My Exchange at The University of Salamanca
Going on exchange is easily the best thing I have done at university. For anyone at all interested, I would seriously recommend it. I found out about the 360 International Exchange programme through a mix of receiving university emails, seeing signs around campus, and a personal desire to look into going on exchange since high school. The application process may seem very admin-y and a bit tedious, but it’s 100% worth it. I was nominated to my second choice host university, Universidad de Salamanca. I was excited – I had been learning Spanish since high school, and Salamanca is described as the “most graceful city in Spain” online. When I arrived in Salamanca from Madrid, I felt instantly drawn to it. Madrid is gorgeous, but it is also very busy and can be overwhelming, so the familiarity I quickly felt in Salamanca was very comforting. It was very hot (don’t underestimate Spain in September!) and sunny, and I instantly loved the architecture. The university itself is very spread out around the city, depending on what faculty you’re in. Some are right in the centre, and some are further to the left of the city, but none are super far away. Some of the buildings, especially the ones in the centre, are hundreds of years old and like a work of art.
During my stay, I lived in a student accommodation right across from the Law Faculty. I had my own room, my own bathroom, and shared a kitchen with one other person. Many of my friends flatted, and I would honestly recommend either option – although I would definitely recommend living around other people, rather than on your own, to help build your social circle.
One thing to know at Salamanca, is that it is very independent. There was no “formal” orientation, and for me I was only really informed about things going on once I was added to an Erasmus/Exchange student Whatsapp group chat that had all the details. When you arrive, try and meet someone that can add you ASAP! There are so many Erasmus/Exchange students that you will easily run into someone to help. Don’t stress.
As for the courses, I found the course load lighter than at UoA. The Spanish have a pretty laid-back culture, and this goes the same for how they teach at university, at least in Salamanca. Exams are just as important, but they aren’t as intensely formal. They don’t record any lectures/tutorials, and you aren’t going to know all the dates for your assignments/exams beforehand because they don’t always post them on their version of Canvas (Studium) and may surprise you. Also, if you are going to a foreign university to study in a foreign language, not just Spain or Salamanca, I would definitely think hard about your language skills. When I first enrolled, I was in a full-time courseload of completely Spanish language courses, and after a few days, I switched to a half-Spanish, half-English courseload just to lighten it a bit. My conversational Spanish was good, but trying to take a university paper with very specific language you likely haven’t encountered before is challenging – a good challenge, but definitely something you want to consider.
While I’m talking about language, if you’re going to Spain, be aware that a lot of Spanish people don’t speak much, or any, English. It’s definitely not like France or the Netherlands where a majority of the population, particularly the younger generation, speak a decent amount of English. It’s very common to go to a restaurant or a shop where no one speaks English, or in a Spanish class where a lot of your Spanish classmates don’t speak English. It can be scary at first, but it’s going to be amazing for your immersion. Also, the Spanish are the kindest people I have ever encountered with learning a new language – as long as you’re trying, they will do their best to help you out! I was aware of this before I went on exchange, but actually being there can be a bit confronting in the early weeks. But don’t let it discourage you, I promise it will get better.
Life on campus was amazing. You meet a lot of very friendly people, and there are plenty of cafes around you can grab cheap tapas and a coffee (or a beer) at between classes. Universities in Spain do siesta, so don’t expect to have any classes between around 1pm to 4pm, and expect your classes to go later than at UoA, such as until 9pm. Take advantage of the social aspect of campus, and enjoy yourself!
Compared to the cost of living in Auckland, Salamanca is much, much cheaper. Seriously, excluding the flights there, the cost of living was almost half that of Auckland (for me). This is definitely because Salamanca isn’t a big city (for example, Madrid and Barcelona are relatively more expensive in comparison) but overall, the price of rent and also food (!!) was a lot cheaper. Groceries, going out to restaurants for tapas and drinks, cafes, were so, so much cheaper than in Auckland. I will miss Spanish supermarkets until I go back!
Travelling is also relatively cheaper; I didn’t get a bus pass because I loved walking everywhere and Salamanca is insanely walkable, but it wasn’t expensive (for students, €14 a month). The intercity trains around were also not bad, though it depends where your headed, and there is usually a cheaper bus route too (go Flixbus or Alsa). From Spain to overseas, travel is also relatively cheaper than from Auckland. Seriously, it’s cheaper to fly from Madrid to Paris or Munich than Auckland to Wellington. Take advantage, and travel as much as you can. University doesn’t really ramp up until the end, so those first few months are super flexible. I travelled as much as I could, and I still wish I could do more.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
Academic highlights at Salamanca was definitely the social aspect of the courses, meeting new classmates and making new friends. There are plenty of other exchange/Erasmus students in every class, so it’s super easy to meet people. Half of my courses were Spanish language, so one major highlight is definitely how much my Spanish skills improved and all the new more academic vocabulary I gained. Also, another highlight is the different content of all the courses – for example, I learnt all about the Spanish civil war, the dictatorship, the democratic transition and how it affects the Spanish political landscape today, something super interesting that I likely wouldn’t have learnt elsewhere.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
I recommend joining the Erasmus student group. They offer so many different activities, such as language exchanges, food nights, theatre outings, parties, etc. for exchange students from around the world in Salamanca. I met so many interesting people, made lifelong friends, and improved my Spanish hugely through this group. A branch of this group also organises trips for students, either domestically within Spain, or internationally, to Portugal, Morocco, etc. I seriously recommend picking your favourite trips they offer and going, because it is great value for money with great people!
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
Be prepared to organise things yourself. When I arrived, I wasn’t notified of my enrollment, sent a timetable, given a tour, or anything by the university. Email your faculty’s erasmus advisor and talk to them in person if you have any issues. Don’t be surprised when you have to build your own timetable and figure out if you have any clashes yourself. It’ll be okay, just don’t be surprised when it feels all very independent – but don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Don’t stress about the language when you first arrive. When I first touched down in Madrid, I was a bit freaked out by how little Spanish I seemed to understand. I thought, “oh my god, what have I done!” But honestly, it will come to you, and pretty fast at that. The first few weeks might be tough but soon your brain will switch to Spanish and you will shock yourself with how much Spanish you suddenly know.
Get busy! Especially in the first few weeks, put yourself out there. Do things and meet people you maybe wouldn’t be comfortable with normally. All the exchange students are going through the exact same things, and there is a real lack of uni work, so this is the time to do everything your host university is offering! Keeping busy is also a great way to beat the homesickness you will inevitably encounter.
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
I budgeted around $8000 (excluding course fees) for my semester abroad. This was about $3000 for travelling, including flights to and from Spain and all the little trips I went on during the semester. I budgeted $4000 for rent, and about $1000 for just lifestyle going-out/shopping. In my opinion this was enough, but it’s important to have a little bit of a safety cushion in your savings on top of this amount just to be safe. One lesson learnt is that I never bought food or stayed in accommodation near any major tourist attractions – it’s always way overpriced and not the best, and be confident in your ability to say no and ignore any street scammers.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
My biggest takeaway from my experience abroad is that there is so much more to the world. At university it’s very easy to get stuck in a circular mindset of trying to pass courses, pay rent, stressing about student loan, getting a job when you graduate, etc. and my experience was just a reminder that there is so much more to life than that. It is so important to stay open and ready to take any opportunity that you like the look of, even if it’s scary. Moving to the other side of the planet for 6 months, alone at 19, was definitely pretty scary, but I am so glad and proud of myself for doing it. It’s given me an understanding of a brand new culture, a new language, new friends from all around the world, and renewed my childhood eagerness to move to a foreign country and do it all again. When I attended one of the 360 International events, someone said that an exchange was life-changing. I thought that was a bit over-the-top; amazing, sure, but life-changing? But it truly is. It is such an incredible experience, I truly don’t know how to recommend it more.
Tags: 2023, Arts/Humanities, Report