Universidad de Granada (UGR)

Talk to the people - they will give you advice on everything from the best travel agent to the best mobile phone to the best books for courses....they talk so much that they are your main resourse for most information. Some people will have difficulty leaving home for the first time, forming strong friendships and an active social life will soften the blow.

I can definitly recommand Granada to everyone who wants to go to Spain and is interested in spanish culture. It's such a vivid city full of (international) students and old historical landmarks. If you go there, don't be afraid of not finding a place to stay, because the streets are full of announcements of people who search for flat mates. Don't try to apply for room in a "residencia"! That's quite expensive and more a hotel than a hall of residence. My travel tip is Marocco as it is quite near and you can get a good idea of the oriental / african way of life, especially in Marrakech.

all the region of Andalucia is beautiful. take some time off, and make trips to little villages and mountains to get acquinted with the local culture. try the local cuisine, especially the bull's tail. mmm...delicious!!

Concerning the apartment, try to get an apartment with central heating. It might not seem important in the beginning when it's warm but most people were freezing much more than in their home country. Be careful about apartments being close to the business faculty (Cartuja), they might be quite far away from downtown, which is not practical when going out. Sign up for the international student organization (ASEE), they organize all kinds of activities such as salsa courses, language exchanges (intercambios) and trips.

If you like kite surfing, then Tarifa is the Mekka of Andalucia for you, it is some 2,5 hours from Granada and the atmosphere is great and the winds always blow there. Granada is definitely worth visiting, it has an amazing vibe and the city is very beautiful and lively. Moreover the Universidad de Granada is very welcoming to the international students and has a great offer of courses and other academic events and conferences. Professors are also very open to discussion and always there if you need an advise. I conducted investigation for my thesis here and I really benefited from a great library the University had and also advices of the professors.

Make sure you get the chance to travel to Sevilla, Cordoba, Cadiz in the south and also see other places along the way, like Ronda, Tariffa, Cabo de Gata etc. Also while travelling don´t have to many expectations on housing. I preferred travelling quite economically in order not to spend to much money. Some living conditions can be great while others not so much. Just enjoy the trips without being to fuzzed about places you stay at. Also try to stay away from people from you home country and try to meet and hang out with spanish people instead. They will teach you a lot and also show you the best things to see.