Erasmus Experience in Maribor, Slovenia by Boriana

Why did you choose to go to Maribor, Slovenia?

Because it is a skiing area. I am not kidding. I love skiing and I had heard about Maribor and a famous female competition they organize there. One of my ski instructors had been there as well.

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

About 200 per month. I went for two semesters. The scholarship depends on the country you come from. If you are planning to do Erasmus, you have to ask at your university or check online. I cannot advise anyone anything about their prospective scholarships because it depends.

What is the student lifestyle like in Maribor?

It is easy and pleasant, since the professors are quite nice and always ready to help. I did not have to attend classes. Some of my friends had to, though. I was studying at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science or FERI. Their administration also works pretty well, so any time I have had problems, there were somebody to help.

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

Yes, definitely. It is a nice university, with new facilities, good library, great professors... The city itself is small but very charming and cosy. You can walk to your faculty and if you want to go out by night you can go home walking. If you want to catch a taxi, it would be cheap. You receive student coupons, so you could eat outside for two or three euros... There are nice little coffees, restaurants, a bar, cinema, shopping center... basically there is everything.

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What is the food like?

Great. The students receive coupons with which they can eat at restaurants for two to three euros. There is a variety of restaurants, so you could choose: Chinese, pizza places, two or three Bosnian, fast food... If you have never tried Bosnian food, I promise, you will love it. Most of my friends did love it. It has lots of grilled meat, but not only. If you are a girl, trying to eat healthy, you could go to Eat Smart or Kanape which are fast food. The good news is those two places offer big salads, an apple and a bit of bread for free (with student coupons).

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Maribor?

No. I had a bit of trouble at the beginning because I wanted to stay at a mini private dorm, but the owner had already given the room to somebody else. He had promised it to me but he kind of lied to me. Besides that, I did not have problem finding a place to stay because the Erasmus organization, ESN, had appointed one of their members to show apartments to Erasmus students. He even helped us move our luggage to our new homes.

How much does it cost to live in Maribor?

Depends. Student dorms cost 90 euros. Private flats cost more, depending on whether it is a single or a double room. A double room would be 110-120 euros with expenses included. Single rooms are more expensive. They could reach 200 or 200 and... euros with the expenses included. Single rooms are a bit harder to find than shared ones.

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

There were, but it is not easy to learn. It is a Slavonic language, so if you are from Serbia or Croatia, for example, you will understand a lot. If come from Spain or Portugal, or France, it will have absolutely nothing to do with your language. A student organization offers 30 hour courses (I am not sure about the number of hours) for about 30 euros.

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

I had only one option: bus. Really depends on where you live, of course. It is cheap to come from Italy, compared to Portugal, for example.

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

Near the Drava river. All of the bars there are very nice. All of the Erasmus parties are being held at a club, called KMS. It is nice but it is a bit small and the music is often the same, so I personally, got a bit tired of it. Still, it is cool to be surrounded by other Erasmus students just like you. ESN organizes a variety of thematic parties, such as St. Patrick's party or a Christmas party. Sometimes Erasmus students have to dress in a certain way.

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

I loved Orient, a Bosnian restaurant near the river. I loved Eat Smart and Kanape, which I mentioned above. These offer salads for free (with coupons). You get to choose the vegetables you want in your salad, cheese, dressing... At Eat Smart you receive a second, smaller salad and an apple. At Kanape you get a small bread and something sweet or a fruit (it is your choice).

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

World's oldest vine tree, the Golden fox ski slope, the hills at the park, where vine trees are grown... Maribor is not so interesting to see in the sense that you will not be surprised by big castles or old fountains but the atmosphere of the city is great.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Maribor?

Just go, it is small but worth it.