Erasmus Experience in Madrid, Spain by Jasmin

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Why did you choose to go to Madrid, Spain?

I chose to study in Madrid because it is a beautiful city with a wonderful Spanish culture. I also liked the challenge of learning a new language from the start, and what better way to actually live in a city where the majority doesn't know any other language than Spanish?

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

I lived in Madrid for 6 months and received a scholarship for that duration. I received ca. 300 euro from the Belgian government every month. It is certainly not enough to cover all the costs, but it definitely helped me a lot with paying the rent. However, living in Madrid (food, partying, shopping) is cheaper than living in Belgium, so that was a nice surprise.

What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

Fun! The students of Complutense University were very helpful and kind, but you have to make the first move. Every class I had was in Spanish, so that was difficult at the start, but a couple of students helped me with notes, translations, extra information etc... In my experience the content of the lessons wasn't as challenging / difficult as I'm used to in Belgium.

There are many activities for students and also specifically for foreign students; from a baking competition to parties to trips to other cities like Valencia. It's a great way to meet new people.

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

Yes! The city is just marvellous, I fell in love with it immediately. The barrios, each with its own culture, the architecture, the diversity, the active nightlife... It's everything a student can wish for. As for the university... I had a great experience, but sometimes I wondered the level of the classes.

What is the food like?

Good. There are a lot of tapas-bars which I highly recommend. Also, it's cheap!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Madrid?

I paid about 25 euros to register on Easypiso.

How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

I rent a room in the centre of Madrid near Plaza del Sol for 420 euro / mont all inclusive. On top of that: ca. 120 euro for food (it's quite cheap there), and some money for activities like making trips to other cities, sports, shopping, soccer games, cinema etc... but this is up to you.

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

For me, understanding the language was fine, as long as people spoke slowly and articulate. You get the hang of it easily when you are forced to converse in Spanish and meet new people. There were language courses available at university for a low fee, which I took and which I highly recommend.

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

Flying is the easiest way to travel to Madrid from Belgium. To move around the city, I recommend the Metro (abono) or buying a cheap second hand bike.

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

Kapital: a club with 7 levels build in a former theatre.

There are a lot of smaller clubs, like 'Joy' spread over the city. In most bars there is a lot of atmosphere, music and dancing. On days of festivities there are a lot of things to do in the centre.

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

• El Tigre = typical Spanish tapas. Don't be put off by the interior, the tapas are great!
• Venta del Buzcon: best Sangria ever and socces matches on the screen!
• In the barrio Malasaña you can find a lot of small but excellent tapas bars.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The museums on Paseo del Prado or the royal palace, but the best thing is just to get lost in the many barrios. There is always some market (like El Rastro in la Latina), some old historical buildings with a lot of history, or other interesting things to see.

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

Watch out for thieves and keep an eye on your bag, cell phone and wallet all the time, especially on public transportation.

Then: Madrid is one of the safest cities I've ever lived in. The people are very friendly and helpful. Even in the middle of the night, I never had a 'scary moment'.

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