10 reasons to pack your bags and go on Erasmus+

Have you ever dreamed of studying in another country, living independently, making friends from around the world, and discovering a new culture, language, and way of thinking? An Erasmus+ academic exchange can offer all of this and much more.

Having recently spent a semester in Berlin, Germany, as an Erasmus+ exchange student, I’d like to share why I believe this is an experience you shouldn’t miss during your student years.

1. Discover a new culture from within

Needless to say, spending half a year abroad through Erasmus+ allows you to fully immerse yourself in the local way of life, with all its peculiarities, traditions, and cultural nuances. And that’s one of the best parts of the experience: you get to discover how people live beyond your country’s borders, while adapting to local practices. In my case, this meant for example learning how to use the Pfand system (which allows you to receive a small refund for returning eligible beverage containers) and to navigate administrative procedures such as Anmeldung (residential registration).

Moreover, an exchange semester is a wonderful opportunity to experience local holiday traditions and create unforgettable memories. Since I went to Berlin for the winter semester, I got to witness the Christmas preparations and feel the festive spirit taking over the city. Together with my friends, I visited Christmas markets in Berlin and beyond, tried countless varieties of Glühwein, tasted Stollen and Dominosteine – in general, did everything one should do when spending winter in Germany

2. Learn a language by living it

Going to a country where the language you are learning is spoken is an ideal way to improve your language skills. I studied German at school and continued learning it after returning to Ukraine, but I had never found it so easy to remember new words as I did during my stay in Berlin. There is something truly joyful about having a little chat with an elderly German lady on the bus or asking for a bag at the checkout. Being able to speak the local language almost feels like having a superpower: it makes you feel like part of the community.

Moreover, the host university may offer free language courses for international students. That was the case for me, and it was absolutely worth it! Such courses are not only a great opportunity to improve your language skills, often with native-speaking instructors, but also a chance to make friends beyond your own degree programme. In my German class, for instance, I studied alongside students from more than ten different countries, from Europe and beyond.

3. Learn to manage everything

One of the most valuable lessons that an Erasmus+ exchange teaches you is how to manage life independently. It is a great opportunity to learn “how to be an adult”. During your exchange, everything becomes your responsibility: from studying and cleaning to grocery shopping and handling paperwork. These tasks may not seem particularly challenging, but in practice, they can take up a considerable amount of time.

Erasmus+ therefore teaches you to manage your time, resources, and energy. It also helps you to develop punctuality, because beyond meeting university deadlines, you need to keep track of rent payments, bills, and other financial and administrative obligations.

4. Master the art of bureaucracy

One skill that deserves a chapter of its own is navigating bureaucracy. When I arrived in Germany, I had to take care of a range of administrative tasks: obtaining a visa, registering my residence (Anmeldung), opening a bank account, and completing the enrolment procedures for both the university and the student dormitory.

What made the process even more challenging was that not everyone spoke English, even in Berlin. For someone who had never dealt with these procedures before, it could feel like a true quest. At the same time, navigating these challenges was an invaluable experience.

5. Step outside your comfort sone

Erasmus+ truly pushes you beyond your comfort zone. The challenges it brings force you to overcome your shyness and insecurities because you realise that sometimes you are the only person who can figure things out. My exchange taught me to ask strangers on the street for directions, stand my ground when dealing with administrative staff, and explain what I needed to bank employees using gestures when they didn’t speak English.

6. Discover yourself

This may seem unexpected, but my Erasmus+ experience, with all its challenges, brought me closer to myself. When you have to figure out so many things on your own, you learn to work with yourself as a team, acting in your own best interests. I started listening to my needs more carefully and reflecting on my experiences. This definitely improved my mental well-being and allowed me to grow as a person.

7. Make international friendships

One of the most obvious yet incredible opportunities that Erasmus+ offers is the chance to make friends from around the world. From my experience, these friendships can be particularly strong because you go through the entire journey together, sharing uncertainties, difficulties, fun, and discoveries.

Moreover, international friendships bring together people with different cultural backgrounds and personal experiences. One of my closest friends, whom I met during Erasmus+, is Iranian. We lived in the same dormitory and sometimes shared meals. During the winter of 2025-2026, when nationwide protests and an internet blackout took place in Iran, she was unable to contact her family for several days. Meanwhile, Ukraine was continuing to endure Russian attacks, leaving people without electricity or heating. Needless to say, we could relate to each other’s experiences.

8. Travel beyond borders

One of the great perks of going on Erasmus+ is the opportunity to explore not only your host country but also other destinations across Europe. Depending on the country, city, and university, exchange students may even benefit from free or discounted public transport.

During my semester in Germany, I travelled with friends to Hamburg and Schwerin to explore the Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets).

9. Broaden your academic experience 

Studying at a university abroad allows you to explore a different educational system, from the structure of classes to the balance between independent study and in-class work. It also gives you an opportunity to take courses that may not be available at your home university and learn from professors with different academic perspectives and teaching approaches.

Moreover, being an exchange student provides you with access to university libraries, online academic resources, and other campus facilities, opening up new possibilities for your academic development.

10. Advocate for your country

Going abroad, studying, and living alongside peers from all over the world is a great opportunity to share traditions, challenge national stereotypes, and raise awareness of issues that matter in your home country.

During my Erasmus+ exchange, together with other Ukrainians in my dormitory, we cooked “kutia” on Christmas Eve; I gave a presentation about how Ukrainians live under constant Russian attacks during the winter of 2025-2026 in my university class; and I joined the demonstration in the city centre on 24 February.

These personal interactions can be much more impactful than simply reading the news because they create a personal connection and foster real human relationships. After meeting you, your country will no longer be just a name on a map to your new international friends: they will associate it with a real person and a personal story. Moreover, you may be the only person from your country they ever meet, meaning that your words and actions may shape their perceptions of your country as a whole. So be mindful of this, and use the chance to advocate wisely.

There is a saying that your first Erasmus is the beginning of the rest of your life. And honestly, I couldn’t agree more. An Erasmus+ exchange is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, full of life lessons, unforgettable memories, and opportunities to grow in ways that you never imagined. It lasts only a few months, but the impact it leaves on you can stay with you for years to come.

The post 10 reasons to pack your bags and go on Erasmus+ appeared first on EU NEIGHBOURS east.