My Erasmus Experience in Ljubljana, Slovenia. By Catarina

How long does the grant last? How much money do you get for help?

The amount of the grant is dependant on the number of months you stay in the country, in my case it was 5 months and so the monthly base value of the grant was multiplied by 5, giving the total amount.

How is the student environment in Ljubljana?

The city, although small, is full of students, both Slovenians and other nationalities. There are always plenty of Erasmus parties.

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

Being a student in Slovenia has a number of advantages, as the state offers a lot of support. Prices, in general, are low. In addition, each student has discount coupons for multiple restaurants not only for Ljubljana, but for all over Slovenia, so it is very easy to get fairly cheap prices when we plan to eat dinner or have lunch out.

Source

How easily did you find accommodation in Ljubljana?

Through my college, I was put on the application list for dorms in the city. From that moment, it was just a matter of going to the services to give my identification and choose (from the available dorms) which suited me the most. Despite this, there isn't room for all students in the dorms, so many have to rent houses or rooms, it always comes out more expensive, and it is complicated to arrange.

What is the language like? Did you attend a language course at the university?

The language is quite complicated, virtually impossible to learn, at least in 5 months. I did not attend any course, for I only found out they existed after I had arrived in Ljubljana, and those courses had finished.

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

The cheapest way, from Lisbon, is to take a plane to Venice or Zagreb and from there go with GoOpti (the company providing transport from Slovenia to the bordering countries, at affordable prices). Flying to Ljubljana airport is, of course, more expensive because the airport is quite small and has few flights.

Where do you recommend for a night out in Ljubljana?

There are some discos that usually have Erasmus parties, but for people like me who do not like discos at all, the best place is Metelkova. It is a very peculiar place, full of paintings and artistic elements, where you can hang out and drink in the street. In addition, around it you have numerous bars, with lots of concerts, namely metal and punk.

Source

And in terms of cultural visits?

Slovenia has a large number of green spaces, as well as mountains and lakes all around it, which are worth visiting as well as caves and nature parks. In terms of geographical location, Slovenia is quite well situated, bordering several countries, always interesting to visit. By catching a bus or even renting car, you can easily visit the surrounding countries at affordable prices.