My Erasmus Exchange in Poznan, Poland

Why did you choose to go to Poznan, Poland?

I was looking for something different. Most students dream of doing their Erasmus exchange in a typical destination: in Holland, in Italy... but for me, the exciting thing about Erasmus is the opportunity to go somewhere entirely different: somewhere with a different climate, different traditions, and a different language...

How long did your exchange last? How much were you paid?

Four months. I chose just to go for one semester. It was a short but intense stay.

In terms of financial support, I received 300 euros a month. This isn't very much in my opinion, but life is cheap in Poland and I got by.

What's the student life like in Poznan?

Just brilliant. To give you an idea, Poznan is the Polish Salamanca. There are parties on every day of the week.

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

Definitely. The parties are brilliant, the atmosphere is great (you never feel unsafe in the street). There are beautiful places here and Poznan is very well-connected to other European cities. The cost of living is very low, meaning you can cook your dinner for as little as 3 euros (7 zlotys).

What's Polish food like?

It's not bad. They eat a lot of cabbage there and a type of food called 'pieroguis' (delicious, especially in the restaurants called Pierogarnia).

How did you find your accommodation?

My Erasmus co-ordinator took charge of finding me a place in the university halls.

How expensive is accommodation? How high are prices in general?

Very low compared with other European countries. Remember that Poland isn't in the eurozone.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

Polish is very difficult, though I think that if you make a real effort, you can easily learn the basics. I managed to get by with English, and it was fine. Almost everyone there, above all the young people, speak perfect English.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Poznan from your home city?

When I went, there were no direct flights, and the cheapest way was to fly to Bergamo with Ryanair and then from there to Poznan. I think there's now a direct Ryanair flight from Madrid.

What are the best places for partying in Poznan?

Cuba Libre, the Almirage, Territorium, SQ...

What about eating out in Poznan? What are your favourite places?

• Pierogarnia (unmissable), in Stary Rynek
• Stadi: bar where they show almost every game in the Liga Española. It's great for watching games with a Polish beer; they sell large cheap ones.
• Sphinx: has great decoration and cheap food
• Dramat: pancake place

What does Poznan have to offer in terms of culture?

I recommend going to Malta Lake, to Stary Rynek (with the town hall and church) and to the Citadel Park. Museums offer free entry at the weekends. The train station is very central and gets you to cities such as Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk cheaply. The journeys take a long while though, as the trains are pretty slow.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Poznan?

Enjoy yourself and get to know Polish people. I was surprised by how friendly they all were. :D