Erasmus Life is the Best Life

Why did you decide to go to Madrid, Spain?

I have always been fascinated with the nation of Spain, particularly from a cultural point of view. When I stumbled upon the Erasmus programme in my first year of university, I realised that I'd finally have the chance to not just visit this country, but also live there. It didn't take long to choose the city: although I could have opted for Granada, I consider Madrid to be the centre of Spanish culture. It's a city that lets you immerse yourself in all of its diverse traditions like nowhere else in Spain, and, to this day, I'm all the more convinced that I made the right choice.

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How long was your scholarship? How much grant money did you receive?

My scholarship was 9 months, reduced to 6 as it was adjusted to the length of the second semester in Madrid.

With regards to the financial support, like everyone else I received €230 a month from the EU, and an additional grant from the University of Roma Tre equal to €360 a month, according to my ISEE income bracket (click here for info about ISEE in English / click here for info in Italian). The money was enough to pay the rent for my flat in the city centre and live day-to-day without asking for extra help from my parents.

How was student life in Madrid?

Full of life. These are the best words to describe student life in Madrid. It doesn't matter if you speak Spanish really well or if you barely know how to say "hola", they'll treat you like family, and they'll start by showing you the best parts of being a student, above all an Erasmus student, in Madrid.

From the university, distinguished by the group work which really helps you to integrate with other students, to the more relaxing afternoon activities, such as going for a walk all together in the "Retiro" (one of Madrid's biggest parks), your day will surely be well spent. But the best thing, as you can imagine, is the nightlife: gigs, clubs, open bars, traditional shows; you'll definitely find something to your liking.

The typical student of Madrid studies a lot, but will always find time to have fun; this is the way in which we should live.

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

Definitely. Relatively, it's quite small, but you have everything "at your fingertips". The public transport network is 100% efficient, the locals are friendly and happy; all this makes life in Madrid much more carefree.

As for the university, there are different ones here; I'm registered at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and I think it's quite good. The only problem is the teaching methods used here, which are completely different from those in Italy. The university uses a 10-point grading scale for the final mark and almost always 40% will depend on your class or group work during the course. In this way, on the one hand, it's easier to ace the exams, but on the other you can't allow yourself to get behind on not even one day of work, or your final GPA (grade point average) will be affected.

Therefore, on the university front, I have no strong opinion.

What’s the food like in Spain?

Spain has always been proud of its long culinary traditions in the history of Mediterranean cuisine.

One of the main dishes is paella, which isn't very appreciated in Madrid; so to find good paella you need to go to a specialised restaurant. Another typical dish is Spanish omelette or "tortilla de patata": essentially, it's an omelette made of eggs and potatoes, to which one can add various spices. Also included on the list is gazpacho, a cold tomato soup typical in the north of Spain. And finally, cured hams, which you can find everywhere in Madrid; they adore their serrano ham.

As for the desserts, if you go to Spain, you should definitely try "churros y chocolate". They can be eaten at any time of the day; simple, crunchy and delicious.

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How did you find accommodation?

I was to leave for Spain at the end of January, and I started looking for accommodation mid-December.

Seeing as how my university was not in the city centre, initially I thought of finding a house close to campus, but Erasmus students who had studied there in previous years made me realise that this was a really bad idea: better to be on the metro for 40 minutes every morning to get to university, than having a spend 1. 5 hours on the night bus to go back home after a simple night out in the city centre with friends.

Taking this into account, I felt pressure to find accommodation before arriving in Madrid, so I started my search on the Internet. There are several excellent websites, but personally I really liked Idealista, especially because it allows you to be in direct contact with the house's owner to clear up any doubts you may have.

In the end, through this website, I found a flat right in the city centre, with all the comforts and it came exactly as it had been described.

How much was your rent? And what were your other general expenses?

For my apartment I paid €450 a month including bills. It's one of the more expensive rents in the city, but it's right in the centre and it even included a cleaning lady who came once a week. So, if you start your search well in advance, you will definitely find extremely beneficial offers. However, the average rent will be around €350-€400 a month.

On the other hand, considering the general cost of living, Madrid is certainly less expensive than the average Italian city, especially less than Rome. It all depends on the type of places you go to but, above all if you're part of a university environment, you'll have no issues with keeping your monthly expenses low.

Also, students have many economic benefits. The main one is the public transport card: the comprehensive pass, which includes all travel zones, costs only €20 a month, and you can travel up to Toledo.

How was the language? Did you attend any courses at the university?

Granted that I studied Spanish for two years at secondary school but, from this, I'm able to say that when I arrived in Spain and I spoke Spanish, that it's a big leap.

My university in Madrid offered a free two-week intensive Spanish course, in which I attended. Also the Erasmus+ programme has an online course available.

Bearing in mind that in my entry test, without having taken any courses, my results gave me a B2 level (like most Italians), and that I then took the university course, I don't consider the language to be a problem. The lesson content is easy to follow and there's a good flow to the studying. The only difficulty is writing, especially during exams, but the professors agree to let you have a dictionary.

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What’s the cheapest way to get to Madrid from your city?

As an Italian and resident of Rome, I'm in a very lucky position for travelling to Madrid. Thanks to Ryanair and their low cost flights, I paid €80 for a return flight, although it's less if bought in advance.

This allowed me to go back home a few times to see my family, and above all it made it easier for them and my friends to visit me without having to spend to much money.

Where are the best places to go out in Madrid?

The nightlife in Madrid is one of the best experiences you'll have as an Erasmus student in this city.

Let's begin with the best local places to have a drink: firstly, Espit Chupitos, a neon-style local near the San Bernardo metro stop, which has 200 different shots on offer at bargain prices; another interesting place is Fábrica Maravillas, an excellent artisanal brewery in the Malasaña district.

With regards to clubs and various nights out, Indipendence is definitely worth mentioning, which organises Fuckin' Monday every week, an extremely popular event, especially with foreign students. Nomad also has a place reserved on the list, which is where we were on Tuesday evenings for their College Night: karaoke, beer pong and music. Friday evening belongs to Moondance, a local right in the centre which has an event every week with a different theme.

Don't worry about the costs, at night this city is affordable to everyone.

Nevertheless, I can't avoid mentioning Kapital, Madrid's leading club. but not so popular with students as the price is a bit out of reach; the best offer is on Thursday nights: €17 entry with 2 drinks.

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And eating in Madrid? What are your favourite places?

I must admit that, although I love typical Spanish food, I'm the kind of girl who likes burgers, fries and home delivery; despite this, McDonald's will not be on my list of suggestions.

Amongst Madrid's best places for a burger, the first place to go to is Bacoa: everything is made from scratch, with high quality ingredients and so their burgers are truly excellent.

Another amazing place to eat is Steak and Shake, a 60s style American diner: the menu offers only the best stuff, burgers made from prime beef, but also they have these incredible milkshakes; just like those you see in the film Grease, with so many topping with cream, glacé cherries, and two straws for sharing it.

As an Italian, I feel like I need to also mention this nice pizzeria managed by Italians that is just outside my case, which is unfortunate for my diet: NAP. But trust me, if you want to eat a real Neapolitan pizza, Naples is where you must go.

Moving on to more traditional cuisine, one of the most famous and respected chains of Madrid is the Museo del Jamón, where I advise ordering off the daily menu, but avoid the paella. If you want the city's best paella, there's only one place you should go.

La Casa Benigna is definitely the place where you'll find real Spanish paella. The restaurant is a bit remote, hidden away in a little alley; but once you've found it you'll be excited to eat there. It was a small family-run restaurant that, gradually, made a name for itself, but it hasn't lost any authenticity. The show kitchen and the service are the best that I've ever experienced. It boasts a huge variety of paella, all cooked in the traditional style, and made before your own eyes. A taste that you'll never forget.

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And for a cultural visit?

Recently I had to organise a 4 day tour of Madrid for my family, thanks to which I was finally able to visit the city as a tourist, rather than a resident.

Amongst the museums, the most interesting one to visit in the Reina Sofia, which is particularly famous due Pablo Picasso's Guernica; however, it also has a wing full of quite lovely Impressionist art.

Another key museum is the Museo Nacional del Prado, which currently exhibits a collection of truly unique modern art.

I'd also suggest visiting the Royal Palace: for those who have never been inside a palace, the experience will be a complete immersion into the vintage luxurious lifestyle of the royal family.

As well as this, if you find yourself in Madrid at the end of June, you will get to find again the temporary exhibition dedicated to Escher, in the Gaviria Palace in the city centre.

Honestly, Madrid is a city full of history that can be admired simply walking around the streets: the famous bear statue in Puerta del Sol that marks the Km 0; Puerta de Alcalá which provides access to the city from the royal streets, or Plaza Cibeles which overlooks the Palacio de Comunicaciones, on which a sign is affixed that says "refugees welcome".

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Any advice you want to give to future students going to Madrid?

The Erasmus experience will change your life.

The truth is, I could start writing a long list of the do's and don'ts, so that your Erasmus in Madrid is the best it can possibly be; but this isn't realistic. Everyone has a different Erasmus adventure as we all have different tastes, and I only hope that, with this article, I have help you discover all the potential that this wonderful city has to offer.

However, I want to tell you one thing: learn the language, travel, immerse yourself in the city; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And above all, make many friends, as only with them will your experience be complete, and unforgettable.