Erasmus Experience in Ljubljana, Slovenia by Ioana

Why did you choose to go to Ljubljana, Slovenia?

I had little previous knowledge about Ljubljana, just verbal 'confessions' of people i know about how nice this little country and city actually is. It was enough to raise my interest and make me want to see for myself what all the fuss was about...

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

My scholarship was for 6 months, and got an extension for another 6 months... In total the scholarship added up to 270€/month

What is the student lifestyle like in Ljubljana?

Students, especially foreign ones are very well seen, i only had positive experiences from teachers, Slovene students as well as random people on the street. As a student, you get all sorts of discounts and offers, and can participate in a lot of activities organized by the student association. Not to mention the loads of parties you get invited to... every corner has something to offer ;)

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

Definitely yes

What is the food like?

Food-wise, the country is not very original, once part of both Yugoslavia and the Austro-Hunganian Empire, the food is very similar to the neighbor countries. However, the quality of the food was mostly good and i was most of the times satisfied with the diversity and overall dining/lunching experience

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Ljubljana?

i think the question is unclear, but i spent very little time to find an apartment. surfed the internet for a day or two, wrote 3 emails and started chatting with whoever answered, very friendly responses each time, so i picked the one which seemed more suitable for my own needs and requirements. As for rent, I come from Vienna, where rent is pretty high, so in my perception, rent was quite low.

How much does it cost to live in Ljubljana?

I think it depends on the lifestyle and activities. I can only speak for myself, and i am a pretty high-maintenance person, who needs good food, gym, cocktails, going out every weekend for drinks and hang-outs, occasional massages... plus rent, transport, phone contract and shopping. All in all, i think my costs added up to 550-700€, depending again, on mood, season, and fanciness :)

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

The language is not easy but it's fun to learn. some phrases will stick with you without you even trying. At the beginning of every semester there were various language courses available.

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

By bike or bus. However, the taxis are not expensive either :)

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

Depending on the day and crowd preference, Metelkova on Fridays, Dvorni Bar for wine, skeleton pub, and the ever classics for erasmus: Parlament, Orto, Zirkus, KMS and Companeros...

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Ljubljana?

some names: da buda, thai inn, mirje, allegria, foculus... lots of places, just walk around and sit down :)

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

A trip to the caves is well worth it, seaside (Piran, Portoroz, Isola etc), moutain side with its emerald river Soca.... again, just sit in a car, or rent one, and drive. there's no way you can go wrong :)

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

Enjoy! :)