5 advices-tips about Erasmus | A golden opportunity to experience student-work life in one of the 33 program countries!
Have you ever reflected on your past and considered that if you had the chance to change something, you would not change the slightest thing? This is what happened with me and Erasmus. The program was launched in 1987 and since then provides European students the golden opportunity to experience student-work life in one of the 33 program countries. It is a worldliness that I recommend to anyone. I would like to mention some basic info tips /pointers, somebody needs to take into consideration, before they settle on going.
Pick the city wisely
Choosing an Erasmus destination is not an easy decision. At first, you have to consider the cost of living in your country of choice. Some expenses are covered by the program but most of the time you also need to contribute. When deciding you can ask for help from the relevant faculty or other students that have already attended an Erasmus program. You need to investigate and learn about the lifestyle, the culture, religion and the habits of the locals. This enables you to adjust easier to the change. It is also valuable to get insight into the current socio-political situation of the country and the neighborhood as well. A practical way to attain this is by following the international news.
The program gives you the option to “live the way” of a country that you may have an interest living and working in, in the future and find out the prerequisites that you need for such a big decision. Erasmus is a good starting point and a game changer!
Knowledge of hosting language
It is vital to have a good understanding and knowledge of the language used in the destination country, because although most of the times English is widely used, not everyone speaks English and having a basic knowledge of the native language makes it easier to socialize, to be accepted and feel included. Feel courageous and don’t be afraid to communicate in a foreign language, making mistakes is a first line opportunity for learning! Additionally, when attending Erasmus Practice, having a good understanding of the host country’s language makes you more eligible for an offer to be permanently employed. During the Erasmus exchange period, undoubtedly, you will improve your skills in a foreign language, and besides this many host universities provide free language courses.
Start searching early for accommodation
When going on Erasmus for studies, most of the time there is no need to search for accommodation as you are given a dorm room by the hosting university, whereas when going for Practice finding accommodation is your responsibility. In the latter case, don’t leave it to the last moment. Shared rooms are preferred by most as they usually are more affordable and it’s a good way to socialize and make new friends. Rooms for one person are more comfortable and at the same time definitely harder to find.
By the time I was settling things up for my Erasmus in Berlin, I had to deal with the difficulty of finding a convenient residence, because of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, as the rooms were occupied by war immigrants. Therefore, in order to avoid challenges not obvious at first, it is better to be proactive.
Check for the weather conditions
You will not be able to have access to all of your wardrobe, so you need to consider carefully. Do your research, don’t focus only on the temperature, check the humidity as well and if possible, find a person who has travelled there to ask for advice on what to bring with you depending on the season of the year. You should also take into consideration the geography of the country, as this affects the daylight hours and therefore somebody’s psychological condition, but that applies mostly for the winter period and more northern countries.
Be open to diverse
Go out, explore, observe, get to know new people, have fun. Get out of your comfort zone, be yourself, focus on your studies and goals but invest in informal education too. Make sure to visit the cultural landmarks in your city and learn the history of it, in that way you can understand better both the culture and the current way of living. At the end of the day you will be more open-minded, welcoming towards other people, more culturally enriched and more mature for sure.
To finish with a philosophical note,
Erasmus gives you a blank canvas, you can draw whatever picture you like...
Vyltanioti Pigi-Eva
Graduate of the University of Piraeus
(Statistics and Insurance Science)
Proof-reader Valerie Kousoulis
More information are available on the official site of European Commission: Home - Erasmus+ (europa.eu).
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