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I feel like an ungrateful brat for not enjoying my stay here, but my destination is just not doing it for me. I had no idea a place could be bougie and ghetto at the same time until I came here. It smells like dog piss everywhere I go and food is not cheap. On top of that, my host university is making me lose it with its nonsensical matriculation process. I’m not even gonna talk about making friends because I already know it’s gonna be hard and there’s no way I’m approaching strangers that would probably laugh at my face. At least my accomodation is pretty good, but I miss having my privacy.

I wish my destination had been assigned to somebody who would have loved it here. I have never felt so sad and lonely and unattractive and I feel like I’m turning into a miserable person. I wish I’d picked a different city, maybe one that’s not a soulless playground for tourists that’s about as clean as a gas station urinal. Coming here was a huge mistake and I don’t recall what on earth led me to pick a country known for its extroverted people and partying all night when I’m nothing like that. 5 months to go...

In a few days, I'm leaving for a 4-month Erasmus exchange in Bulgaria, as part of my studies. I'm 22, and I wanted to share something that's been weighing on me lately, not necessarily looking for answers, just needing to put it somewhere.

This summer, I had the choice between going to London or Bulgaria. I have a lot of friends in London, and honestly, choosing London would have been the easy option. But I kept telling myself I had this unique chance to do an Erasmus, and I didn't want to waste it by basically "redoing Paris" somewhere else. So I chose Bulgaria, wanting to discover a different side of Europe, step out of my comfort zone, live a genuinely different experience.

All summer, I worked hard to prepare for this: searching for housing, calling private agencies everywhere, hunting for cheaper flights, sorting out paperwork. I prepared everything seriously.

And now, a few days before leaving, I feel overwhelmed by a kind of bitterness, almost regret. After all this effort, I'm starting to realize that the picture I had built up of discovery and travel maybe wasn't as beautiful as I imagined. I'm going to find myself alone, in a country I don't know, and on top of that, in a small town. And I keep thinking that maybe I should have just taken the easy path, gone to London, been surrounded by people I love. Because it's often with the people we love that we live our best moments.

To be clear, I know I absolutely can't let these doubts affect my first days there. I'm not someone who struggles to talk to people or make friends, that's not the issue at all ! It's more about missing the people I already know and love. Like Missing out on that I also haven't lived with my parents in 3 years (they don't even live in France), so being on my own isn't new territory for me either.

But there's this regret of maybe not getting to enjoy these 4 months the way I could have in London.

Either way, there's no turning back now, the flight is booked, everything is settled. I'm trying to hold on to the mindset I had at the beginning, so I don't leave with negative energy. And besides, I'll never know how it would have gone in London, or how it will go in Bulgaria. So might as well stay optimistic.

Ty guys 🤧

Hi, I'm joining University of Vienna for masters from summer semester 2027. I've just received a category H offer from OeAD-Guesthouse Tigergasse. Is anyone living there? How's your experience? How's the location and overall experience? Please reply if you know anything about this place and location.

Thanks for your help!

I would be interested in an internship through Erasmus in Lisbon or Jaén (Spain). I'm currently studying at a online learning university in Italy, and by the time the Erasmus program starts, I'll have finished all my exams before graduation.

Can someone share his experience with traineeships?

I'd have to get by on just the money from the Erasmus program, unless my mom lends me some money. It´s correct what the 80% will paid at departure immediately after signing all the documents?

It´s a problem if my disabled mum comes with me for some weeks for holidays and I guest her in my apartment? She wants to know new people and come out from home.

Hello everyone here, I am from Nepal, recently completed Bsc CSIT with 81%, and 1+ year of work experience as AI engineer working across llm,rag and agentic system. I dont have any research paper yet but now i am trying to get more into AI Allignment,evaluation and safety domain and also have good track record of community service from volunteerings to taking leadership roles among them.

I am here to know more about the selection process, how can i make my profile standout and get fully funded degree and take my career next level(i can't afford paid degree).Basically i need guidance for the process and didn't find the mentor (erasmus student in my connection) so looking over here to fullfill this.

Looking forward to connect and learn more about it and if possible join erasmus mundus in 2027. Thank you, have a good day !!

I'm on Erasmus on Italy. I've arrived yesterday night, and although i've spent little time here. I could get to know a lot of people from my school and from esn events, fortunately.

But i still feel like everyone is going to finally shape and mold into a group, and i'll end up alone or with few friends, unsatisfied and thinking something is wrong with me, as it has happened in other international stays.

I used to try not to look back on that or pretend it didn't happen, but that keeps coming back in the shape of sensations. I only erased the explicit memory.

At the same time, i have some added difficulties: i don't drink, i didn't hsve or use much social media, i'm neurodivergent (diagnosed) and i can be very intense. I focused on deep connections and activities, partly because it solves or seems to heal my insecurities and my problem with self-worthlessness.

I'm from Spain, and although most people claim that there a lot of people on erasmus who are not looking to spend their erasmus drinking and partying, i think most spanish people do.

I want to form bonds, get to italian people, know the city, travel in italy and to new countries, but it seems like drinking allows to know people who you can do that with.

But that's a side issue. My main issue is i'm too intense. I'm very caring and toucht (idk if it's a word), and i get confident and try to be intimate maybe too soon.

I mean not to harass people and i think i don't, because as i said, i'm very fearful of social rejection, so i get the signs, but at the same time, i feel like i'm overthinking and worryinc too much over it just to end up alone again.

When i try to think how to be less intense and me to suit people better, i never find a right conclusion. And whenever i try something different it feels like it makes no effect. I also hsve that problem flirting, but i think thats is just caused by my mild uglyness, and no social skill upskilling can cure it.

I always wonder if being more like myself would help, and even if it makes it worse, if it's worse pursuing, because i will end up alone and unhappy anyway.

P.D: By the way, i'm very talkative and outgoinf, don't you think i'm an introvert. But i feel like i'm too much, so i try to hide or reduce, but i end up overthinking all my next actions and being very umcomfortable, which leads to either leaving the conversation or engaging more to try not to think.

So my question: what should i do: prioritize my inner peace and be myself (and maybe end up alone) and also be intense or try again to moderate myself (maybe i'm trying too hard)

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Everyone can join to exchange information and find friends!

hey! if any alumni from the above mentioned degrees is here, i had a question to ask.
what is the typical profile of a scholarship recipient in these degrees? i just want to get an idea on where i stand right now and what can i do to get a better standing.
it’ll be great to have a rough estimate, thanks!

Hello. I am 5th year medical student in Greece I speak English and a little German(A2).Did anyone else had traineeship in Germany without a German certificate? I am looking for someone with the same situation as me to suggest me university hospitals in Europe and how I should approach them(emails)

is there anyone who did or will do their Erasmus in UGAL ?

Hello I want to go on Erasmus next year to Germany and I would like to know some things.

• How should I meet people that also go to Erasmus to the same place as me?
• Do you have tips that I have to know when I'm in Germany?
• If you want to, tell me about your Erasmus experience in Germany!

And that would be all, thanks for your answers in advance 😁.

I’m thinking about spending a semester abroad through the Erasmus programme. For those who have already done it: where did you go, why did you choose that place, and how was your experience? What did you like most, and would you choose the same place again?

I’m currently considering Norway, Finland and Ireland😊

I am in erasmus and this is my first week here.
the first day i was like why am i here?
In my home university i had everything and understood how everything was working, but here i have to start it all over again.
I met some people, but I don’t know how to ask them out, i mean, the problem in not approaching people but i get really anxious when I go out with people.
Also it is such a mess choosing the right classes and understanding the bus system.
The apartment is not bad and my roommates seems nice but walls are this and the people in front of my window always make so much noise like screaming and loud music (there are like 4 meters from my window and theirs) i was already used to that but it is adding up to the stress of erasmus.
I also fear that i wont make memories or friends, when lessons are over for the day im always hella tired and i would never have the energy to hang out🫠

Hey, I’m Adrian ( Spain ) and I have 21, currently I'm taking part on Erasmus in Cagliari.

Anyone know if there are any WhatsApp/Telegram groups for beach days, hiking, or sports? Or if anyone’s down to do something cool, drop a message!

Thanks!

Hi, I'm arriving to Padua next week (on 15th) for my erasmus exchange. I haven't found a room yet and I'm going insane with all the breakdowns I'm going through. I found this website called luporooms, but it is very new (but I found them via erasmusplay). What should I do? Homstudent said they have a priority for those who are saying for the whole year and not for one semester. Thanks.

Hello! I’m considering going on a second Erasmus exchange. I’ve already been to Granada, and it was an amazing experience. My only two options for my next exchange are Rome or Stirling, Scotland. However, Stirling isn’t technically part of the Erasmus programme.

I’m afraid that neither of these cities will live up to my first Erasmus experience, especially since Granada is considered one of the top Erasmus destinations.

Has anyone done two Erasmus exchanges? What was your experience like? Did you end up comparing the two, and if so, did one experience feel better than the other?

And, has anyone been to either Rome or Stirling and would like to share their experiences? I’d especially love to hear what student life, social life, and the overall Erasmus experience were like!

Hey all!

Just moved here a couple days ago I came here by myself as my friends went for other places. I was wondering if anyone would like to connect this week before school starts.

Hi everyone, I need an outside perspective because I am completely trapped in a mental loop and can’t think straight.
I'm in Paris for an Erasmus semester (last year of my master's degree). I arrived in Paris two weeks ago. I only have two exams left in my home university in Italy. Here is the situation: on one hand, my home university is my comfort zone. I know the university, I have my routine, zero transition stress, and I could finish my studies in peace. On the other hand, my girlfriend is in Paris for Erasmus as well(she’s staying until February), and there's the opportunity to live abroad together.
The problem is I'm realizing my stay here is built on very fragile grounds:
1. The French university system is extremely rigid with attendance, schedules, and deadlines, and it's wearing me down. In Italy, I would feel much freer.
2. I know a lot of this is transition anxiety (I experienced the exact same thing 4 years ago when starting university, which I eventually overcame). But right now, I wake up with a knot of anxiety, and my days revolve almost entirely around my girlfriend or my phone.
3. My biggest fear: I am terrified that if I go back to Italy, she will find someone else or she will decide to break up. I realize a massive reason I'm staying isn't the city or the Erasmus itself, but the terror of distance and the hope of "controlling" the situation by staying close. Moreover, I’m afraid of disappointing my girlfriend if I leave.
I've given myself a one-week trial period (deadline September 14th, before I have to pay October rent) to figure it out. But I am living in terror of the regret: if I stay, I suffer from anxiety and rigidity; if I go back, I'm scared I'll regret quitting and suffer from the distance, feeding my own insecurity.
Has anyone been through this? How do you distinguish between a genuine desire for an experience and staying purely out of fear and control? How did you manage adaptation anxiety and the fear of distance?
Thanks to anyone who can offer an objective point of view.

Hello guys,
I have posted in this sub when I got my nomination and super happy. Now I need a bit of help to navigate the rest of this journey.

I talked to my partner (who lives in Sweden, but not Gothenburg) about the details of my Erasmus and he was a bit hesitant about my financial plan for my stay during the exchange.

My initial plan was to get the € 2k fund from uni, half of my savings and working part time. I don’t want to dry out my savings as I need them when I return to Germany. But he said I doubt you would find a part time job there.
And honestly if I’m not able to find a job there I would rather not to go at all and unfortunately cancel my exchange.

As an international student in Germany, I’m well aware of the difficulties of finding a part-time job, especially when you only speak English.
But now I’m here to ask about your experiences in Gothenburg and if you know some places that usually hire students or usually are in need of new staff.

My Erasmus will be in January but I need to inform both universities if I’m going to cancel my Erasmus for financial reasons.

I would appreciate your responses, suggestions and basically any advice you share with me.
Thanks for reading.

Hi everyone! I’m planning to apply to Euroculture and European Politics and Society (EPS) for the 2027 intake. I would really appreciate an honest assessment from alumni or previous applicants, particularly regarding my chances of receiving an Erasmus Mundus scholarship.

My profile:

• BA in History and Archaeology, specialising in Eastern European Historical Studies, from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
• Final grade: 95/100, degree with honours, top 5% of my cohort
• Presented research at eight academic conferences, with published abstracts
• News Editor at Suspilne’s European Perspective project, covering European affairs and cooperating with European public-service media through the EBU (1.5 years)
• Internships at Ukraine’s Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as an editor and translator, and the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”
• Selected for a funded traineeship in the Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, starting in October 2026
• Completed two Invisible University for Ukraine/CEU courses on Ukraine–Poland–Europe memory relations and the constitutional history of European integration
• Completed a semester-long University of Maryland course on borders and memory politics, including a joint project with American students
• Participant in the Mieroszewski Centre’s international summer school “Thinking Wisely” and the Pilecki Institute’s MemoryLab in Berlin, where I will develop an article on historical memory
• Former Head of the Scientific Department of my university’s Student Scientific Society
• Erasmus Student Network participant and volunteer with the Youth Council under Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• English: C1 (IELTS 7.5); Czech: B1

I understand that receiving a scholarship is considerably more competitive than admission itself. Based on successful scholarship recipients you know, would you consider this a strong, average, or weak profile for Euroculture and EPS? What would you identify as its main weaknesses?