new-england-sugar said: I’ve spent time in Brussels! If you’re also studying French that’s going to be more useful to be integrated that way (though they also speak Dutch I believe?) I would factor in finances- cost of living in each city, whether you’re a natural extrovert or introvert (making friends might be significantly harder when you don’t share a common language, I found this when I studied in France), how you spend your time (happy in gorgeous libraries, slightly smaller city and possibly nightlife, or thrive from constantly stimulating city?) and really your primary goals for studying abroad. A lot of my friends in Brussels seem to love it though!
Thanks for your tips! I am studying French, which was my primary motivation for considering Brussels as one of my options, even though I'm not very familiar with Belgian French (though I've spent time both in Quebec and in France). I ended up choosing the University of Edinburgh as my top choice on my exchange application, but if I can, I'd definitely like to visit Brussels just to explore and wander around the city -- from what I've seen, it's a very beautiful city!
daumat said: Oh!! I visited Brussels for a week and have been living in Edinurgh for a year. Brussels is a magnificent city, though large and busy. There’s the convenient underground that takes you everywhere, as well as the cheap bus services. I don’t know about the universities there, but as a cultural and metropolitan centre it was INCREDIBLE. However I think it IS a bit expensive since the Belgian economy is so strong, so you would be advised to look up flat prices in advance.
By comparison, Edinburgh is much, MUCH smaller and doesn’t have the sheer amount of museums that come with being a heavily Francophone capital. Although it gets very busy during the Christmas Market and Fringe seasons, usually it’s not as crowded as the EU capital. Most people walk everywhere; I live ~20 minutes from the science campus and ~30 minutes from the main shopping street. Coffee shops and stores are all in that area as well, as well as the many interesting clubs. If it concerns you, I pay 410 pounds per month for my share of rent and bills in a 3 person flat. Edinburgh is also the most vegan friendly city in the UK, and the aforementioned Christmas Markets and Fringe are huge attractions that are worth your time. Overall it’s much more quiet though, besides the nightlife which is just more concentrated but absolutely rowdy. Finally, Bx has boiling, scorching summer and Edi has… some cold nights and some hot days.
Personally I find the UK fun to live in since I’m vegetarian and they mark every allergen and dietary requirement very clearly. The people are incredibly friendly here, and I’ve had many cashiers chat to me. Brussels was busier, so there was less of that, but I was also not fluent in the language lol. I also noticed Brussels has a bustling immigrant community; Scotland also has that, but on a smaller scale. Edi is one of the most international unis in the UK, I think.
Sorry I rambled so much!! but it’s because this is specifically something I could comment on haha. I sincerely hope this helps. If you have any specific questions about living in Edinburgh or studying at the UoE, please message me! :)
Thank you so much for your long and detailed message, I really appreciate it! I would really like to visit Brussels and Belgium in general, though I'd be a little more hesitant to live there for a semester, housing being one of the factors -- I've always lived in university dorms or residence since moving out from my parents' house, and the idea of having to find my own apartment in the city I grew up in scares me, never mind in a completely unfamiliar city where they speak a different language.
Edinburgh sounds really nice from what you're saying! I know very little about the city (or Scotland in general), but it's very reassuring to know that they have lots of vegetarian/vegan food, since that was one of my minor concerns (I remember being in France once and eating dry salad and fries because they had zero vegetarian options). And I'm glad that Edinburgh has an international population -- I want to meet locals during my exchange experience, but I'd also want to meet lots of other people from all over the world!
Please don't apologize for rambling, your input and advice is very very useful! I don't have any questions for now, since I'm just in the earliest stages of planning, but if I come up with any in the future, I'll remember to ask you. :)Â
duyeo said: Edinburgh is expensive but beautiful and has a lot of history, but I have never in my long life felt it an authentically Scottish place if that’s what you’re heading for. very academic, lots of nice shops, very cold, easy to get around to other places in Scotland. Brussels I’ve only been to 4 times but it’s generally pleasant but I’ll let the Belgians inform u of it
Ahh, being beautiful and having lots of history sounds good. I think I'd like the city (even though I know very little at this stage) so I'm excited to find out more about it!
