Córdoba is smaller and less known than Seville or Granada as an Erasmus destination, but that is exactly why it offers a more authentic experience: Spaniards are the majority, you learn Spanish fast and life is cheap. For general information see Erasmus in Spain.
The university
The University of Córdoba (UCO), founded in 1972 by merging older schools, has about 20,000 students. Humanities, law, economics and medicine are in the centre, in historic buildings such as the Rectorate and the Faculty of Arts in the former Cardinal Salazar hospital, while science, agriculture and veterinary faculties, among Spain's most prestigious, are on the Rabanales campus, outside the city and linked by bus and train. The university offers Spanish courses for foreigners through UCOidiomas.
Housing
Rents are among the lowest of Spain's university cities: a room in a shared flat costs roughly 250-400 euros a month. Student favourites are the old town, the Ciudad Jardín area near faculties and bars, and Centro-Tendillas. There are also halls of residence (see the cost of living).
Climate
Córdoba has mild but damp winters, and homes are often poorly heated: bring warm clothes. From June to September the heat is extreme, with peaks above 40°C.
Student life
Social life happens in the tabernas and tapas bars of the centre, in the squares and along the river. ESN Córdoba organises events, language exchanges and trips. May is the best month, with the Crosses, the Battle of Flowers, the Patios festival and the Feria (see festivals). From the high-speed station Seville and Málaga are under an hour away and Madrid and Granada under two, for weekend trips all over Andalusia.
Tips
Learn some Spanish before you go: less English is spoken in Córdoba than in big cities. Discover the local cooking, with salmorejo and flamenquín, and make the most of the Mezquita.