Erasmus Experience in Malaga, Spain by Harriet

Why did you choose to go to Malaga, Spain?

I am studying Spanish at University in the uk. I chose Malaga because I like the south of Spain from visiting a few times and I wanted a warm climate. I knew there would be a lot of things to do in Malaga.

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

As the uk aren't taking part in the Erasmus grant, my university paid me the money however it would be the same as the Erasmus grant. I got around 400 euros a month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Malaga?

There are a lot of students in Malaga as it is a very popular option for students. There are alot of erasmus/student groups to meet up with and events are always happening every day and night.

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

Yes I would, but the University is not that great as I felt like it was quite unorganised and old but I wouldn't change where I went.

What is the food like?

As it is quite a touristy city, you can eat and find pretty much anything. There are a lot of supermarkets but some are quite small. The paella is great and the seafood is known to be great.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Malaga?

No, I found it on Facebook.

How much does it cost to live in Malaga?

It depends what you want, if you wanted something really cheap you could find somewhere for 300euro and sometimes less a month. For a decent place with a double bed, I paid 390euro a month with less than a 10 minute walk to the main centre. Living costs is up to you. Supermarkets are quite cheap. There is a primark if you need to buy home items for a cheap price.

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

It can be complicated to sort out your classes but once you have then it is fine. There are quite a lot of language courses on offer that last different amounts of time. I took a 2 1/2 week intensive course before I started university classes, it cost 100euro.

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

I took a flight from Bristol to Malaga which was really easy and not too expensive. Then I took a 15 minute taxi from Malaga airport to my flat.

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

Camden Lock is a good place for eramus, Merced 14. Most bars are pretty good. I didn't get to go to many clubs. I preferred the bars as there are so many and they're pretty cheap. There are also rooftop bars which can be a bit more expensive but there are great views of the city.

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

Ciao was my favourite italian. There are so many that I didn't have many favourites. A cafe I went to a lot was La Bella Julieta. There is even Costa and Starbucks.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The cathedral, Plaza de la merced, Picasso Museum or there are many other museums, Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle.

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

Make the most of the sunny weather and the location as is it really easy to travel to other places nearby.