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author
Sara Pasetto
Sara
Pasetto
faculty
Fakulta humanitních stu
academic year of the stay
2021/2022
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author
Sara
faculty
Fakulta humanitních stu
academic year of the stay
2021/2022
traineeship
study stay
short-term mobility
other
KU Leuven – Institut for Philosophy
How does Sara rate their stay?
university
city
accommodation
financial demands
about university
What made your university special? What were the facilities where you studied and the university equipment like?
The Husserl Archives Leuven at the KU is the most prestigious of the five Husserl Archives in the world. It is the first archive and the place where the original Husserl manuscripts are conserved.
I worked inside the archive, in the research room. I had access to transcriptions, reading and research groups.
The KU Leuven gave me study facilities, like the key to the archive, the library access, the student card for mensa and sports etc.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your "adoptive" university? What made it special? What were the premises where you studied and the university facilities like?
I am a PhD student, but I was registered with the status of a student.
The KU is well organized and offers a lot of activities for new students. There is an impressive centre for student services, where I could receive help for health issues and housing, among others.
What is student life like at university?
There are a lot of activities for foreigners organized by the KU or by the City Hall.
For students, there is the Pangea, which is a students centre.
Did you study in English or in the language of the host country? What language requirements does the university have?
The official language in Flanders is Dutch, but everybody speaks perfect English.
For the traineeship, I needed German, but the official language of the Husserl Archives Leuven is English.
It was a pity that I could not enjoy the OLS services for English. My German level is high, and I would have improved my English skills, but my OLS was set for German, Dutch and French. Even if it should be possible to change the language, it was for me impossible to do it.
about the city
What was your impression of the city? How would you describe it? What is interesting to see here?
Leuven is a student city. During the academic year, it is very crowded, especially on Thursdays. The city is very friendly and peaceful.
I think Leuven is the most beautiful city in Belgium. Even Belgium was for me a nice surprise. It was very comfortable to visit with public transport, and people were very kind to me.
about finances
In your experience, how far does the scholarship go? What percentage of your expenses did it cover? What is your opinion on prices in the country in general?
Belgium and especially Leuven are extremely expensive. I received 750 euros from the ERASMUS+ program, but only my rent was 850 euros. It was difficult to survive in a city which offers so much. Everyday life was impossible to sustain without extra financial help.
Please advise your classmates on how to save money—Where to shop? What services can be used to save money?
I could not save any money in Leuven. There are a lot of supermarkets which are all expensive. Maybe the less expensive ones were Aldi and Spar. Basic products of everyday life were sometimes unaffordable. I was lucky to have access to a garden with vegetables and fruits.
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about accommodation
What type of accommodation did you choose? Would you recommend it to others? If not, what type of accommodation do you think is best based on your experience (dormitory, private apartment, private dormitory, shared room, etc.)?
I was a PhD with student status. I could not have access to many colleges.
In my case, the main problem was the duration of the project between January and September. That means it was between the two semesters.
The private market is very complicated due to the several scams.
about experiences
Did you use Erasmus stay to travel around your country/Europe? What are your best travel experiences? What would you not recommend?
Belgium is a small country. It is very comfortable to visit by public transport.
The most beautiful cities for me are:
- Leuven
- Bruges
- Dinant
- Gent
Language and culture: what cultural differences did you notice? How did you cope with the national language? Was it also the language of your studies? Do you feel that your language skills improved during your stay?
I used to work in German, but I only used English at the archives and KU.
final rating
Why here? What makes this location special? Why would you send your friends to your country/city?
KU Leuven is an excellent university, and Leuven is a comfortable city. I would like to return to live if it will be possible.
live-saving tips
If I went again, I would definitely remember to pack...
and carry some extra clothes, because they are expensive if you need to buy some.
Before leaving, I would like to know that...
the accommodation is a sure and verified one.
What surprised me most was that...
that people in Belgium are really friendly and kind. I never felt like a foreigner.
The hardest thing for me was...
the financial organization in the everyday life.
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