Erasmus Experience in Murcia, Spain by Louisa

Why did you choose to go to Murcia, Spain?

Source

I chose Murcia mainly because I wanted to go to an area of Spain where they only speak Castilian rather than Catalan. The good weather was also definitely a factor in my decision!

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

I'm actually doing an Erasmus work placement as an English language assistant in a high school, in a town just outside of Murcia. I am paid 700 euros a month for this and also have an Erasmus grant of around 2600 euros.

What is the student lifestyle like in Murcia?

Murcia is an excellent city to live in if you are a student.

There are many student organisations which are always organizing events here in Murcia, as well as trips to other parts of the region and other parts of Spain.

The nightlife is great and there is always something happening. There are several nightclubs and hundreds of bars in the city centre for students to enjoy!

The aforementioned organisations also offer cards with which students can get discounts on all types of things such as restaurants, cinema and even drinks in certain bars.

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

I would certainly recommend the city as it has a great atmosphere. There is plenty to do and it is generally a nice place to live in.

As I don't attend the university, I can't comment on it personally but I have plenty of friends who do and they all seem happy with it.

What is the food like?

There is a huge variety of food on offer in Murcia and plenty of local delicacies to try. Tapas, of course, is a must and many restaurants in the city centre offer great tapas for very low prices, which is great for cash-strapped students!

Source

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Murcia?

I found my flat through the website Easypiso. It was relatively easy. My flat is very well located and the landlady is very nice and helpful. However, if at all possible I would recommend coming to Murcia for a few days before you begin your Erasmus year to look around flats as mine is actually a lot more expensive than it probably should be, which I didn't realise when I took it as I hadn't looked around other ones in the city.

How much does it cost to live in Murcia?

My rent is a bit more expensive than most but you can find relatively cheap accommodation. As for the cost of food, drinks, transport, etc., I have found everything to be very affordable and certainly much cheaper than back at home!

b

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

There are language courses available in the university and also at a couple of student organisations in the city centre.

The language is a little difficult at first as Murcian people have the tendency to not pronounce the letter "s" - particularly when it's at the end of a word, and they also use quite a lot of slang which you wouldn't hear in other parts of Spain. However, after about a month you'll get used to it!

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

From Glasgow, which is where I'm from, it's easiest to go by plane. The flight only takes about two and a half to three hours. If you book your flights in advance, you can get them really cheap.

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

For Erasmus students, Badulake bar is a must! It's the official Erasmus bar, right in the city centre and is great for meeting other foreign students. Every Friday night it organizes different events with lots of promotions on drinks and free entry to a club called Boutique after. It does get a bad reputation among Spanish people but it's great if you're Erasmus!

There are a lot of great bars in the city centre and several good nightclubs. For example, underneath the Plaza de Toros (the bullring in Murcia) there is a great club called Musik which is really cheap and plays a great variety of music, and also a big nightclub called Teatre - a little outside the city centre which is also really popular.

Source

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

For tapas, there is a restaurant called Los Navarros which is excellent! But good tapas places are easy to find in the city. There is also a restaurant called La Mary near Plaza Santo Domingo which is excellent and has a great atmosphere.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There's the cathedral of Murcia which is a beautiful building and a must-see here! There is also the old Casino which costs 3 euros to get in and it's a beautiful historical building which everyone should definitely visit when they come to Murcia.

Source

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

As I said before, coming for a few days before you start your Erasmus to scout out good accommodation is probably the best advice I can give. Also, make sure you take advantage of all the parties, trips and so on that are planned as they are a great way to meet people and make the most of your time here.