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Erasmus Yay or Nay

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  • 10-03-2014 2:49pm
    #1
    Moxy Shazbot
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭


    Hey everyone,

    So I'm due to do erasmus next semester but I really don't know if i'd like to. Cost is a big factor. Think i'd prefer to stay in limerick or at home and just work tbh.

    Any one ever gotten out of having to do it? or is that even possible?

    Cheers.
    Moxy


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    #2
    Smartly Dressed
    Registered Users Posts: 555 ✭✭✭Smartly Dressed


    Do it.

    Amazing experience.

    There's a grant available if you go to an EU member state.

    Do it.


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    #3
    djnr8
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭djnr8


    Do it, if worried about cost aim for somewhere with a low cost of living. The grant should realistically cover the difference in cost between living here in ireland and living abroad


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    #4
    highlydebased
    Registered Users Posts: 7,469 ✭✭✭highlydebased


    Do it! Definitely do it. Best part of my 4 years at UL.

    What course are you doing?


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    #5
    Moxy Shazbot
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭Moxy Shazbot


    highlydebased wrote: »
    Do it! Definitely do it. Best part of my 4 years at UL.

    What course are you doing?

    I'm in HPSS and thanks for the feedback everyone.

    Do you know which are the cheapest, I know like sweden and those places are crazy expensive so the more I could stay away from there the better.

    How much is the grant?


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    #6
    highlydebased
    Registered Users Posts: 7,469 ✭✭✭highlydebased


    I went to Malta and that would be one of the cheapest. The grant varies depending on where you go- for malta it was about 950e if I remember rightly- paid for the accommodation. Otherwise I probably spent less than I would if I were living in Limerick at the time


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    #7
    1huge1
    Registered Users Posts: 6,173 ✭✭✭1huge1


    Of all my years in college, without a doubt the time I spent on Erasmus was the best.

    I couldn't recommend it more to anyone.


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    #8
    djnr8
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭djnr8


    I went to Groningen, accommodation was I think 375 a month all inclusive. Expensive enough but general cost of shopping and socializing is cheaper.

    Know guys who went to spain and portugal and it was cheap I think. Grant depends on where you go. It was around the 1k mark for a semester in Netherlands anyway


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    #9
    edelg
    Registered Users Posts: 45 ✭edelg


    Do you go on erasmus on your own or are ye grouped with classmates? I'd hate to go to a foreign country on my own :/


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    #10
    highlydebased
    Registered Users Posts: 7,469 ✭✭✭highlydebased


    edelg wrote: »
    Do you go on erasmus on your own or are ye grouped with classmates? I'd hate to go to a foreign country on my own :/

    Rarely would only 1 person go to a particular Uni- in my case 12 went! However I wouldn't worry too much about it.....there will be a huge number of fellow erasmus students waiting there for you, all in the same boat


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    #11
    Moxy Shazbot
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭Moxy Shazbot


    highlydebased wrote: »
    Rarely would only 1 person go to a particular Uni- in my case 12 went! However I wouldn't worry too much about it.....there will be a huge number of fellow erasmus students waiting there for you, all in the same boat

    I think id feel more comfortable going with other people from UL.. the solo ventures aren't for me yet. But hey cheers for your input its much appreciated.

    Same goes to the rest of ye thanks.

    If some one else has been to a different place, throw it down and let me know how it went. Thanks!


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    #12
    djnr8
    Registered Users Posts: 114 ✭✭djnr8


    I didn't do it and I'm not going to pretend I have (I'm not talking about Erasmus) but go to the Erasmus office, they're a hell of a lot more helpful than the co-op office and read a few Erasmus reports. It'll give you an idea of what the different places are like. Also, did they give you a list of available universities? They usually have a column with the amount of spaces for students. I went to Groningen with 3 other girls from my course. 2 more were in Amsterdam and I think 3 more in Rotterdam (kip apparently).

    Erasmus reports (if my own is anything to go by) tend to be a lot more relax and there's no bull**** in them. I spent most of mine listing the various places to socialise and things to do rather than the actual course as most of the work in my journalism course was outside college and covering events around the city.

    Definitely worth your while going though, have yet to meet a person who didn't enjoy their Erasmus


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    #13
    Aragneer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 747 ✭✭✭Aragneer


    I went to Oldenburg Germany and whilst it is helpful to know German there, you don't need to. You can go there and pick a starter German class and pick up a language whilst you're away.

    I went on my own as it is not a big Uni (smaller than the library) and no-one was interested in it. I had such a fantastic co-op that nothing could live up to it and was disappointd by Erasmus but that might have been because I lived with a grumpy ol'' woman.

    I would recommend going on Erasmus though. UL is one of the few unis that offer it and it is such a great opportunity that shouldn't be put down. It's not that expensive with the grant and you will make some great friends that will probably stick with you for life, like mine.

    Good luck, if you want to ask me more questions, just ask me if you want


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    #14
    Reiver
    Registered Users Posts: 782 ✭✭✭Reiver


    I went to Salzburg. Fairy-tale style city and I was right next to the Alps in Berchtesgaden etc. Same as Aragneer, I picked up German while there.

    Way more involved in the city than UL and waaay nicer and safer. People even leave their bikes unlocked on the street, thats how great it is. And while the old town is pricey(tourist trap), you learn all the cheap spots. To put it in perspective, even in a bar in the city, you'd be paying 3.50e for a pint so its not all bad! Shop at Lidl or Hofer, you could survive on less than 15e a week. Just getting used to eating pig alot, for some reason chicken or beef is waay more expensive!

    And everything shuts down on Sundays with the exception of a few bars. But theres plenty to see or do.

    Had the grant for around 1100e, paid for my accommodation pretty much and bus pass plus a few other things. Be mad to pass up an opportunity like this, stuck in UL doing modules while everyone else is off exploring the world.

    And going with other people from UL isn't all its cracked up to be. There were 5 other students from UL on my one but only saw two of them really. The others were right shut-ins and didn't try to get a good experience at all. You'l meet so many other erasmus students, all in the same boat and learn so much about different cultures. DO IT!


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    #15
    Aragneer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 747 ✭✭✭Aragneer


    Just one point: I know people who went with others from UL and wished they hadn't because you will glue yourself to them. It is good to go on your own because you gain more independence than ever and will be forced to meet as many new people.

    I went on co-op and Erasmus without anyone from UL and am very glad I did that. :)


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