Erasmus Experience in Portsmouth, United Kingdom by Ásdís

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

Wanted to go to London did not get in, got offered Portsmouth instead.
However, I’m so happy here and prefer it over London

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

I’m here for a year,
I got a scholarship of 600 pounds

What is the student lifestyle like in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth is the perfect city for students. Everything is in a walking distance, people are so friendly and being close to the beach is super nice!

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

For sure!

What is the food like?

Food is pretty typical you have standard British food and all the big fast food brands
it’s also a culturally diverse city, so you can try loads of new exciting foods

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Portsmouth?

My accommodation is 750 a month, however, I live alone in a nice apartment with a sea view in Southsea. Halls can be much more affordable

How much does it cost to live in Portsmouth?

I spend about 700 a month for living costs in total, that’s with utilities, internet and loads of fun drinks!

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

I was pretty good at English to begin with, but for people who want to improve it’s pretty easy!
The school offers free English classes, which is great!

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

Everything is within walking distance, however, there is a free university bus and a lot of people use cycles!

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

Guildhall walk has loads of fun bars and clubs, my faves are the Fleet and Astoria

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

I don’t eat out that much but when I do I mostly use Uber eats.
Beckett’s in Southsea has the best brunch ever!!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The sea side has a lot of spots worth checking out, I go there a lot

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

Portsmouth is great, I really recommend going here!