Erasmus Experience in Plymouth, United Kingdom by Julia

Why did you choose to go to Plymouth, United Kingdom?

I chose to go to Plymouth since there is an organisation that offered me to spend my practical semester supporting refugees. The organisation is linked with the University of Plymouth and a lot of students work there.

I always wanted to spend my practical semester in an English speaking country and the UK is close to Germany and so it is easy to get cheap flights to and from Germany.

The nice pictures of the landscape around Plymouth which I found on Google encouraged me even more to go there for my placement.

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

I got an Erasmus scholarship of 400€ a month (for a period of 6 months).

Furthermore, I had a Bafög scholarship of about 500€. So I had 900€ a month in total which was plenty for me since I am good with keeping my money together. On the other hand, 900€ can be spent very quickly in the UK. I spent a lot more money there than I did in Germany during my studies.

What is the student lifestyle like in Plymouth?

I think you can have a lot of fun as a student in Plymouth. There are all kinds of clubs in Plymouth. Even the university has its own club where they have parties every weekend and sometimes even famous music groups, such as Nero. There is a place where you can enjoy concerts and when I was living there, Adele was in Plymouth.

At the university they offer language courses and all kinds of other groups which you can join, such as a sailing group, an international student group, a choir and so on.

There are plenty of shopping opportunities. There are also lots of different food shops such as Tesco, Aldi, Lidl etc.

Traveling is cheap in the UK. You just have to know the cheap ways of traveling (such as traveling with the company Megabus). All around Plymouth there are nice beaches, cities and the National Park Dartmoor which is always worth a visit.

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

Yes, I think I would recommend both of them. The people are very friendly, there are many things you can do with the uni and in and around Plymouth.

What is the food like?

I think you can get pretty much everything that you can get in Germany and other western countries. And of course they have typical English food and restaurants as well where you can have the traditional fish and chips. For students it might be interesting to know that many restaurants have special offers so that you can go out to eat even on a low budget.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Plymouth?

No. I had a room for the first two weeks after I arrived and fortunately I found a room very quickly by walking through the streets around the university and looking for numbers and signs at the houses which said that there are rooms available. I also found a lot of places on the internet which was very useful. I recommend websites such as Gumtree and Easyroommate.

This was the view from my room:

How much does it cost to live in Plymouth?

With all of the bills included in the rent, it is between £200 and £450 per month. It all depends on where you live and at which time of the year you need a room. Of course the prices are high in autumn when all the students are looking for accommodation. All the other costs depend on you. Going out is not very expensive (£2-£4 for a drink, £2 for entry). Food is slightly more expensive than in Germany. I needed between 700 and 800 euros per month (400 euros were just for the rent).

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

It depends, of course, if you are talented in learning languages and if you are actually willing to learn by getting involved in doing things. Even if you make mistakes at the beginning - don't give up. The university also offers lots of courses.

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

When I was there, for me the cheapest way was to get a flight with German Wings to London Stansted (40-100 euros), then to take a Terravision bus from Stansted to London Victoria Central Station (£9). From there, to take Megabus to Plymouth (up to £20). All of these companies offer online booking on their websites.

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

On the North Hill Street and Union Street but most students go out on North Hill.

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

I didn't really eat out much. You can get typical English food on The Barbican (old part of the city) and at The Market Hall.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

London, St. Ives, Dartmoor national park and the beaches around Plymouth.

Furthermore, the old part of Plymouth which is called The Barbican is worth a visit. During the summer they have live playing there.

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

Rent a room where all bills are included.

Just go and be open-minded and learn from all your experiences!