Six amazing months in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Why did you choose to go to Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium?

I chose to go to LLN because my professor recommended it to me, he told me that it was a very pretty university city that has a very youthful vibe. And he was right. I also chose it because Belgium is in the middle of Europe and I was able to visit its nearby countries (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg... ) without having to go very far.

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

My scholarship lasted 6 months. I got €1000 a month on average between the different grants that I was able to get (the general state grant, the grant from the generalitat de Catalunya, the Erasmus grant, the financial aid from the university).

What is the student lifestyle like in Louvain-la-Neuve?

It has a youthful vibe and there are quite a lot of people, as it is a university city. The people living there are mostly students plus some older people who work in the city's shops. Every weekday night there are parties going on in one of the local bars, called the "circles". It's customary to drink a lot of beer and be careful not to get dirty because the truth is that they are a little 'dirty', but it's the tradition and you have to do it!

Would you recommend the city and the university of Louvain-la-Neuve to other students?

Without a doubt, yes.

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What is the food like there?

The food leaves a bit to be desired compared to Spanish food, but if you want to get to know other cultures, you have to deal with it. It doesn't mean that the food there is bad, just that, in my opinion, there is less of a variety than there is here.

How did you find your accommodation there?

I found my accommodation through the university web page, the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL).

How much does accommodation cost there? And what are the prices like there in general?

The accommodation there is expensive, it costs more or less the same as living in a shared flat in a big city in Spain, like Barcelona or Madrid.

The price of food is similar to Spain, maybe a little bit more expensive.

The price of transport isn't very expensive if you know how to work the system, there are passes and deals for students.

The price of going out partying is similar to here in Spain.

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

The language spoken here is French, because it's in the Wallonia part of Belgium. In the north, in the Flemish area, they speak Flemish, which is similar to Dutch.

They offer the Erasmus students there a free French course, which goes on for almost all of your stay.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Louvain-la-Neuve from your home city?

By plane with Ryanair. I took a flight from Reus airport, as I live in Catalonia.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Louvain-la-Neuve?

The cercles, without a doubt. Go to Brussels for the weekends, it's 30 minutes away by train.

And to eat in Louvain-la-Neuve? What are some of your favourite places to go?

It depends on how much money you want to spend. There's a burger restaurant, called Zanzibar, where they do good burgers for a decent price.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Hergé museum (the cartoonist who created Tintin) and then all of the cities in Belgium (Brussels, Ostend, Ghent... )

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Do you have any advice for students going to Louvain-la-Neuve in the future?

Take old clothes to go out there, because I'm sure you'll have to throw it away later. As well as rubber boots or old shoes for the same reason.