Maria Tichonowa

"My decision to go abroad for a whole academic year was definitely one of my best ever. I not only improved my English language skills but also made friends from all over the world.

Plymouth University has a big campus with modern buildings in close proximity, excellent workspaces with very good technical equipment for students and a very big main library. The University of Plymouth Students' Union (UPSU) takes care of students’ needs and interests, and organises a number of different events. These include the Sports and Societies Fair and a Volunteering Fair, where you can register for voluntary/charity work. They also arrange trips out at small cost, which offer you the chance to get to know the area better, meet new friends and share experiences.

The Levinsky Gallery at the University offers exhibitions, films, talks, guest lectures and classical concerts which are usually free for students.

Plymouth and its surroundings offer nice attractions such as its famous Lighthouse (Smeaton’s Tower) and its Gin Distillery. There's also the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and I'd very much recommend a trip to Dartmoor with its diverse countryside (home to wild horses), a trip to Mount Edgcombe Country Park on the Cornish coast outside of Plymouth and a boat trip leaving from Plymouth Hoe. Additionally Land’s End, with its amazing views, and the beach at Newquay, which is great for surfers, are each only a two hour train journey away in Cornwall.

I would recommend to everyone that you take this great and unique opportunity to go abroad through Erasmus. Take the courage, face the additional organisational effort and confront the uncertainty and unknown. You'll be rewarded with unforgettable and impressive experiences."