A Cadiz student in Liverpool, United Kingdom

Why did you choose to go to Liverpool?

The truth is that I didn't choose to go there actually. At first, I was supposed to be doing an Erasmus placement in Amsterdam but there was a problem with the agreement between the two universities so I went to Liverpool without a second thought!

How long was the placement? How much money did you receive as a grant to help you?

My placement was only one semester, the 1st February until the 4th June. But for me, I wanted to make the most of it so I arrived in October to improve my level of English because I had no idea how difficult it would be starting in the University of Liverpool.

My received around 1600€ help from my grant. Which worked out at around 400€ a month. I received it in two installments, the first in February which was around 1000€ and the second in June which was around 600€. I believe this varies in different universities and it also depends on whether you go to a private or public university.

What is the student life like in Liverpool?

The city is full of students, they rule the city! It is the ultimate student city. The students give life to the city and fill the streets. There are students and young people everywhere you go. Lots of parties, bars, pubs, clubs, events and fun wherever you go.

I was there all of summer and you can tell that the students are on holidays, there are lots of tourists but less students in the street, bars and pubs.

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

Absolutely! The city has a great atmosphere and there are lots of things to do and places to see. The University of Liverpool (which in my case is what i know best) is incredible, it's very organised and the professors are great and you will learn and enjoy it so much, there is time for everything.

What is the food like there?

It's good, I am a good eater but at the start, I didn't like anything and I missed food from Spain so much! But in time I got used to it, I got to know the supermarkets and markets better when I wanted to cook at home but there are also plenty of restaurants and bars if you want to eat out. With lots of different cultures and different specialities to try, in the end it is not so bad.

Of course, you can not forget the huge amount of kebab restaurants and fast food places where you will find pizzas, hamburgers, kebabs, chips, other fatty foods and of course the famous fish and chips. It is not that bad when you are out partying all night and you're on your way home, starving, but otherwise, it is not good unless you want to die in less than a month haha!

How did you find your accommodation?

I decided to go in August (the summer before I went) to look for somewhere in person. I went with a friend and we looked at flats and at student housing. In the end, we decided to stay in student housing next to the university (Europa Student Accommodation), where all the furniture was brand new (I had to take the plastic cover off my bed and my chair) since it had only been opened that year.

There are lots of student residencies:

• Opal
• Prospect Point
• St. Andrews Garden
• Grand Central
• Cambridge Court
• Lennon Studios Cedar House
• Bianca House...

Although maybe the best option is to find a flat on your own, which will work out a bit cheaper.

Below is a link to the Unite, one of the main companies that provides and helps you to find student housing in the UK: Unite Students.

How expensive was accommodation? How were the prices in the city in general?

My accommodation cost me £93 a week throughout the year except in July and August where I paid £70 per week. In general, student housing costs between £90- £100 a week.

The pound is a strong currency and you often get less for your money with the currency rate. In general, it isn't that cheap although having said that, some things are really cheap like deal shops such as Pound World, Primark, etc. Being a new student in the city, you can find everything you need for your new life.

Some advice: don't take public taxis as they are more expensive. Use private taxi firms such as Delta Taxi.

What is the language like? Did you take an English class in the university?

Before I arrived in Liverpool, I only had an average level of English so I enrolled in an English academy, School of English on Mount Pleasant Street. It was very good, I learnt a lot and met lots of people. We had weekly events such as the pub quiz, we played football and we had parties with host families which allowed me to practice a little bit and kept me busy in my first few months in the city. That said, I have to say it was quite expensive. Although, there wasn't much choice, I know of another well known academy called Lila and there are some others in the city, but the best are the two that I have mentioned.

There are also free English classes in the university for the students. Personally, I didn't sign up to these classes because I only started university in February. The university also organises language exchanges.

Another option is to find someone to practice your English with and you can help them with their Spanish, do one half in one language and one half in the other. Lots of people use Gumtree to organise language swap meetings.

What is the cheapest way to get from your city to Liverpool?

Myself, I fly to Liverpool from Seville, Malaga or Madrid. I always use the cheaper airlines such as Ryanair or Easyjet. The price is usually around 100€ return. Sometimes, you can find cheaper flights at the last minute. The earlier you book your flight the cheaper it normally is.

If you want to take your car from Spain, I know that there is a ferry que leaves Santander or Bilbao and you can take your car on it. This is the easiest option if you want to travel around the UK a little. The company is called Brittany Ferries.

What places would you recommend to go out in Liverpool?

Liverpool has plenty of places to go out. Though I think the main party area (not the only one) is Concert Square. My favourites are: Heebie Jeebies and El Alma de Cuba, but there are lots of other places, the list is endless: Jacaranda, Magnet, Bumper, The Flute, Medication (on Wednesdays), Garlands...

Although for me, the best is going to places with live music which lots of pubs offer, like the famous Cavern (a must visit) which I loved, especially on Thursdays when there was a Beatles tribute band (there was lots of tourists and internationals there). There was also concerts in Heebie Jeebies. Overall, it is a city with a big music scene, where you can enjoy lots of small concerts and other musical events.

Where are the best places to eat in Liverpool?

There are multiple restaurants, of different nationalities, for all tastes and prices. But my favoruite place is La Viña, next to the Cavern. It is a Spanish restaurant that I recommend you try!

What about its culture?

For a cultural tour, you can visit the two typical Cathedrals: Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. There are museums such as the famous Beatles Museum, Maritime Museum, World museum (where you can visit the planetarium for free), International Slavery Museum, and some others. Here is a link to a website with more information about the museums.

For art, you can go to several galleries such as the Walker Art Galley or Lady Lever Art Gallery. I do not personally know them, so I can't comment, but they are good for anyone interested.

Well, I assume there are lots of other cultural things to do, since Liverpool was the cultural capital in 2008. So if you discover the city a little, I'm sure that you will find much more.

Any advice you want to give to future students coming to Liverpool?

Make the most of your stay, make time to do everything, meet people at the University from all over the world, learn English, go out, travel a little, get to truly know the city of Liverpool...

Finally, I don't know what else to say. It is a unique experience that I will never forget, I hope yours is as good as mine.

Good luck to the new Erasmus students and enjoy a lot. Livin 'la vida Erasmus!