2024-2025 Semester 2

Florian Herremans & Zeno Coppens:

If you love sun, sea, surfing and beautiful nature, then Lisbon, aka Fissabon, might be the perfect destination for your Erasmus. Lisbon is an incredible city located along the Tagus river in Portugal. It’s full of stunning architecture, colourful streets and charming little squares.

Unfortunately, there is also one downside: Lisbon is very very hilly. Getting from one place to another on foot can be really exhausting. Luckily, public transport is completely free if you have official residency in Lisbon and are under 23, which makes exploring the city a lot easier. Let’s also not forget about the many Portuguese sweets and pastries like Pastéis de Nata and Travesseiros tempting you on every corner 🙂

Besides the fun part, there was sometimes studying involved. The academic sys-tem at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) Lisboa is organised into two blocks of 7 weeks, each with different courses. After the first block, you have only 1 week to prepare for exams, which can feel a bit tight. However, the exam period only last one week, followed by a well-deserved break. Then the next 7-week block of lectures begins with a completely new set of courses. Our personal tip: try to schedule your heavier courses in the first block, so you can enjoy a more relaxed second half of the semester.

Beyond Lisbon, Portugal has so much more to offer. Think of Porto, the Algarve or beautiful islands like the Azores and Madeira. Whether you prefer beaches, mountains, culture or nightlife, Portugal has something for everyone. So in short: Erasmus is Lisbon was one the best decisions we have ever made. It was an unforgettable experience and we couldn’t recommend it more! You will have the time of your life!

2024-2025 Semester 2

Camille Castelain:

My main motivation for going on Erasmus was simply: ‘I want to learn French.’ And while that is certainly a practical goal, I realize it’s not exactly the kind of story that wins hearts. That’s why Lyon was the perfect choice. The city truly surprised me; it feels like a blend of Paris and the relaxed atmosphere of the South. It’s a vibrant, bustling city teeming with young people.

Believe me, after eight years of French in school versus six months of total immersion, I can confidently say the second option is far more effective. It is important to note that the academic system is quite different from ours; you don’t attend a traditional university but rather an ‘école d’ingénieur.’ At CPE Lyon, all classes are taught in French. While that was a bit daunting at first, it was the best learning experience I could have asked for. The academic level is slightly more manageable, but you have to account for the language barrier. The courses are organized into modules, which means you have exams throughout the term. However, these are much smaller and less intensive than the massive exam periods we are used to back home. It’s also much more hands-on, which is a great way for an engineering student to gain some practical know-how.

Beyond studying, there are endless ways to unwind. My favorite spot was the banks of the Rhône river, which are lined with lively cafes. Lyon is also incredibly accessible—only three hours from Lille—and it serves as the perfect base for trips. You can go skiing for the day or head south to soak up the sun. We often took the FlixBus to visit cities like Grenoble, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier, and even Barcelona. I highly recommend hiking the Calanques in Marseille in April; the weather is just right, and it’s not yet overwhelmed by tourists.

Ultimately, Erasmus is about the stories you bring home and the people you meet along the way. My semester in Lyon wasn’t just a chapter in my studies; it was a life-changing adventure that I wouldn’t trade for anything. It’s the perfect mix of learning, traveling, and having the time of your life. If you want to grow, explore, and have an absolute blast, Erasmus is the way to do it. You won’t regret it for a second!

2024-2025 Semester 1

Pablo Mattheus:

I had the opportunity to spend the first semester of my masters on Erasmus in Milan, and it turned out to be an great experience. Before arriving, I did not know exactly what to expect from the city or the university, but everything exceeded my expectations! Milan is a vibrant and lively city with excellent food, great coffee, and, of course, amazing aperitivo culture. Thanks to Italy’s convenient train connections, it is also very easy to travel while staying in Milan. During my stay, I had the chance to visit Venice, Bologna, and Turin, all of which are highly recommended.

Politecnico di Milano was a great host university. The professors were approachable and willing to help whenever needed. There were also many Erasmus students, which made it easy to connect with others. In addition, student organizations regularly organize events, city tours, and trips, including a ski trip, which provide great opportunities to explore Italy and meet new people.

Regarding courses, I would recommend mainly choosing classes from the second year of the master’s program. First-year master’s courses tend to be more difficult and structured similarly to bachelor courses. I followed Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Sustainable Process Design for NG and Energy Carriers, and Thermochemical Processes for Carbon Neutral Energy Transformation. These corresponded to the courses Kinetic Modelling and Simulation, Structure and Dynamics of Polymers, Sustainable Chemical Processes, and Thermal Installations at my home university.

I also took Applied Physical Chemistry as an optional course, but Iit was quite difficult and not very engaging, so I would not necessarily recommend it. For the other courses, the professors were kind, and the lectures were generally interesting and manageable.

Overall, my Erasmus in Milan was a great academic and personal experience that I would highly recommend . The combination of a strong university, vibrant city life, and excellent travel opportunities makes Milan an ideal Erasmus destination!

2025-2026 Semester 1

Fleuriëlla Manirambona:

During my first semester, I went on Erasmus to Padua in Italy. I left on my own, which felt a bit scary at first, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. Not knowing anyone pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, make friends, and explore everything on my own.

Studying in Padua was really interesting. It gave me a fresh perspective on how education works in another country. While the content was often similar to what I was used to in Ghent, the approach and way of thinking were sometimes quite different, which made it all the more engaging. And of course, Erasmus also means traveling—and I definitely took full advantage of that. In the beginning, I joined weekend trips organized by ESN Padua, which was a great way to meet people. As time went on, I started traveling more independently with the friends I had made there.

My Erasmus experience also helped me grow a lot in terms of independence. I had to figure many things out on my own, especially since I didn’t really speak Italian. That could be challenging at times, but it’s also what made the experience so valuable. I would highly recommend going on Erasmus to anyone who gets the chance. It’s a unique opportunity to live abroad with relatively few responsibilities besides studying, giving you the freedom to truly experience daily life as a local. For me, it felt like a breath of fresh air—stepping away from Ghent and fully immersing myself in a completely new environment.

2024-2025 Semester 1

Marie Dewulf:

Nor-way I missed this Erasmus

Last year, during the first semester, I went on Erasmus to Trondheim (Norway), and it truly turned out to be an unforgettable experience. All courses there are worth 7.5 credits, and I ended up taking the following four: Bioenergy: Technology and System (wouldn’t recommend), Separation Technology, Reaction Kinetics and Catalysis, and Petroleum Engineering, Basic Course.

But of course, academics aren’t the most important part of an Erasmus exchange. You get to meet an incredible number of new people, and you learn a lot about yourself along the way. One big advantage of Trondheim is the stun-ning nature surrounding the city. A 25-minute bus ride takes you straight into a natural reserve, where you can ski or go cross-country skiing in winter. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the stunning Northern Lights, which really makes the whole experience feel magical. The broader region around the city also has so much to offer, with Geiranger, Oslo, Bergen and the Lofoten easily Reachable.

Thanks to NTNUI (the university’s sports association), you can rent cabins in the middle of nowhere for just 5 euros per person per night, perfect for unforgettable cabin trips. For these weekend adventures, you can even rent camping gear for free, so nothing stops you from exploring the raw Norwegian wilderness.

The city itself also has plenty to offer, both in terms of food and culture. With even an entire toga party in August, where the whole city joins into the festivities. But most of all, it’s the many fun evenings with friends from all over Europe that will make your Erasmus truly unforgettable.