is not a party town, but here you will find everything you need: a cinema, a theatre, some bars, different hypermarkets, a student office that offers sport activities to which you can go in case you need a hobby, such as sewing or painting, etc. Moreover, another good think about Koper is that everything you need is downtown, in the Old Town. In fact, my faculty is there, but it is not the only one. There you have student restaurants, other type of restaurants, bars, markets, shops wardrobe, and souvenir shops. Added to this, another endearing aspect about Koper is that there are many shops with hand made food, or domestic vine and beer. Besides, you can ride a bike or jogging near the sea, as there is a route for a bike along the coast from Koper to Izola. In general, everything here is harmonious and beautiful.

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

Of course, I recommend that students come to Koper because it is a good opportunity for their future education. Besides, it is a peaceful city an it is perfect for study. Moreover, my professors on the faculty are very good: they completely respect and understand students. Another good thing about Koper is that, since everything is near, you can easily travel to other countries in case you want to take a break from the peaceful city. Some destinations could be Italy (i. e. Trieste is a beautiful city and it's only half an hour from Koper), Croatia, Austria, etc.

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What is the food like?

I am vegan, so I can't be objective about food. I usually eat at home, but there are students restaurants that even have good options for people who are vegetarians or vegans. The meal, which consists of a soup, a salad, and the main dish, costs about 3 euro.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Koper?

I did not pay anything to find accommodation. I stayed in a hostel for four days until I finally found a flat. Here I leave you some links for you to find your accommodation: Mjocimer and Bolha.

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How much does it cost to live in Koper?

I pay 180€ for a single room and 30-40€ for other expenses. Besides, the food from the supermarkets is not expensive. Moreover, coffee from a bar costs 1-1, 5 €, while beer costs around 2-4 €.

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

My native language is Serbian, so, taking into account that Slovenian and Serbian have some similarities, it didn't find it very hard to learn Slovenian. Yes, my faculty offers Slovenian courses for foreigners.

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

I came here by bus. First, I went from Belgrade to Ljubljana and, later, I went from Ljubljana to Koper. Besides, you can arrive to Koper by train, but sharing transportation is a very good opportunity to travel in a much cheaper way than with regular transport. By the way, I travelled from Koper to Ljubljana using this link.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Koper?

Unfortunately, I've only been here a month and a half. I have not go out yet, but we had a party at the house because I live with 3 more students. To be honest, I think that this is most usual way to hang out. I also heard that Izola (little city near Koper) has a good night club called Ambasada Gavioli. I saw that they organise good techno parties, but I cannot say anything else, as I haven't been there yet.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

When you come to Koper, my recommendation is to visit the tower in the Old town, as it offers a beautiful view to the sea and the town. Moreover, I recommend going to the different museums that the city has. In general, it could be said that the Old town is like a cultural site itself.

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

My two pieces of advice when you come here are the following: find friends and participate in some activities, because you will feel lonely and will have to deal with the fact of being in a different country and other problems that the adaptation process includes, along with the faculty itself. Those two recommendations will help you keep your mind clear and open. To begin with, I can be your friend. I mean, if you are coming to Koper, feel free to contact me concerning everything you see fit.

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All the best,

Iva