In this guide
Fast answer
The real Erasmus survival guide is not about heroics — it is about building small systems in the first three weeks: lock the room and photograph it, fix your course changes before the deadline, split your money into rent / living / travel, join one university group and one city routine, and protect one quiet day a week. Get those running and the rest of the semester mostly takes care of itself.
Every Erasmus semester has the same shape: a chaotic first month, a stable middle, and a sprint at the end. The students who enjoy it most are not the ones who say yes to everything — they are the ones who quietly set up systems in weeks one to three. This guide is those systems, in the order they pay off.
First-Month Priorities
| Area | Do this first | Risk if ignored |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Photograph the room dated, confirm deposit rules, keep all landlord messages in writing. | Deposit conflict at the end of the semester. |
| Courses | Attend first classes and file Learning Agreement changes before the deadline. | Lost credits or a timetable clash you cannot fix. |
| Money | Split rent / living / travel and check it weekly. | The grant disappears into weekend trips by month two. |
| Health | Save 112, your EHIC details and the nearest clinic. | A small problem becomes a stressful one fast. |
| People | Join orientation, one society or sport, and one recurring city habit. | Isolation once welcome week ends. |
Course Changes: the One Deadline That Bites
This is the most Erasmus-specific survival skill. Your Learning Agreement was signed months ago against a course catalogue that has since changed — a class is full, clashes, or turns out to be in the wrong language. That is normal, and Erasmus has a built-in fix: the “changes during mobility” phase. But it has a real deadline, usually in the first weeks. So: attend everything in week one, decide fast, and email both coordinators the moment something needs swapping. Credit recognition depends on the paperwork, not on good intentions — and around 30 ECTS still need to come home with you.
Money Without Panic
Split your budget into three buckets: fixed (rent, deposit — non-negotiable), living (groceries, transport, phone — controllable), and travel (the flexible layer, even when it feels like the main point). Two Erasmus-specific rules: first, the grant’s first instalment typically arrives 4-10 weeks after you land, so month one runs on your own cash; second, protect two months of rent before booking any weekend flight. Get the student transport pass in week one — the under-26 deals (Madrid EUR 20/month, Barcelona EUR 40/quarter and their equivalents elsewhere) change your weekly math. The budget-by-city guide has realistic ranges for your city.
Welcome Week: Use It, Don’t Marry It
Welcome week and the ESN calendar are the fastest way to meet people — go. But the classic trap is building your entire social life on nightlife with other internationals, which gets expensive and repetitive by November. Mix the sources: international students, local classmates, a society or sport, flatmates, a language exchange. And keep one quiet day a week from the start. Erasmus is long enough to need rest; burnout in week six is a cliché for a reason.
Build One Local Habit That Is Only Yours
The most underrated survival move: one recurring habit that does not depend on other exchange students. A cafe where you study, a library desk, a weekly market, a sport class, a language exchange. Friend groups and travel plans reshuffle constantly during a semester — the local habit is what keeps the city feeling like yours through the reshuffles, and it is usually where the local friendships come from.
The Ten-Day Review
After about ten days, run a quick audit instead of waiting for stress to build: Is the commute workable at real class times? Are groceries in budget? Is the room healthy (light, noise, heat)? Does the timetable still make academic sense? Fix what fails now — every one of those is easier to change in week two than in week eight. Keep a small problem log too: dates, screenshots and names for any bill, landlord or course issue. Future-you, negotiating a deposit return in January, will be grateful.
When It Stops Being Fun
Somewhere around weeks four to eight, most students hit a dip: the novelty fades, admin piles up, home feels far. It is normal and it passes — faster if the systems above are running, because a stable routine is the best antidote to the drift. If it does not pass, your host university has counselling services and your international office has seen all of it before; asking early is the strong move, not the weak one. The global survival guide covers the full culture-shock curve honestly.
Sources & References
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when I arrive on Erasmus?
In order: photograph the room and confirm deposit terms, get your certificate of arrival signed (it triggers the grant), attend every first class, buy the student transport pass, and join orientation. Those five set up the whole semester.
How do I change courses during Erasmus?
Through the Learning Agreement’s “changes during mobility” process — email the coordinators at both universities as soon as you know, and before your host’s change deadline. It is routine paperwork if you are early, and a credit problem if you are late.
How do I make friends on Erasmus after welcome week?
Diversify early: one society or sport, local classmates, flatmates, a language exchange, plus the ESN calendar. And build one recurring local habit of your own — recurring beats intense for friendships.
Is it normal to feel down during Erasmus?
Yes — most students dip somewhere in weeks four to eight when novelty fades and admin piles up. Routines, sleep and one quiet day a week help; if it lingers, host universities have free counselling and your international office can point you to it.