In this city in southern Poland, you will be able to choose between rooms in private shared flats or in student residences. Either way, you will be able to share the experience more closely with your roommates, who will surely be your support during the first days of the exchange.
Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Katowice
The following are some outstanding aspects of living in shared flats in the Polish city:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Katowice
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With the savings you get from renting a spare room in a shared apartment, you can travel to nearby and well-connected cities such as Krakow, Warsaw, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Berlin and Prague.
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With a more affordable rental cost, you will be able to pick one of the preferred neighbourhoods by young people to live in, such as the centre of Katowice, Paderewskiego and Śródmieście.
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Katowice
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The student residences may not be in the best conditions, both in terms of cleanliness and the age of the facilities.
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In many cases, the costs of gas, electricity, water and internet are not included in the rental price, so you will have to add an extra amount to the one that appears in the ad at the end of each month to pay for them.
Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Katowice
The apps for Erasmus+ will provide you with a good deal of effortlessness as a student, before your arrival, during and after the exchange. In them, you can access information about life in the city, support, and instructions on procedures, discounts, different services, tips, and student experiences. One of these tips is, that you take advantage of the affordable cost of living in Katowice, and Poland in general, to travel and explore the country, including the beautiful natural sites it has.
How to meet people in Katowice
In this section, we advise you on some ways you have to meet people in this Polish city, in addition to befriending your flatmates, who will surely become some of the closest people in your stay.
Student associations in Katowice
The preferred association for young internationals is the ESN UŚ Katowice, which will provide you with support on your arrival with various Erasmus issues. In addition, you will be able to meet people in Katowice at the same time that you participate in a wide range of events and activities.
Facebook groups for Erasmus in Katowice
You will find two types of groups on Facebook. One of them is the one that is organized according to the academic year and anothers corresponds to the student associations. For example, in the ESN UŚ Katowice group, you can see the calendar with the scheduled activities, which may include theme parties, karaoke or board game nights, photographic outings around the city, and sports evenings such as skating, among others.
WhatsApp groups for Erasmus in Katowice
If you want to meet people and be in immediate contact with other students, join the ESN UŚ Katowice WhatsApp groups and the other Facebook groups.
Tips for living in a shared apartment in Katowice
We give you some tips for living in shared flats in the city in southern Poland:
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If not knowing the language puts you off, don't worry! Erasmus classes are given in English and this is the language in which international students usually communicate with each other. However, we recommend that you learn at least some basic notions of Polish, to be able to speak a little with them at least when making the purchase.
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Mariacka Street in the city centre is the one most chosen by students to go out at night. Keep this in mind when choosing accommodation, since the area can be a bit noisy, and you have to consider if you prefer to live somewhere quieter.
Frequently asked questions about sharing a flat in Katowice
How much does a shared flat cost in Katowice? |
A spare room in a shared flat can range from €90 onwards if it is part of a residence, and from €150 onwards if it corresponds to a room in a private shared flat. Remember that these prices are approximate, so they may vary. |
How to find roommates in Katowice? |
Search in online communities such as Erasmus Play, where you will also be able to compare the different room options in shared flats that are available. |
Share a flat or live alone in Katowice? |
In our opinion, the best thing you can do is share a flat because it allows you to save on rent and invest that money in trips and more experiences in the city. In addition, this way you will make your daily life more entertaining. |
What to ask before entering a flat share in Katowice? |
Ask what the basic rules of the apartment are, not only for visits, schedules, and cleaning but also for the use of heating in winter to avoid generating discussions about it. |
How to choose ideal roommates in Katowice? |
The best thing would be for everyone to have different nationalities, so they can learn from each other and share their different cultures. Of course, it would be ideal if one of your colleagues were Polish to be able to delve deeper into the local culture. |