My Erasmus Exchange in Stettin, Poland - by Juan Francisco

Why did you choose to go to Stettin, Poland?

My older sister had spent the past year in Krakow, and I generally loved the country.

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

I was set to spend one semester there covered by my Erasmus grant, but thanks to the co-ordinator at the university I managed to stay for another semester doing an Erasmus internship. The money (220 euros a month) is really helpful, since you can live on around 300 euros a month in Poland in general, and in this city in particular.

What's the student life like in Stettin?

It's not a very large city, so the Polish are always surprised to find Spaniards living there. In my case, this was an advantage, since it meant the culture shock was all the greater. Classes were held in English, and both the students and professors were very interested in getting to know Spanish customs and traditions (just as we were in getting to know Polish ones).

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

Definitely.

What's Polish food like?

The food there is never going to be like the food at home, guys, but if you compare Polish food with food from other eastern European and northern countries, you'll love it here. Traditional Polish food (generally, soups and meats) isn't bad at all. Additionally, you can find really good Italian and even some Spanish restaurants, if you're really missing southern food.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Stettin?

Our host university provided us with accommodation in one of the university residences, DS 4. We lived together with Polish and other Erasmus students there.

How expensive is living in Stettin?

Most people get by on 300 euros a month. I spent a little more, but mostly on travelling and going out. You'll read this elsewhere, but it's no lie than beer is cheaper than water in Poland, that eating out costs no more than 15 zlotys (3 to 4 euros) in good restaurants, and that one of those 'oh my how much did I spend' nights out only costs 15 to 20 euros.

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

Polish is difficult. The university offers courses for Erasmus students, and we all learned enough to get by, to be able to order in a restaurant, go out clubbing or buy a train ticket.

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

Stettin has its own airport and flights to London, so it's an interesting connection. You can get cheap flights to Poznan from Barcelona, which is three hours away from Stettin on the train.

What are the best places for partying in Stettin?

There's a party going on every day somewhere in Stettin (apart from on Mondays, where there's only one club open which you have to pay to get into). You don't have to pay to get into clubs if you have a university card. On Tuesdays, peopel go to Pinokio, on Wednesdays, to Coyote, on Thursdays to Patio or Rocker...

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

We discovered Marco Polo, an Italian restaurant which would cost around 30 euros a head to eat at in Spain, but in reality only costs 20 zlotys. There are also all different types of fast food chains (McDonalds, Burger King, KFC... ). There are also good American restaurants which cost the same amount, and a fantastic place which serves amazing seafood and meat dishes for 50 zlotys (less than 15 euros).

What does Stettin have to offer in terms of culture?

It's not a very touristy city. There are some pretty lakes where you can spend the day at and have a barbecue, and a walking tour for visitors which you could do in your free time.

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

Enjoy your time there to the full, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I know what it feels like to be going to a city which there's so little information online about, but really, it's worth doing an Erasmus exchange regardless of where you go, and Stettin and most of all Poland is no exception!