Tips to Have the Best Time in Your Erasmus Semester
The Ultimate Erasmus Survival Guide: How to Have the Best Semester of Your Life
You’ve finally done it. You navigated the endless university paperwork, you found a room (hopefully without getting scammed), and you just unpacked your bags in a foreign country.
Now comes the big question: How do you actually make the most of your Erasmus?
It is easy to feel overwhelmed during your first few weeks. To help you out, we put together the ultimate list of tips to help you socialize, travel, save money, and truly experience your host city.
1. Socializing & Making Friends
Making friends is usually the number one worry for international students. Here is how to build your Erasmus family fast.
Adopt the “Rule of Yes” for the first month: If someone invites you for a coffee, a walk, or a random Tuesday night party, say yes. Even if you are tired. The first 30 days are crucial for forming friend groups.
Go to ALL the ESN Welcome Events: The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) organizes welcome weeks with city tours, speed-friending, and pub crawls. Go to them, even if you go alone. Everyone is there to meet people.
Host an International Dinner: Invite people from your classes or dorm to bring a traditional dish from their home country. It’s the easiest icebreaker.
Break out of your nationality bubble: It is super easy to just hang out with people from your own country because it feels safe. Resist the urge! Force yourself to speak English and mix with other cultures.
Join a language tandem: Find a local student who wants to learn your language, and in exchange, they teach you theirs over a beer or coffee.
2. Travel & Exploration
You are in Europe, which means another country is probably just a cheap bus ride away.
Don’t just travel internationally; explore locally: It’s tempting to fly to Paris or Rome every weekend, but don’t ignore your host country. Take day trips to nearby villages, lakes, and castles.
Be a tourist in your own host city: Visit the museums, climb the highest towers, and do a “Free Walking Tour” during your first week to understand the history of where you are living.
Use budget travel apps: Download apps like Omio, Skyscanner, and FlixBus to find the cheapest routes. (Pro Tip: Book your weekend trips 3-4 weeks in advance to get cheaper bus tickets!) [ΕΔΩ ΒΑΖΕΙΣ AFFILIATE LINK ΓΙΑ OMIO/FLIXBUS]
Travel with a backpack, not a suitcase: Budget airlines like Ryanair and WizzAir charge a fortune for cabin bags. Invest in a good 40L backpack that fits under the seat.
3. Living Like a Local
You are not a tourist; you are a temporary local. Start acting like one!
Learn the “survival” slang: Duolingo is great, but learn the slang. Learn how locals order a beer, how they say “cheers,” and the informal ways to say hello and thank you.
Find your “regular” spot: Find a cozy cafe for studying or a local dive bar and keep going there. Becoming a “regular” makes a foreign city feel like home.
Get a local SIM card and transport pass immediately: Don’t rely on roaming data and single-ride tickets. Getting your student transport card will save you hundreds of euros.
Go to the local supermarkets and markets: Skip the expensive mini-markets. Find out where the locals buy their fresh groceries (like open-air farmers’ markets).
4. Mindset & Mental Health
Nobody talks about this, but Erasmus can sometimes be mentally exhausting.
Accept that “Erasmus Depression” is real: You will have days where you miss your bed, your mom’s food, and your old friends. Culture shock is normal. It is 100% okay to spend a Saturday night watching Netflix in your room.
Beat the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out): You do not have to attend every single party. If you are exhausted, stay in. There will be another party tomorrow.
Stop comparing your experience to Instagram: People only post the highlights: the sunsets, the parties, the trips. They don’t post the times they got lost, ran out of money, or felt lonely. Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.
Keep a journal (or a digital diary): You will experience so much in 6 months that your brain won’t be able to process it all. Write down the funny quotes, the weird foods, and the crazy nights. You will thank yourself in 10 years.
5. University Life & Surviving the Paperwork
Believe it or not, Erasmus is actually an academic exchange. You will have to attend some classes, deal with university bureaucracy, and pass some exams. Here is how to balance the fun with the academics without losing your mind.
Fix your Learning Agreement immediately: This is notoriously the most stressful part of Erasmus. Courses overlap in the schedule, professors change, or classes get cancelled. Go to your Erasmus coordinator during the very first week, make your changes, get the signatures, and be done with it so you can actually enjoy your semester.
Don’t skip the first week of classes: Even if you are hungover from a welcome party, go to the first lectures. This is when professors explain the grading system. Many professors are lenient with international students and might let you write a final essay instead of taking a difficult written exam in a foreign language. You won’t know if you aren’t there!
Take advantage of university perks: Don’t just go to campus for classes. Most host universities offer free language courses, heavily discounted gym memberships, and extremely cheap (or even free) daily meals at the student canteen (Mensa / Leschi). It’s a massive money-saver.
Pass your minimum required credits: Have the time of your life, but remember the golden rule: if you fail absolutely everything, your home university might ask you to pay back your Erasmus grant. Study just enough to pass your required ECTS so you don’t return home with a massive debt!
Ready to start your adventure?
Make sure you are fully prepared for your destination. Check out our detailed city survival guides to find the best housing and budget tips for your specific Erasmus city!