Tips for Erasmus Students💡

I decided to talk about the three most important points concerning the preparation for an Erasmus year. So, if you are thinking about studying abroad or specifically in Scotland this guide will surely be helpful.

- PAPERWORK -

 

Application to your foreign university, Application to your resident university, Scholarship applications, Learning agreement, Arrival certificate, etc...

Yes, the process of going abroad to study can seem fraught with paperwork! But don't worry and relax! To avoid last minute stress or miss important dates concerning the required paperwork, it’s necessary to devote time to properly organise yourself. Notes the significant dates and don't miss them. Don't hesitate to ask your university if you need help. Don't get stuck on things that you don't understand and lose time, they're there for that! 

- ACCOMMODATION & LOCATION -

Should I live near the university? Should I live in Glasgow city center? Should I live in a student residence or with roommates?

It's important to know your goals and expectations, and to make your experience a successful and enjoyable experience as much as possible. Ask yourself this question: What do you expect from this Erasmus year? To improve your level in English, To discover a new country, To meet new people, To open your mind, To focus on your studies, etc... Always remember that there are no good or bad choices, just be aware that the choice that you make, especially for your accommodation will lead to more or less complications, weigh the pros and the cons!

For example, I’m the kind of person who overslept quite often, so I decided to live near Paisley where I’m studying. So, I made the choice to be in a shared flat in order to: -Have better comfort than in a university residence. (And unlike what one may think, student accommodation are not necessarily cheaper than shared flats.) -Have native speakers as roommates to improve my level. (But unfortunately fate decided that I would stay with French.)

Here is the site that allowed me to find my current accommodation: https://www.spareroom.co.uk

- TRIP -

Most peoples choose to take the plane to join their Erasmus country, and so did I. To me it seems like the most effective solution. But if you want to travel around Scotland freely -and not be limitated by public transport- it might be a great idea to come by car.❗Only recommended for people with their driving license❗

Here is the explanation of Caroline's journey by car from Montpellier to Scotland:

“The first, but not least, good thing about taking the car was the possibility to take as much luggages as we wanted unlike when taking the plane. Honnestly it was amazing, with my friend we had this opportunity to make stops along the trip, so we made a stop in Paris first and then in Amsterdam, where a friend of us was doing her Erasmus, so we take this opportunity to visit the place! It was a ton of preparation but a lot of fun ! My least favorite part of the trip tho was to adapt my driving to match the correct side of the road but over time I grew more and more confident. Also being able to just hit the road to go see the highlands is wonderful !”

Join us the next week for a new post about "Life at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) "...😄

Life at UWS⇛