Erasmus Experience in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom by Jenny

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Why did you choose to go to Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom?

I applied for a traineeship in different English cities and found a placement here.

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

I stayed there for 3 months, and I received 350€ per month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Newcastle Upon Tyne?

Very good, there are many students here from all over the world and there are two universities, Newcastle University and Northumbria. Everyone is very open and friendly and both during the week and on the weekends you can go out and have fun. The Erasmus society organises events every week during term time, so it is easy to meet other people. On the weekend there are often organised trips to other cities like Glasgow or to some of the sights around here.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne to other students?

I can't say much about the University because I'm doing an internship, but I heard it is supposed to be one of the best in England, especially for Medicine, Biomedicine and Business Studies. I know many fine arts students to and they are happy with there degree. I would definitely recommend the city. It is not too big so you can walk everywhere easily but still is very vibrant, there is a lot going on. There are a lot of cultural events in the Baltic and the Sage, and just walking along the quayside is a great experience. In 30 min on the metro you are at the beach and you can spend a great day out there, eating fish and chips etc. Also, there are many nice castles to visit, Nothumbria has a beautiful countryside and the Lake District is not too far away.

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What is the food like?

Very nice in all the places I've been to, you can eat yourself around the world here! I've had traditional English pie, Japanese teppanyaki, burritos and much more and it was all very nice. There are many supermarkets around but I find food shopping pretty expensive here compared to Germany.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Newcastle Upon Tyne?

No, I found it online via Spareroom.

How much does it cost to live in Newcastle Upon Tyne?

I can't say how much I spend per month, living costs are much higher than in Germany, but for English standards Newcastle is one of the cheapest cities to live in.

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

English should be easy to learn for most people! There are language courses you can attend as an Erasmus student.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Newcastle Upon Tyne from your city?

I flew directly from Düsseldorf to Newcastle Airport.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Newcastle Upon Tyne?

I can recommend the pubs at the quayside, there are also many good bars around the central station and monument.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Newcastle Upon Tyne?

They have good pies in Redhouse at the quayside. I can also recommend Fujiyama for Japanese food.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Baltic, many museums, castles...

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

It is pretty chilly so bring lots of warm clothes!