How to Prepare for your Erasmus Semester

 How to Prepare for your Erasmus Semester

The time has come, you have selected your Erasmus host city for your semester abroad and you’re counting down the days. However, there are still many things you need to do before you arrive. It can be overwhelming realising just how much there is to do, however, we’ve put some of our best advice below.

Packing

Deciding what to pack can be one of the most challenging parts of the process – seriously. Most of the time you’ll only have a suitcase or two to carry your life in. Pack for one season, as you can always go home and swap your winter clothes for summer and vice versa. Remember that you are not moving permanently! You don’t need all your books or every photo frame you own.

If you really can’t decide what not to bring, you could get a company, such as SendMyBag to take some of your excess stuff for you. Since it can get pricey, Europe Language Jobs has a special deal for its users where you can get 5% off your first order! Click here to get this deal.

Accommodation

It’s advisable to start looking for your Erasmus accommodation before your arrival. That way you have much more time to assess your options. There are many websites aimed specifically at offering flats to Erasmus students and also many Facebook groups. Flat sharing is always the best option, that way you could live with a friend or even a native –so you can easily practice your target language with them.  Don’t pay any money before you actually see the place for yourself – unfortunately there are many scams around, and some don’t look anything like how they appear in the photos.

Spotahome is a very useful site which validates and creates virtual video tours of apartments, with fun and informative commentaries, operating in 15 major European cities.

PapayaPods not only helps you find rented accommodation easily, they also let you manage and maintain the entire tenancy online. As well as paying rent online you can also file repair requests for any wear and tear, attaching clear pictures as evidence.

If you need accomodation whilst flat hunting, hostels are a great and affordable option. Hostelworld is the best place to find temporary accommodation.

Passport and ID

Make sure that your passport is up to date along with all relevant identity documents. You will also need these when enrolling at your host university. Remember to also make photocopies of your passport and ID.

Medical insurance card

Make sure you have some form of medical insurance in case of emergency – you never know when you could need it. Make sure you have photocopies of this too, along with your EHIC card.

It is essential to make sure that you know the translations for any allergies/medical problems that you may have as well! People are unlikely to know English names for medicine.

Facebook groups

Try and join all of the Facebook groups that you can, so you can make friends even before you arrive at your city, and you can find out about cool events happening once you’ve arrived. You can also use them to find accommodation and ask any questions that you have about Erasmus or just things in general about your new city.

Documents

Make sure you have signed and returned all of the necessary learning documents, without these you may not be able to enroll at your host University.  Make sure you have a printed copy to take with you to show when you arrive. You may even have to show it as proof when renting accommodation.

Bank account

Having a bank account set up in your host city would be incredibly useful if not essential. This would mean that you can avoid paying transaction fees when paying by card for in-store items, and the other mountain of fees that are involved with withdrawing cash at ATMs. If you don´t make a new account, you will quickly notice just how many fees can pile up on a weekly basis.

N26 is one of the easiest banks to sign up to, as you can do it all on your phone! It makes creating an account quick and easy from the comfort of your own home.

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