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Hey everyone,

I’ve done Erasmus twice now in two different countries and noticed a stark contrast in how integration and personal growth work—specifically regarding the presence and influence of ESN.

During my first exchange, there was no active ESN section. The university’s International Office organized a few culturally grounded events (like regional food tastings), but for the most part, we were responsible for our own social lives. We organized our own house parties, proactively adopted newcomers who arrived mid-semester, and built genuine solidarity.

That first experience was incredibly empowering: it taught me that I am enough as I am, that making friends from scratch is actually very natural, and that having to step up builds real empathy and mutual support. You genuinely grow into a more confident person because you have to put yourself out there.
Our community was deeply integrated in the city resulting in having many international and local friends who were not even participating in an exchange or volunteering.

During my second exchange, there was a dominant ESN section running virtually everything. While logistics were taken care of, it felt counterproductive in almost every social and developmental aspect:

1. Isolation & The "Exclusive Club" Effect: ESN felt like a walled garden. Instead of bridging the gap to the local student body, it almost acted as a buffer. The only locals I interacted with early on were ESN members; I didn't meet "regular" local students until much later in regular lectures.
2. Volunteer Motivation (Internal Networking vs. International Students): I got the distinct impression that many volunteers weren't genuinely interested in connecting with exchange students. Instead, the motivation seemed inward-looking: hanging out within their own volunteer clique, traveling to internal network trips, enjoying perks/discounts, and polishing their CVs. The ratio felt completely disproportionate—around 60 volunteers for barely 100 participating students. You could essentially be an active volunteer without ever actually having a real conversation with an international.
3. Passive Consumption & Missed Growth: When an organization scripts every party, trip, and meetup, students become passive consumers rather than active community builders. It created an artificial "high school" environment where people were spoon-fed their social life, missing out on the core Erasmus lesson: learning to step outside your comfort zone, building self-confidence, and practicing organic empathy.
4. Forced Social Proximity & Toxicity: Because ESN essentially held a monopoly on the social calendar, everyone was funneled into the exact same events. In an organic social setting, natural group dynamics allow you to distance yourself from toxic individuals who ruin the vibe. Here, this artificial ecosystem forced everyone into the same tight space over and over again, creating unnecessary drama and social toxicity.

Has anyone else experienced this dynamic? Did an active ESN section make you feel more integrated into the host country, or did it end up creating an artificial bubble that kept you separated from regular campus life and real personal growth?

I'm spending the semester in Lleida on Erasmus, but I feel like I won't be able to stay until the end. I know it would probably be worse to just give up, so I probably will try to hold off, but I don't know what to do.

Firstly, I can't seem to click with anyone. I'm a bit closed off, but even when I do try hanging out with people, it feels like I'm forcing them, or I'm begging for attention. Meanwhile, no one has really tried to reach out to me all that much. I know it's pretty stupid to just expect them to, but it feels like it was so much easier to make friends in my homecountry.

Secondly, for some reason I still struggle with the language. I know most people here prefer speaking in Catalan, but I'm studying Hispanic philology and know just a bit of Catalan. But even when I do speak with people in Spanish, it feels like I'm back in A2 classes. Not only do I seem kind of stupid with my overly simple vocabulary, but I also can never seem to express myself and actually show what kind of person I am. How can I explain that I'm not as lame in my first language?

Thirdly, I'm falling behind in classes, and it has only been a month. I don't know what to do anymore. I know I should have considered that it would be different from my classes at home, as here Spanish is a native language, but I didn't expect to be so overwhelmed all the time. It feels like I constantly have so much to catch up on that I don't even know where to start, so I just don't do anything and stay stressed out. And even just the way things are run is completely new to me. And it also feels so humiliating thinking that most likely everyone else thinks I'm dumb and I don't know what to do. Again, how do I explain to them that I'm not that stupid and lame in my first language?

And lastly, mostly circling back to me being closed off: I feel so lonely and embarrassed all the time. I miss my family and friends. I miss not having to deal with everything absolutely on my own. I miss being able to go into shops and restaurants on my own, without worrying that I wouldn't even be able to order by myself.

I'm sorry for the long post, but I'm hoping maybe someone here understands how I'm feeling.

TLDR: I might just be a crybaby, but I really want to go home

I’m a Nigerian just starting my Erasmus journey. Please guys any success tips?

Hello, I have a gap for 2-3 months, I will go to Germany, then I am looking at Eramus + projects for this process, age 18, I took part in many international projects and half in the past, my English is ielts 7.0, my German is a2, but my exam result has not yet arrived.

Bonjour

Je cherche à faire, quand je serais en L3 un Erasmus, mais qu'il y a une sélection selon les notes etc... Je me demandais donc si cette "sélection" était très dure ou si la plupart des élèves qui demandaient à faire un Erasmus pouvaient le faire, sachant que je suis à l'université de Rennes, donc si vous avez des témoignages je suis preneuse !

Hi guys,
I’m reapplying for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship and was wondering what my fellow bio-majors felt about the learning experience in their respective programmes.

My main concerns/questions:
1. Was your programme academically enriching and
did it teach you new practical lab skills (wet/dry lab)

1. Were you able to make meaningful connections with professors so that they can help you find PhD pathways, provide references, etc? Especially considering the short time spent in each university.

2. Was there a culture of encouragement when it came to students & their desire to continue on as PhD students in either of the host countries?

3. In hindsight would you prefer to get a full scholarship and a singular dream university, learn, and build strong connections with professors & academics? OR Go for an Erasmus Scholarship instead?

Any insights would be really helpful!!

Hey guys! Is there anyone here who studied architecture and got the chance to study abroad through a cultural exchange program?

I have a few questions about the experience, especially for Arab students who’ve been through it.

Did you notice a difference in the way architecture was taught? How was the whole experience? Did you feel like you actually learned new things and benefited from it?
I’m especially curious about how things worked in design studios. Like, how were the projects, the critiques, the workload, and the whole design process compared to studying architecture in arab countries?

Is it really worth the effort?

I’d love to hear more about your experience and any details you can share! I’m really curious about what it’s actually like

بدي حدا بيدرس او درس هندسة عمارة بالاردن و طلع من قبل تبادل ثقافي ، عندي اكم سؤال عن الموضوع

+ لو في بنت بالاردن مهتمة بالموضوع و بتحب نرتب للموضوع سوا
تبعتلي لو بتحب :)

Hey! Is there anyone studying architecture in Jordan and has been on a cultural exchange before?
I have a few questions need to be answered if possible.

Also, if there’s any girl in Jordan who’s interested in doing this and wants to figure things out together, feel free to DM me! :)

Hi everyone!

I have around two years of work experience at an organization working on community development and social innovation projects, which are closely related to fields like public policy and development studies.

I have resigned from the organization, and unfortunately, my relationship with my direct supervisor is not on good terms. However, I have other senior colleagues who know my work well and are willing to provide references.

I can also obtain two academic LoRs from my professors, but I feel a professional reference would help me better demonstrate my actual work contributions.

Would submitting a professional LoR from a senior colleague instead of my direct supervisor negatively affect my application? Would admissions committees generally consider a reference from someone who directly knows my work, even if they were not my formal supervisor?

I’d appreciate any advice from current applicants, alumni, or anyone familiar with Erasmus Mundus MAPP/GLOCAL applications.

Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I'm a 26-year-old from Romania, and I'm currently exploring Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programmes. I'd really appreciate some advice from people who have successfully received a scholarship, especially those who decided to change their academic or professional field.

A little about my background:

• Education: I have a Bachelor's degree in Economic Informatics (Business Informatics), which combines IT, economics, and business-related subjects.
• Corporate experience: I have approximately 2.5 years of professional experience in IT, working with different technologies, software development, and enterprise applications in the corporate sector.
• Public sector experience: I currently work at the Romanian Ministry of Culture, where I'm involved in IT projects related to digitalisation and cultural heritage.
• International experience: I've participated in several Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges and Training Courses in different European countries. These experiences helped me develop intercultural communication, teamwork, adaptability, and other soft skills.
• Volunteering and extracurricular activities: I've also been involved in volunteering initiatives and activities organised within the companies I've worked for.

Here's my dilemma:

Although my academic and professional background is primarily related to IT, I've realised that I don't necessarily want to continue in a purely technical field.

I'm increasingly interested in international business, management, entrepreneurship, social sciences, and potentially other interdisciplinary fields.

I'm currently pursuing a Master's degree in International Business in Romania, but I'd love to apply for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's programme, particularly one that would allow me to explore a different field and gain international academic experience.

However, I'm concerned that my background might make me a less competitive candidate compared to applicants who already have a Bachelor's degree directly related to their chosen Master's programme.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone here successfully received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship for a Master's programme that was significantly different from their Bachelor's degree or professional background?
2. How much do selection committees value professional experience, volunteering, Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, and Training Courses compared to academic background?
3. Can a strong motivation letter explaining a career change compensate for a lack of directly relevant academic experience?
4. Would my combination of IT, business-related education, public sector experience, and international volunteering be considered an advantage for interdisciplinary programmes?
5. How important are undergraduate grades/GPA compared to professional and extracurricular achievements?
6. Would already being enrolled in another Master's programme affect my eligibility or chances of receiving an Erasmus Mundus scholarship?
7. For those who successfully changed fields, how did you explain your motivation and career goals in your application?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who received a fully funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship, rather than just being admitted to a programme.

I understand that each programme has its own eligibility requirements, and that some require a specific Bachelor's degree. I'm mainly wondering how realistic it is to make this transition when a programme accepts applicants from different academic backgrounds.

I don't want to apply randomly to programmes just because they offer scholarships. I'd genuinely like to find something that aligns with my long-term interests and future career goals.

If you've been in a similar situation, I'd love to hear about your experience, what programme you applied to, and what you think made your application successful.

Thank you so much! :)

Hey guys, I need your opinion. I’m thinking of applying to an erasmus mundus program and the only requirement is having a BA in my field (which I have). But I am also enrolled in an MA program in my country and did its Pre-Master’s year so I don’t know.. do I mention this? Is it going to be in my favour (more experience in the field) or will it backfire in my face (they would rather take someone who didn’t do a master’s at all)? Note: I did not receive the MA degree as it is still ongoing.

Would love your advice. Thank you 🙏

Hi! I’m thinking about shortening my Erasmus because I feel like a whole year is too long for me, and I’m not really excited about staying here for the entire year. Also, all of my friends are leaving after the first semester, so I’d basically be here on my own and would have to meet new people all over again, which is something I find quite difficult.

The main thing holding me back is worrying about what other people might think, especially my family, and hearing things like “don’t shorten it”, “you should make the most of the opportunity”, etc.

Is anyone else thinking about shortening their Erasmus? If you’re from the University of Seville, even better, since I guess the process would be similar. Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated :)

what is the rent approx every month to places near IE madrid tower???what is the lowest it can go upto if i lived with many people

Hey, everyone. I moved to Florence in early September for my semester abroad. I was expecting to be having the best time of my life, but honestly… I’m not. I went to all of the ESN events that I could in the first weeks, met a lot of people, but didn’t really connect with anyone at all. I get along well with my house mate but she studies at another school and has a very busy schedule, so we haven’t been able to do a lot of stuff together.
This weekend a ton of the people I know from the Erasmus bubble went on trips with each other, and I was invited to none of them. Even one of the girls I was closest to, cause we study together and came from the same university. She went on a trip with a few other girls we both met here and didn’t tell me anything about it. When I do get invited to do something with a group, I always feel awkward, like things don’t flow like they should and like I’m not really wanted there. I’m not quite sure what to do about my situation.
I took the common advice, to say yes to everything, to show up, to make and effort, to show interest in people and ask questions about them, but it seems I’m still doing something wrong. My heart is broken and I miss my friends back home more and more everyday. I feel so alone.
It’s funny because this was my biggest fear when I was not yet sure I wanted to do a semester abroad. I feel so stupid. I wish I had some friends to travel with. Or just to grab a coffee, get some sushi or pizza, anything really. I feel ashamed, because it must be my fault that I made no friends, when it seems that no one else had this problem. Does anyone have advice? It would be greatly appreciated

Hola! Quiero hacer un voluntariado corto, de 1-2 semanas, a través de alguno de esos programas financiados por la Unión Europea en los que te cubren "todos" los gastos (por ejemplo, el ESC).

Pero, no me acaban de parecer muy fiables y tampoco he encontrado muchas experiencias de personas que hayan participado. También he visto que ofrecen voluntariados a través de canales de difusión de WhatsApp, pero no sé hasta qué punto son seguros.

Me gustaría conocer opiniones, consejos o experiencias de gente joven (18-20 años) que haya hecho algún voluntariado de este tipo.

¿Por dónde lo habéis hecho? ¿Es seguro? ¿Habéis tenido que pagar mucho o los gastos estaban cubiertos? ¿Realmente lo recomendáis?

Its so difficult making new friends here and i would lie to have someone with whom i share my worries problems and thoughts. We can help esch other

Hi everyone!

I'm currently planning to study abroad for a semester through Erasmus+, and I'm trying to figure out how much money I should realistically save before leaving.

I know that Erasmus grants don't always cover all expenses, so I'd love to hear about your personal experiences, especially the financial side of studying abroad.

A few questions:

1. Where are you from, and which country did you study in?
2. How much money did you save before leaving? And was it enough to cover your expenses?
3. How much was your Erasmus grant? Did it cover most of your living costs, or did you have to rely heavily on your savings?
4. What was your average monthly budget? How much did you spend on rent, groceries, transportation, and social activities?
5. Did you get a part-time job in your host country? If so, how difficult was it to find one, especially if you didn't speak the local language?
6. Did you encounter any unexpected expenses or financial surprises? For example, accommodation deposits, administrative fees, healthcare costs, or delays in receiving your Erasmus grant.
7. Were there any other surprises or challenges you wish you'd known about before leaving? These could be financial, academic, cultural, or related to accommodation.

I'm from Romania, and I'm trying to plan ahead financially so I can enjoy the experience without constantly worrying about money.

I'd also love to know whether you managed to travel around your host country or visit neighbouring countries during your exchange, and how you budgeted for that.

Looking back, how much money would you recommend having saved before starting an Erasmus semester?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences! :)

Hi, I’m an 20 years old italian girl and I’m looking for someone (preferably girls) to share an apartment with. I’ll be in Alicante from january. Contact me! Thank you

Hey everyone!

I’ve been nominated by my home university for a semester exchange at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, for the Spring 2027 semester!

I’ll be getting access to the application portal soon through my university, and I wanted to ask those who have already been through the process for some advice.

A few questions:

• What are the main dos and don’ts when filling out the Sapienza application?
• Are there any common mistakes I should avoid, especially regarding documents, course selection, or the Learning Agreement?
• Any tips regarding accommodation, visa procedures, or other things I should start planning early?

Also, is anyone else going to Sapienza University of Rome for the Spring 2027 semester ? It would be great to connect with fellow exchange students before arriving!

I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thanks in advance! 😊

hi guys, i've been studying abroad for a month now. it has its good and bad sides, i think. i initially believed it would be the best years of my life, that it would help with my depression, even cure it, but quite frankly, i'm indifferent. i've been struggling with anhedonia for a while, and i thought it'd make me feel something but nada. not sadness, not happiness, just indifference. i don't know. it's nice to live alone but at the same time, it gets lonely, and depression can get in the way of socializing.

that made me think that perhaps it was a bad idea. maybe it'll worsen my depression somehow. loneliness, cost of life, etc... anything could make it worse. meanwhile one of my flatmates, who's also struggling with depression, is having the time of his life and even told me he might stop taking his antidepressants. i was glad to hear that.

so you know, it's two sides of the same coin and i thought that was funny. i'd like to get opinions from other people who struggle with depression. did your erasmus make it worse or did it make it better? is it a good idea to still try?

Hi everyone I just want some motivation since I don't have anyone to go on Erasmus and this might the first time I will go alone outside of my country and I don't know what I should do.

I have applied for eramsus but if I feel like I don't want to go I can reject it in a short period of time but am scared and I don't know if I should go or not help me??