Country-Specific Advice

ANNECY | Jess Lindley

Pros

●   French: There is very little English spoken there
●   ‘Authentic' experience
●   Beautiful location
●   Active opportunities: It’s convenient for hiking and skiing
●   Interesting: Haute-Savoie has a distinct and lovely culture

Cons

●   Quite touristy
●   Size: It's a very small town so it can get boring after a while
●   Isolated: It doesn't have great transport links to the rest of France, and there aren’t many young people there.

PARIS | Jess Lindley, Ian Johnston, and Anon.

Pros

Cons

Living arrangements: Accommodation is expensive, so you might have to live far from your workplace.
Closeness to home: For someone with a propensity to go home, it's almost too easy and you find yourself escaping a little too often.
City: It’s quite noisy and polluted.
Living costs: Supermarkets and restaurants tend to be quite expensive. Club entry is expensive! 15€ for most clubs. Drinks in bars and clubs are very expensive (10€ for a cocktail). Finding accommodation can be very difficult and expensive (700-800€ seems to be average price).
General vibe: Parisien people aren’t super friendly. Of course there are exceptions, but many young people already have their group of friends and aren’t that interested in meeting new people or in making an effort with foreigners. It can even feel quite isolating in Paris. It can actually be quite hard to make friends and you can find yourself feeling lonely more than you would expect.
Expensive: Since I (Ian) was earning a wage, receiving an Erasmus bursary and my normal student loan, I didn't have any financial problems but I didn't have much spare cash either. (Monthly rent was around 600 euros, plus 500 more for living costs.)
Not the friendliest place: I met a lot of great Parisians and enjoyed spending time with them. But I never felt fully integrated in groups and, for the most part, my best friends remained other Cambridge people.
A lot of English speakers: Not sure if this is a pro or a con. My (Ian) French improved a lot from working in French and living with other French speakers. But I did speak a lot of English and, occasionally, my perceived lack of language progress got me down. If you want an immersion experience, other areas in France or other French-speaking countries would be more ideal.

MONTPELLIER | Anon.

Pros

Very student orientated city: There are lots of nice cafes and bars and events for young people.
Culture: There are good art galleries and cinemas and also a film festival in October.
Pretty: The city has lots of beautiful monuments, big town squares, and churches.
Efficient transport: There’s a really good tram system, a train station in the centre of town, and an airport nearby (with cheap flights back to UK).
Nature: The beach is only a tram ride away and there are also flamingos in the city!
Cost: There is cheap rent and you can get government subsidies.

Cons

Safety: The streets aren't very safe at night. There is lots of vandalism and homelessness. There are often creepy men on the tram.
Heat: June to October can be very hot. In September, when I arrived, it was over 35° and I had no aircon, which was unpleasant.
Cost: The centre of town is quite touristy and expensive.
General vibe: I found that people, both at the university and generally in Montpellier, were inefficient and unhelpful, which was frustrating. For example, I encountered disinterested, disorganised and dismissive admin staff, doctors, bank staff, which made things more difficult than they should have been. It wasn't just me who found this to be the case.
Nature: There are lots of mosquitos.

LYON | Ellen Birch

Pros

Beautiful city with lots to do: There are museums (Le Musée de Beaux Arts and various silk and cinema museums); Vieux Lyon is very pretty, with two cathedrals and lovely old streets; Croix Rousse is a trendy neighbourhood. There are lots of lovely cafés and restaurants (Lyon bouchons are the speciality) and there’s the Fête des Lumières, which is a huge Light Show in December.
Language: There are less English people there than in Paris and so there are more opportunities to speak French. I especially found this at the ENS, where there were only five Cambridge students on exchange at any one time.
Size: Lyon is has an ideal and manageable size: it’s not too big, like Paris, but it’s still a large, student city. It’s especially ideal in the warmer months when you can hire city bikes and cycle along the river - it feels much less scary than cycling in Paris! It's also possible to walk pretty much everywhere.
Location: It is very well situated - it's near the Alps, Italy and the south of France, so an ideal place from which to take excursions.
Price: It’s cheap to rent compared to Paris.

Cons

Area: If you're living at the ENS (as I was), the university isn't in the centre of town and the area consists mostly of banks and estate agents.
Connections to UK: More difficult to get to than Paris.
Things to-do: After 8 months it began to feel small and like I'd seen all there was to see.

SALAMANCA | Elle Shea

Pros

Environment: It’s a very beautiful place.
Money: You can do lots of great shopping, the rent and living costs are both cheap.
Weather: There’s lots of sun and it can be quite warm, even up until November.

Cons

Environment: Salamanca is a very small place, which is fine if you like that but it can be quite suffocating.
Language: There’s a really international community, which means it’s not very easy to meet native Spanish speakers.
Travel: It’s difficult to get to - whenever you want to travel (home or around Spain), you have to travel to Madrid first (2 and a half hours by coach).
Work: I worked at the university as a language assistant and was very unsatisfied with the experience as a whole. Meanwhile, friends who studied here told me that the courses were not very challenging and that Spanish students weren’t very openly friendly towards Erasmus students.

MILAN | Chloé McQuillan

Pros

Things to do: Milan is a buzzing city that seems to host a different event each week. Among these are Milan fashion week, design week and food week. There are loads of free events and exciting things to do throughout the city and they make for very good people watching!
Young people: Milan is home to dozens of universities so there are thousands of students from all over the world and student events happening practically every day. They are easy to find and a great way of meeting new people.
Art and culture: This aspect of Milan is really undervalued; it is not just an ugly industrial city like everyone seems to say. It has some beautiful buildings, a really interesting history and some fantastic art galleries and museums. Lots of these are free or have great student discounts so you don't need to break the bank to visit them. In the summer months there are some great (and free) outdoor cinema/music events.

Cons

Lack of green spaces: Milan has a few parks but these are small and become very grey during the winter (and watch out where you walk because no one seems to ever pick up their dog's mess). It is also a very polluted city. Luckily it is easy to escape for a day trip to the nearby lakes for a dose of fresh air and nature. Lago di Como, Lago di Garda and Lago Maggiore are all between 1-2 hours away on the train.
Not typically "Italian": Everyone says that Milan is more "European" than other Italian cities, and it doesn't live up to the Italian stereotype of laid-back afternoons in coffee shops. The city centre is full of businessmen shotting espressos and is generally very fast-paced in comparison to other Italian cities.
Outskirts: Beware of living in the city's outskirts. The city centre is lovely but the further out you go, the more run-down and dodgy the area becomes. This is definitely where the ugly industrial city stereotype comes from and unfortunately this is where you will find the cheapest accommodation. You don't have to live right next to the Duomo but I would advise staying as close to the centre as you can afford to.

TURIN | Isabel Lowe-Zinola

Pros

Variety: Turin is a big city with lots of students and things going on, but also near to beautiful countryside (mountains and sea).
Culture: Great access to a huge range of museums and galleries with Pyou card.
Travel links: Turin has good connections to other cities in Italy and Europe

Cons

Big city: There is not much green space in the city. It does feel quite busy and polluted.
Cost: Accommodation/living costs in the city are more expensive than other Italian cities.
Far away: It is located in the corner of Italy so despite good transport connections, travel times are sometimes quite long.

PADUA | Kate Apley

Pros

Size: Small, which means it's quick to feel at home and get to know the city. It also has a more concentrated centre making it easier to meet more people.
Student-friendly: loads of young people and students, which means lots going on and a buzzing atmosphere.
Travel links: Well-connected to other cities in Italy by train and bus, as well as close to lots of small towns and beautiful countryside.
Cultural: Beautiful, old and full of culture and interesting things to do (particularly if you like Medieval/Renaissance art).
Cost: The city is cheap both in terms of accommodation and food/drink (€2.50 Prosecco….).

Cons

Safety: The area near the station is less safe/a bit dodgy, which means arriving back from a trip late in the evening isn't ideal.
Weather: It's freezing cold in winter and far too hot in the summer because it's always very humid.
International: There is a very large intake of Erasmus students, which can make it harder to make yourself speak Italian (though this is also a pro as it meant lots of events are put on, organised by the ESN!).

FLORENCE | Isabel Maloney

Pros

Size: Florence is a good size, big enough so that you never get bored as there are loads of exhibitions and things going on, but not so big that it's hard to navigate or to meet people.
Travel links: It is very well connected by train to other cities so you can get around Italy easily.
Interesting: Florence is incredibly beautiful and full of art and amazing food.

Cons

Transport: Public transport in the centre is pretty bad and there are very few bus lines; luckily you can walk between most places, but it's a pain if you have to go further afield.
Tourists: There are lots of tourists.

SIENA | Abi Duckham and Emrys Travis

Pros

Social life: The city is split into 17 medieval districts called contradas that hold many events and street parties throughout the year, including the Palio (a horse race in July/August which takes place in the main piazza).
Transport links: Siena has easy bus access to many areas of Tuscany - the bus to Florence takes 75 minutes.
Good size: It is a small, safe, relaxed city that feels quite a lot like Cambridge. It is also very beautiful and has a rich history.

Cons

Nightlife: Siena has limited nightlife - no clubs, few bars, and no music scene.
Tourists: Around the time of the Palio the centre is completely full of tourists.
Accommodation: Accommodation can be hard to find because Siena is a small city with a relatively large university.
Trains: Train journeys from Siena are rarely direct and involve many connections

NAPLES | Charlie Clark

Pros

Friendly: The people are lovely.
Tasty: The food is great.
Historical: Naples has the oldest historical centre in Europe.

Cons

Crime: There is a lot of petty crime as well as large crime.

PISA | Santi Wilder

Pros

Size: Pisa is a very charming small town. Its small size means it's easy to get to know your way around within a few weeks. You'll quickly find your preferred cafes and Tuscan trattorie, of which Pisa boasts many! You'll be amazed at just how cheap everything is, making Pisa a great choice for a student on a budget.
The River Arno: Pisa is situated on the River Arno, with the Lungarno providing a great spot to relax with friends in the sun with some gelato.
Location: Pisa has very good transport connections, both within Tuscany and further afield. Its Galileo Galilei International Airport is a 15 minute bus ride from the city centre and is the biggest airport in Tuscany, making Pisa very easy to reach from the UK. Pisa's train station also has a very regular service to Florence, which you can reach in just 40 minutes!

Cons

Size: Pisa's small size might not be for everyone. Its nightlife is not particularly raucous by any means, so if you're a big club-goer then Pisa might not be for you.
Technological restrictions: Pisa is less modern than the big Italian cities, so technophiles beware! Some of the blocks of flats have limited or no access to internet, and very few public places offer a wireless connection.
Lack of Chain Restaurants: There are very few chain restaurants. This could well be an advantage as it makes a nice change from the capitalist culture of urban centres, but worth bearing in mind if you're someone who can't live without their daily Starbucks fix!

SARDINIA | Isabella Tarizzo

Pros

Small: There are lots of very small, rural towns that have such a lovely strong sense of community.
Friendly: The people are so friendly, they are definitely always more than happy to help with anything and are very welcoming.
Cultural: There's a very rich and unique culture and many usually religious festivals celebrated in a very traditional way.

Cons

Rural: It might be too rural for some people. Small towns are obviously limited in what they can offer in terms of entertainment and opportunities.
Transport: Public transport is pretty awful. Coaches are the main way of getting around but they're slow and there aren't many of them.
Local Dialect: In small towns people speak mostly dialect and this linguistic barrier can be difficult to deal with when trying to integrate.
Isolation: There are very few foreigners which might be a little daunting for some as there isn't any form of network for foreign students living abroad. But, that said, you do end up speaking Italian all the time and really integrating into the community.

VENICE | Sebastian Constantine

Pros

Chaotic, but fun: The fun you can have getting lost is immeasurable.
A lot to explore: The most interesting parts of Venice tend to be avoided by tourists.
Cost: Going for drinks is incredibly cheap.

Cons

Sometimes annoying: There is a large number of tourists and pigeons.
Bad food: Venice isn't renowned for its cuisine, other than squid.
Mosquitoes: There are lots of mosquitos.

BOLOGNA | Eleanor Chapman

Pros

Political activism: Bologna is known by Italians as 'la dotta, la grassa, la rossa' for its ancient, prestigious university; its vehemently defended cuisine and its reputation for political activism. It sometimes feels as though certain sections of the student population embrace this last one a bit too self-consciously but I really enjoyed the levels of political engagement in the city.
Live music and film festivals: Lots of small Italian bands play in the locali on Via del Pratello and in the centri sociali - larger venues include 'Il Covo' and 'Estragon'. The cineteca screens loads of classic films and organises several international film festivals throughout the year.
LGBT+: Compared to other Italian cities I think Bologna is meant to be good for LGBT+ people. It hosts the Gender Bender film festival and has a few LGBT+ bookshops and libraries as well as a LGBT+ centre, Cassero.

Cons

Transitory feeling: Because of a large student population (and many students are Erasmus or fuori sede, Italian students not attending their home university) Bologna doesn't seem to have a very fixed population and this does give the city quite a strange 'passing through' atmosphere.
Crowded: Lack of green space (and space in general!). The city centre is always really packed. Bologna isn't a massive city but it does feel like there are too many people for the size of the city itself sometimes.
Accommodation: Maybe because there are so many students, it can be difficult to find decent accommodation. It's definitely worth going before all the Italian students arrive in September to try and find a room.

HAMBURG | Karoline Oakes

Pros

Beautiful city: There are rivers, a big harbour (nice to be near water), nice parks.
Lots of things to do on the weekend: There's something for everyone - art, shopping, history, food, sport, etc.
International and friendly: There's a good community of international people to meet, opportunities to meet Germans through groups, and a friendly atmosphere - if you look lost on the street someone will almost always come and help you.

Cons

Costs: The city is pretty expensive for rent/eating out (my rent was around 500 euros a month).
Weather: Gets very dark and cold in the winter, lots of rain.
Busy: People walk/knock into you ALL the time (is this a thing anywhere apart from Britain?)

WÜRZBURG | Catherine Watts

Pros

Atmosphere: Würzburg is small and extremely pretty, with two castles and a river. There are lots of lovely walks and cheap places to eat/hang out. It feels very authentic, and there's a great range of dialects, from Frankish to Bayrisch to Hochdeutsch. They are justifiably proud of the local wine and beer, and there are festivals happening all the time.
International community: Würzburg has a strong cohort of international students, but only a few students from the UK, so the lingua franca is mostly German. There's a well-attended language exchange once a week around town. There are also a lot of students from Trinity College Dublin, so you do get the chance to make English-speaking friends too.
Cost of living: Würzburg has a range of supermarkets, and there are plenty of cheap places to eat or go clubbing. New arrivals to Würzburg receive a book of coupons which makes visiting museums and the water park cheap. The university guarantees accommodation to international students if you apply before June and there's plenty of choice for price, area, and type of accommodation. You receive a bus pass as part of your semester fee (and can claim back on it if you're organised), which is good, as Würzburg is very hilly. It's fairly easy to get part-time work (especially tutoring).
Transport links on the continent: Flixbus operates a really good network of super-cheap buses, and changing is rarely necessary (but if it is, expect to be waiting for the next bus for hours). They are pathologically late (but on time just often enough to make showing up on time necessary), but so long as you factor that into your travel arrangements they're a great way to get around, both within Germany and all over Europe. Deutsche Bahn is pricey, but usually fairly reliable.

Cons

Transport links to the UK: The nearest airport is Nuremberg, where Ryanair runs a brilliant afternoon service to and from Manchester. Unfortunately, the London Ryanair flights are either 7am or 10pm. However, there are lots of airports nearby, including Frankfurt am Main, Leipzig, and Memmingen. Frankfurt Hahn is miles away from anywhere and inconvenient, so I recommend avoiding that one even though it's cheap.
Extracurricular activities: Seem to consist mostly of clubbing or pricey trips to other cities, although there are some societies around. They tend to be more expensive than Cambridge societies.

BERLIN | Katharine Scorer

Pros

Variety: You can always find something to do if you feel like it (but no pressure if you just want to chill at home). Being in a very international capital city, there is an abundance of parks, markets, bars, exhibitions, museums, restaurants, cafes, places to meet friends, work (on YAP lol), read, go for coffee/dinner, and you will have no problems finding food from all continents, and many vegan and vegetarian options.
Local flavour: There are lots of different neighbourhoods and there's a strong sense of loyalty felt by Berliners to their 'Kiez'. It's nice to attend smaller, seasonal festivals and get a sense of the locals, not just the big city internationals.
Nightlife: If you like clubbing, Berlin is one of the best places in the world to go out. There's an appreciation for the music (especially techno) and you can meet people and make lots of friends on nights out.
Connections: Berlin is well connected. It's easy to visit home / other German and European cities, so it's good for travel.

Cons

English: So much English is spoken in cafes, restaurants, social situations - you will need to establish that you want to speak German from the start and force it through to avoid getting used to speaking English
Big city: This can be isolating, especially if you do not know anyone, and overwhelming if you don't know what to do / feel the pressure to explore and see everything
Nightlife: Nightlife isn't always inclusive, actually quite exclusive (people can often be rejected from clubs, which can be disheartening).
University culture: Uni life here is not the same as Cambridge Uni life! A lot less work but then a lot less to keep you busy, plus there is no collegiate system, nor any student socials or ways to make student friends (since everyone just lives at home / in WGs / in mixed student accommodation outside the city (for Freie Universität)).
Accommodation: Searching for a place to live is quite stressful. It might be a wise idea to find somewhere before you leave - WG gesucht or Facebook groups are the best places to do this, looking at a price range for a room between 350 - 500 euros, depending on location and amenities

MUNICH | Emma Malloy

Pros

Travel Links: Good connections for travelling home/visiting people and maintaining connections.
International: Munich is very international so it's easy to find people of your own nationality, which you sometimes just really need.
Nature: Munich has amazing access to Nature Parks and Mountains, which is really nice.
Interesting city: It's a place that makes you want to get out and explore, rather than sitting at home with nothing to do.

Cons

Isolating: It's not so easy to meet people unless you have contacts there already or you are native. Münchners are stereotypically a bit 'up themselves', which makes it harder to make friends, but you can find the non-up-themselves/non-natives.
Accommodation: Flat-finding can be a nightmare, and the rent is very expensive.

LEIPZIG | Claire Burchett

Pros

Beautiful city: There are lots of green spaces, it has an old-style architecture, there's a canal, etc.
Transport: It has efficient, clean public transport, and it's free to use with a student card.
Cheap rent: I paid 256 euros a month and my friend paid 199 euros.
Cultural: There are lots of cultural events, good clubs and bars, and you can find cheap tickets to exhibitions and plays.
Welcoming University: You get allocated a German 'buddy' at the university if you sign up, so it gets a bit easier to meet Germans. There is also a student-run organisation which puts on events and organises trips specifically for international students.
Good, cheap connections to other bigger cities: Berlin is 2 hours away by bus and Prague is 4 hours away.
Vegan-friendly: Leipzig is apparently the friendliest city in Germany towards vegans, with lots of big supermarkets and cheap, good places to eat out.
Nightlife: Complete range of nightlife to try out, and lots of pubs and bars too - there is a surprising abundance of Irish pubs.

Cons

Chaos at University: The University was quite disorganised and I'm not sure how much welfare support they could provide. Students tend to make friends outside of their classes and lectures so can feel like a bit of an austere atmosphere.
Accommodation: Flat-finding is less of a nightmare than in main cities such as Berlin or Munich, but it can still be competitive, so give yourself enough time to do this, or just go with university accommodation.
Admin: The bureaucracy can be a pain and you have to figure it out for yourself.

FREIBURG | Jenny O'Sullivan

Unfortunately, it is necessary to start with the very big con that if you are not studying at the university it is very very difficult to find a place to live. It is likely down to luck, but I had to move house 5 times in 6 months between sublets and eventually a hostel. However, if you study there, accommodation will most likely be allocated to you.

Pros

Beautiful location: There are a lot of lovely old buildings and it is surrounded by the mountainous Black Forest, which can be reached easily by public transport and is especially breath-taking in the snow. Being in the South-west means it can also be quite convenient for visiting France or Switzerland. It's an international place but, that said, almost all of my interactions were conducted in German.
Size: It has most of the advantages of a city whilst often seeming like a village - it has everything from an ice rink to a tram network (5 lines), plenty of shops and facilities, yet also a peaceful river side and old-world market squares. And, whilst the city centre can be covered by foot, there is still a lot to explore further out. Lots of people cycle. Seems a progressive and friendly place - housing problem aside. It feels safe to walk home at night on the whole.
Cultural and student-friendly: Having a university means having a well-stocked library for your YAP, Eduroam around town, and other young people to meet. There's a celebrated student cinema club (1,50 euro tickets!), as well as loads of other societies, orchestras and sports teams. The city is full of galleries and has a wonderful theatre and concert house, making for some good cultural internship opportunities (if you can find somewhere to live…).

Cons

Living situation: Finding accommodation is very difficult, meaning applications become very competitive and personal, and prices are often driven up. I had well over a hundred rejected or ignored applications, which was very time-consuming and disheartening.
Airport: Not a hugely serious problem but the nearest airport is in Switzerland, which can be a faff.
Atmosphere: The village vibe might seem a bit claustrophobic/outdated to some people. A lot of people still sweep leaves from their doorways with brooms in the morning... And I think it can get quite packed with all the holidaymakers in the summer.
Unfortunately, there is no women's ice hockey team...

VIENNA | Jess Hughes-Nind

Overall, I found Vienna to be a really great city and, in many ways, it was very easy to live there. The biggest con for me was the people and the atmosphere of the city, as I didn't find it to be very welcoming or community-focused, which did have a significant impact on my experience there.

Pros

Environment: The city is beautiful and very clean
Weather: It's sunny every day (well, almost - but, seriously, it only rained a handful of times during my 9 months there!)
Green: There are lots of parks and green spaces.
Transport: Public transport is cheap (compared to southern England), reliable and quick.
Culture: There are always several different events going on in the city - e.g. the Rathaus has a Christmas market and ice skating at Christmas and then various different markets throughout the year.
Cheap opera: You can get standing tickets at the opera for €3!
It's a very safe city.
Travel Links: It's easy and cheap to get to other cities in central Europe
Vegan-friendly: Loads of vegan options can be found in supermarkets and in vegan cafes and restaurants!
Living Arrangements: Accommodation is cheap compared to southern England.
Cheap Eating-Out: Restaurants are not too expensive.

Cons

Hostile (at times): The people aren't the friendliest (I had people literally walk into me in the street instead of moving out of the way).
Annoying: There is no queueing system - people just barge past (this is a very English con but it does get annoying when you're just trying to buy some food from Aldi!)
Expensive shopping: Food in supermarkets is more expensive than in Cambridge
Fines: If you get caught without a valid ticket on any public transport, they can be quite aggressive and ruthless and the fine is more than €100.
Quiet on Sundays: The town feels deserted on Sundays (when lots of people go to the countryside). Almost all shops are closed on Sundays.

KYOTO

As Kyoto is the default Japanese year abroad destination, here are various perspectives on the destination:

Anon.

NB: The author of this piece has tried their best to be objective, but they admit that they personally didn't enjoy their time in Kyoto. They do want to add that most of their classmates did enjoy their time in Kyoto and that there is every chance that you will, so please be aware this is just one person's personal experience. In their words: don't take my word as gospel!
Kyoto is the default Japanese year abroad destination as the faculty has a partnership with Doshisha University. You can apparently go elsewhere but you must make all the arrangements yourself. I believe some colleges have their own individual partnerships with other Japanese universities (e.g. Downing/Keio, St Catz/Waseda, Emma/Rikkyo). Alternatively, you can apply for the MEXT scholarship which lets you put down 5 preferences for where you would like to be placed, but this isn't guaranteed.

Pros

Size: Kyoto is a decent-sized city of 1 million people, and it is well-connected to other cities in Japan by shinkansen, rail lines etc. It isn't too crowded, either.
Well-connected: Kyoto is close to Osaka - you can get there in about 30 mins by train.
Culture: There is lots of traditional stuff to see e.g. temples, shrines.
Safe
Easy fees-wise: The faculty pays your tuition fees.
Accommodation: University accommodation is decent and not too expensive.
Plenty of Amenities: Nice restaurants everywhere, and the downtown district has plenty of shops, karaoke etc.

Cons

Conservative: Kyoto is quite a conservative city and the people there aren't quite as friendly as those in other places.
Quieter: It isn't as lively as bigger cities (such as Tokyo and Osaka) in terms of nightlife and events. It feels more like a large town than a city.
Isolating: There isn't as much of an international presence as there is in Tokyo, which can feel a bit isolating.
Far from Tokyo: It's a fairly long way from Tokyo if you need to go there to go home or visit family - 2-3 hours and £80 by shinkansen or 7-8 hours on the night bus (around half the price of shinkansen ticket)
Awkward route to Airport: It's a bit of a pain to get to Kansai International airport - the options are: either pay 4000 yen for the special train service, or you can do it the cheaper way which involves changing trains several times (but this takes longer). I had to stay overnight the night before in an Airbnb closer to the airport to be able to catch a flight at 9am.

Additional, mental-health-specific, Advice:

Advice from a previous YA student: If you are on a Japanese Year Abroad in Kyoto and are in need of a counsellor, do not be afraid to see the English speaking counsellor. If you get the same one who I saw, he is lovely and so helpful! He referred me to the psychiatrist so that I could get antidepressants and he wrote me letters when Cambridge asked for medical evidence that I needed to come home.

Anna Ellis-Rees

Pros

Lots of traditional culture: temples, shrines
Beautiful river kamo: fireworks in the summer
Convenient: structured like a grid, you can get to know your way round very quickly.
Great cafes and restaurants
Transport: There are good bus and train services, you can get to Osaka and Kobe very quickly and cheaply.
Good access for foreigners: Popular tourist drain ratio, so you won't stand out as much as in the countryside.
Great festivals

Cons

Far from Tokyo: Taking a long overnight bus or going by plane is best - the shinkansen very expensive.
Nightlife: There aren't many clubs, the atmosphere and music are not the best (but there are good bars).
Atmosphere: It's not as open and relaxed as Tokyo.
Size: It feels more like big town than a city sometimes and it can be pretty quiet at points.
Shops: The shops aren't bad, but their selection is not as good as in Osaka or Tokyo (I'm tall, so I found it really hard to find clothes and shoes and I could only shop at H&M - a bit trivial but it got annoying sometimes!)

Madeleine Todd

Pros

Good-sized city: Kyoto is easy to get to know and get around as it is not too big (especially for a Japanese city) and the transport is not expensive whilst being incredibly well developed.
Beautiful landscape: While the city can be fairly average-looking in places, the surrounding nature is stunning and easy to get to. There are multiple beautiful spots to go hiking/picnicking, including the Kamogawa river which is less than 5 minutes walk from most Doshisha University accommodation.
Great for sightseeing: Kyoto has some of the most ancient and beautiful temples in Japan. They are all over the place and you can find lots of beautiful historical landmarks around every corner.
Proximity to larger, busier cities: It's 20 minutes by fast-train to Osaka, 40 minutes by fast-train to Kobe. Neither journey costs more than £10 each way.
Accommodation expenses: It's much cheaper than in Tokyo, but the quality of room varies from dorm to dorm.
Safe, clean, quiet: I never had anything stolen, there's little to no litter in sight, and people are friendly and accommodating.
Convenient: A note on Japan in general - convenience stores are open 24/7 and have all the basics, including food/underwear/stationery.

Cons

Student atmosphere/Nightlife: I found that, while Kyoto is great for tourism, it could be a little dull to live in. Student life was not too great as many Japanese students live at home (not necessarily in Kyoto) and there are not many great clubs. Cafes were nice but could be quite expensive, especially western food. The vibe in Kyoto is generally quite quiet and conservative so students looking for more of a wild year would be best to look in Tokyo or Kobe.
Grocery costs: Food in supermarkets is expensive, especially vegetables, fruit and bread...If you like cheese you will have to either live without or splash some cash…
Dorm rules: Our university (Doshisha) dorms were generally separated by gender, and those that were had strict rules about not having guests of the opposite gender. Would strongly advise getting own apartment or arranging a homestay.
Hard to integrate: While experiences vary person to person, I found that it was difficult to make lots of Japanese friends and fit in in Kyoto. Perhaps this is because Kyoto is less international than places like Tokyo.
Weather: Winters are not so different from the UK, but summer can be very hot and very rainy - buy one of the huge umbrellas from a convenience store and treasure it with your life.

KYIV | Eleanor Fawcett

Pros

No visa: You don't need a visa! (for under 90 days)
The city: It's a phenomenal city. It's beautiful and much warmer than I expected in Spring onwards. It can get pretty hot, which is great because there's a beach there in summer!
Language: They speak both Russian and Ukrainian so you can go there to get experience in either.
Friendly: People are lovely and chatty overall so I found it really welcoming. This also means you get lots of language practice!
Price: It's so cheap! A beer is under a pound, and a meal in a restaurant averages £2. I've seen tickets with a budget airline for £60 return. You can live like a king because you can get taxis, go for meals, go to the theatre, etc as much as you like as it's so cheap.
Culture: There are loads of theatres, ballets, operas, shows, rap battles (!), etc... you can go to the cinema for a very low price too.
Safety: I felt very safe there. There's a good metro system (that's about 12p a trip) and if you feel worried you can easily get taxis. Men were generally pretty respectful.

Cons

Longer-term not possible: It's very difficult to get a visa for over 90 days.
Host families: It's slightly harder to find a host family than in smaller places.
But...To be honest I don't have many negatives for Kyiv. Like many big cities, it can feel isolating at times. Overall, I had a really good time in Kyiv and would definitely recommend it!

ODESSA | Emily Watton

Pros

City: Odessa is a beautiful city on the Black Sea, with a lot of historic architecture, large parks and beautiful beaches.
There is plenty of culture and entertainment: The city has a famous ballet/opera house (with very affordable tickets) as well as other theatres, museums, restaurants and bars.
Climate: The climate is very mild compared to the rest of Ukraine and other Russian-speaking countries - summers are very hot, while winters are relatively short and temperatures rarely go below -10.
Language: The city is very Russian-speaking, so you'll be totally fine without any knowledge of Ukrainian! On the other hand, almost everyone speaks fluent Ukrainian as a first or second language, so you can practice/learn if you want to.
Student community: There are a few different universities in the city, so there is a large and friendly student community, including quite a lot of international students.
Transport: Good transport links, so it's easy and affordable to travel (by train, bus or plane) to Kyiv, Lviv, and other Ukrainian cities.

Cons

Tourism: There is a lot of tourism in Odessa, so the city and the beaches can get very busy and noisy (especially in summer/autumn).
Quality of life: Outside of the city centre, there is a lot of industry and Soviet-era architecture, and living standards are generally quite low compared to western Europe.
Meeting people: The universities don't have a lot of societies, events, clubs etc, so it can be difficult to meet people outside of lectures. The people are very friendly but you have to be quite proactive about making friends.
Cost of living: Because of the large numbers of tourists, living costs in Odessa are generally a bit higher than the rest of Ukraine (but still very affordable compared to other parts of Europe).

SAINT-PETERSBURG | Michaela Hine

Pros

Cons

KAZAN | Emily Jeffery

Pros

Russian-Speaking: There are far less English-speakers in Kazan, so Russian students are always eager to meet up with you. Also, speaking English in public tends to gets noticed so you meet new friends on the bus or get to have a conversation with a curious Tatar babushka!
Well-structured teaching: The Russian language course at the Philology faculty (of Kazan Federal University) is very organised and I had lessons 5 days a week (including Saturday lessons!). The teaching was a good standard and I found most of the lessons useful. However, they do expect you to attend most/all of the lessons, unless you ask for prior permission.
Tatar Culture: My time in Kazan gave me a totally new perspective on Russian identity. The Islamic influences and Tatar language give Kazan a unique characteristic which I would never have otherwise encountered.
Cheap: The cost of living is extremely low in Kazan. The student accommodation that they provide is also relatively modern and low-priced, and was a great way to meet other international students and feel safe.
Tourism: Kazan has lots of great tourist spots that are unique to the area (the Blue Lake, the Temple of All Religions) and it is also a good starting point for visiting towns such as Vladimir, Suzdal, Nizhnii Novgorod and Moscow.
Wholesome Fun: Now this may sound silly, but if you're not so much into partying and prefer meeting up for coffee, going to the cinema, or going to art galleries, then Kazan has lots of great options! Also, Russian students often prefer these types of meetups anyway, especially in Kazan where the Islamic culture means many of them do not drink. That said, shisha is a popular alternative in the region.

Cons

Size: The city-centre is relatively small and all based on one central street (Bauman Street). You can find everything you need around there, but after a few months I found it a bit monotonous that there seemed to only ever be one place to visit for shops/coffee/life outside of student dormitories.
University Accommodation: University-provided accommodation in Russia often means sharing a room. The main student accommodation complex in Kazan offers rooms shared by four students. I shared a bedroom, a bathroom and a small kitchenette with three other girls. Usually they place international students with other international students, so along my corridor there was a mix of German, Korean, Chinese and Slovakian students.
University Facilities: Kazan University is not as equipped for welcoming Western students as St. Petersburg. It was a challenge to properly register my visa, pay for accommodation, and organise lessons. They are trying to improve this already, with better connections being established with Nottingham and Exeter university. However, Cambridge do not offer the same support for their students and going it alone can be a bit of an uphill struggle. I definitely recommend messaging someone from Cambridge who has been to Kazan Uni for advice! Furthermore, the actual Philology Faculty building itself is not as modern as I had expected (e.g. toilets without toilet seats!)
Weather: Kazan is generally colder than St. Petersburg and Moscow. It is certainly manageable with a good coat and lots of layers, but it's worth saying here.
Lack of Nightlife: Kazan is not really a party city and there is not the same type of Erasmus social scene. Most of the Russian students do not go out to clubs or bars, and there is a very slim selection of places to go. Also, it is not as safe to go out alone in the evenings if you are a woman, and I found that I would always need a male friend to walk with me to places after dark or in the early hours.

PETROZAVODSK | Ellie Tobin

Pros

Cons

Size: Whilst I didn't feel claustrophobic, I can imagine that it certainly could do if you are used to living in a bustling busy city. The atmosphere is generally pretty relaxed, and a lot of people talk about leaving and going to the big cities but mostly don't. You do end up doing similar things every week, which could be quite monotonous, although not unlike life in the UK really. One of the advantages of Petrozavodsk though is that if you do need a city break, the train to St Petersburg (or a Bla Bla Car for cheaper) is around 4.5-5 hrs direct, which is ideal for the weekend.
Weather: Being so far North, Petrozavodsk is not a hot and sunny destination. Even in summer the average temperatures will be 15-20 degrees, and in the winter months it can be as cold as -20, though apparently the average is around -10.
The darkness: In December the days in Petrozavodsk are only about 4 hours long (from about 10am-2pm). Factor this into your time spent there as it really does have a huge effect on your mood. If you need sunlight, go in spring when the days are longer (very similar to UK day lengths) or in summer when the white nights are spectacular.

NOVOSIBIRSK | Anna Snodgrass

NB: I didn't study at the university, hence why there is no information on studying!

Pros

Cons

Architecture: It's a big ugly Soviet city, but if you're going to Siberia, you might as well go the whole hog.
Climate: It's cold in winter, got down to -40, and summer up to +35, but the climate is dry which helps a lot. The cold makes the atmosphere less friendly, so summer/autumn is when the city is at its best to explore.
Biggest piece of advice (sorry, this is not Novosibirsk-specific): if someone offers you the opportunity to do something, whatever it is (obviously, use your head and be wise/safe), do it, even if you think your Russian isn't good enough or you don't think you'll like it. I did a presentation on Cambridge for students (even though my Russian was still quite sketchy at the time), which led to me being interviewed for a national online newspaper, which led to having a conversation partner, which led to me translating a book… if I had said no to the first thing, the chain of events wouldn't have happened and I would have missed out on so many things!

KRASNOYARSK | Emily Watton

Pros

Size: Big city with around a million inhabitants and lots of things to do: plenty of museums, theatres, restaurants, interesting events etc.
Very friendly and welcoming local people: There are very few international tourists/students/residents, so the local people are often very interested in meeting people from other cultures. This makes it really easy to meet people and make friends!
Beautiful natural surroundings: Krasnoyarsk is ideal for anyone who is interested in hiking, skiing, or wildlife. The city is surrounded by mountains and there is a large national park about 30 minutes from the city centre. The river Yenisei runs through the city and there are several large islands which are also great places for walking, ice-skating, cycling etc.
Cheap living costs: Rent is very affordable and restaurants, supermarkets, theatres etc also cost a lot less than they would in Europe.
Travel: The Trans-Siberian Railway runs through Krasnoyarsk, so it's a great base for travelling across Siberia and the rest of Russia.
Meeting people: There is a really good university in the outskirts of the city (the Siberian Federal University) which organises a lot of events, societies, youth projects, language clubs etc. This is a great place to meet local people and other international students!

Cons

Architecture: The city itself is not very pretty. Most of the architecture is from the Soviet era and there are several large factories in the suburbs which create a lot of air pollution.
Small international community: There is a very small international community, so it can be difficult to find English-speaking friends.
Distance: It's really far away! So it's quite expensive to get there and it's difficult to visit home during your YA. The time difference with the UK is 6-7 hours so it can be difficult to keep in touch with friends and family.
Climate: The climate is quite extreme - temperatures can drop to -40 in the winter, while most of the summer will be above +25 degrees.

YAROSLAVL | Claire Burchett

Pros

Cons

Can feel very small: there are a few touristy sights in Yaroslavl but you get through them pretty quickly, it can start to feel a bit boring and samey after a few months.
Transport: I never understood how the buses worked, and I'm convinced even the drivers occasionally didn't either.
Weather: summer came late to Yaroslavl, and there wasn't really a spring, it can feel a bit grim when it's still snowing but transforms when the sun comes out. However, I think this, and the previous point on transport is pretty much the case in most parts of Russia.
People are not super friendly: not the kind to rush to your aid if you slip on ice, and I experienced the occasional snigger at my Russian. Although, people are initially a lot colder but became a lot friendlier once you got to know them. Because it is not a main city some views can come as a bigger culture shock.

COLOMBIA (BOGOTÁ)

Lenka Elekova

Pros

Cons

Ian Johnston

Pros

Friendly locals: Colombians are the warmest of people, and are very keen to welcome new people into their groups. I made a lot of friends at university and had a great time socially.
Travel opportunities: Bogotá is very well-connected, with flights or buses to all major cities or tourist destinations. Travel is also very cheap, meaning you can get around quite easily on a student budget.
Low living costs: Once you've paid for flights to Colombia, living costs are very low. Having saved money from my job and Erasmus bursary in Paris, I was able to pay for flights with this. My Lent term student loan installment paid for ALL my living expenses for my five months in Bogota, and the Easter term installment covered my summer travel.
Culture and nightlife: Bogota is the main cultural hub in Colombia and boasts all of the countries best museums, galleries and points of interest. It also has a very varied nightlife: I went to techno, salsa, pop and grunge nights throughout my time there, again saving a lot of money.
International: There are a lot of exchange students in Bogota and other internationals working here. As many of these exchange students are Mexican or Spanish, you'll be able to practice your language skills with them. Bogota is very cosmopolitan by Latin American standards and the rest of Colombia feels very provincial by comparison.

Cons

Chaotic: Traffic congestion is a big problem, as is pollution - not the healthiest city to spend six months in.
Far away: I was excited about moving far away but the distance and the impossibility of visiting home or Cambridge is something you should bear in mind.
Safety: Getting mugged is a bit of a rite of passage. It happened to me within a few days and was not an enjoyable experience. Don't walk about alone after dark and avoid dangerous areas. The north is generally safer but, if you're unsure about an area, always ask a local. It's also a good idea to use a taxi app (Uber and others) when you're booking taxis after dark.
Food: The fresh produce and juices are great but Colombian food quickly gets very bland. Thankfully, Bogota has quite a lot of international cafes and restaurants but don't expect anything special outside of the capital.
Despite this, I couldn't recommend Colombia enough. The people are brilliant, Bogota is a really vibrant, exciting place to be and I had the best of times.

ARGENTINA (BUENOS AIRES) | Emma Charlesworth

Pros

Beautiful: Buenos Aires is a very stunning city in terms of the buildings. There are also open, large green spaces, such as rose gardens and parks.
Cheap public transport: Buy a SUBE card the cost of each trip is about 10 pesos (~40p)
Cafes/restaurants: Particularly in Palermo, there are some wonderful places to eat or to grab a coffee. There's also a lot of vegetarian places despite it being a very popular place for meat-eaters!
Good nightlife/sociability: There are many, many international students and lots of events/trips going on. The nightlife in terms of bars and clubs is also world-renowned.
Culture: There are lots of museums that put on a host of events and talks throughout the year.
Sports: There are lots of different types of free exercise classes run by the Buenos Aires municipality. It's generally a very active city!

Cons

Safety: If you stick to areas such as Palermo/Belgrano/Recoleta during the day, you shouldn't have too many problems. However, phone theft (particularly iPhones) is very very common, especially on nights out or if you are walking with your phone in your hand. Of course, like in any big city, a lot of care should be taken when walking at night.
Clothes prices: Brands such as Zara/Topshop or any other imported clothing brands - which can be affordable in the UK/Europe - are very expensive here.

CHILE (SANTIAGO) | Elle Shea and Emma Charlesworth

Pros

Environment: It's a big metropolitan city with lots of things to do.
Travel: It's easy to travel around the city and the rest of the country. It's very easy and cheap to get around to some beautiful places throughout the country by bus and plane.
Work: There are loads of job opportunities.
Leisure: It's got a great nightlife.
Cost: Comparatively within South America it is one of the more expensive countries but compared to Europe it can be pretty cheap, for instance the rent for a nice room in a shared house was approximately £300.
Some beautiful areas: Barrios such as Barrio Italia, Barrio Lastarria and Las Condes all have lovely restaurants, cafes and nice green spaces

Cons

Language: It's maybe not as easy to totally immerse yourself in the Chilean community because there are lots of international pockets in the city. Also, this may be a pro or con depending on your point of view, but Chilean Spanish is pretty hard to get accustomed to! On the other hand, your listening becomes very good!
Aesthetic: It's not the prettiest place in the world - there are lots of concrete buildings.
Lack of internationals: Apart from in the university where I was teaching, I came across very few other international students.
Environment: There aren't a lot of parks or green spaces and those that exist can be kind of dangerous at night. There is also quite a lot of pollution.
Money: It's more expensive than other places in Chile. My rent was around £300 per month, but this was for a really central place with a double bed - still very good but, relative to the rest of the country, it was expensive.

BRAZIL (PORTO ALEGRE, RIO GRANDE DO SUL) | Kitty Kenyon

Pros

Language: Porto Alegre is not touristy so you'll speak lots of Portuguese (there's not much English around) and you'll be made to feel like a citizen, not a tourist.
Edgy vibe: Lots of lovely cafés / bars etc., really good nightlife and lots of cool cultural events going on throughout the year.
Weather: Chilly in winter but hot in summer (and not as hot as in the northeast), typically bearable weather all year round.
Cost of living: Brazil is expensive at the best of times but Porto Alegre is more affordable (especially in terms of rent and uber costs) than Rio or São Paulo.
Student-friendly: There are lots of young people around, making it a great place for students. The University is also really welcoming - UFRGS is great! They really look after you and, if you study Letras, you'll meet some amazing people.
Friendly in general: Brazilian people are the friendliest in the world (this goes for anywhere in Brazil, not just Porto Alegre).
Lots of things to do: Museums, shopping centres, parks etc.

Cons

Safety: You have to be really careful (avoid going out alone, don't get your phone out in public unless absolutely necessary, don't carry valuables, don't walk around outside after sunset even in a group etc. etc.). That said, Brazil is dangerous no matter where you go, so this is not specific to Porto Alegre.
Location: It's not on the coast / near a beach.
Ugly parts: It's not the most beautiful city in the world - there are definitely some really nice areas etc. but don't expect an overly clean / shiny / modern city.

COSTA RICA (SAN JOSÉ) | Kitty Kenyon

Pros

Transport: It's very cheap and easy to get to pretty much anywhere in Costa Rica (and Panama / Nicaragua) from the capital.
Weather: It's sunny pretty much consistently in the dry season; cooler and much less humid than elsewhere in the country so the heat is much more bearable.
Things to do: Lots of free cultural events are put on in the capital throughout the year (art & music festivals, concerts, markets etc.).
Fewer bugs: There are fewer mosquitos / cockroaches / other horrible insects here than everywhere else in Costa Rica.

Cons

Transport: Get used to no one knowing how to get anywhere / knowing where anything is. Addresses aren't really a thing so it can be quite frustrating being told to go to 'the house with the green gate, 350m east of the palm tree on the corner by the petrol station 200m north of the supermarket'. Bus timetables / routes don't exist.
Weather: I wasn't there for the worst of the rainy season but apparently it's really bad & rains A LOT. So be mindful of when you're there (rainy season is July/August until around December).
Not a beautiful city: It's not the kind of place where you'd go for a nice stroll on a sunny afternoon.
Not near the beach: San José is about as far from the beach as you can get in Costa Rica but I felt like this was a fair trade-off for much more bearable weather than on the coast. It does take a while to get anywhere though due to poor quality roads / terrible traffic / quantity of main roads in general.

GUADELOUPE | Ellie Tobin

Pros

Weather: Obviously this is the major advantage of living in the Caribbean: the weather is usually absolutely stunning. There are two seasons in Guadeloupe: the dry season (from November-June) and the wet season (June-October).
Beautiful natural surroundings: Your Instagram will be lit. White sand beaches, black sand beaches, a volcano, jungles, sugar cane plantations. You name it, Gwada has it. You can swim with sharks, turtles, sting rays etc etc on the coral reefs at Petite Terre or Ilets Pigeon. Then head to Deshaies in the evening to the bar where they film Death in Paradise.
Outdoor lifestyle: being outside all the time is good for the soul, with great food and a friendly atmosphere. Every night is apero night on the terrace, and I spent every Monday and Thursday night playing volleyball on the beach with friends.
Language: almost no-one speaks English on the island, as until recently English-speaking tourism barely existed. This means that you are forced to speak French all the time, although be aware of the strong Guadeloupean accent, and the fact that many families will speak Guadeloupean Creole as their mother tongue at home. I lived with a family from metropole, which was good in that I didn't have to struggle with the accent!
Friendly culture: people in Guadeloupe are very friendly and welcome you into their homes very openly and kindly. There are few foreigners (non-French speakers) living on the island and so you are somewhat a novelty. They are keen to share Guadeloupean culture with you and take you to some of the more quiet spots off the beaten tourist track.

Cons

AMMAN | Beth Craig-Geen

Pros

Diverse: Amman is a huge city with very distinct areas, so there's a lot to explore
Transport links to lots of amazing sites: Really easy to get to incredible places like Petra/Jerash/Dead Sea.
"Authentic" experience: Amman isn't as Westernised as somewhere like Beirut so you're more likely to get an "authentic" experience and speak lots of Arabic.

Cons

Expensive: Food and rent in Amman is much more expensive than most places in the Middle East.
Conservative: If you are female and/or BME you are likely to get a lot of harassment, and homosexuality is very much not accepted.
Too big: Nothing is really in walking distance in Amman so you spend a lot of time in taxis.

RAMALLAH | Beth Craig-Geen | The city is not currently allowed for year abraod but hopefully will be again soon!

Pros

Insight into the Occupation: You really get to understand what life is like for Palestinians living under Occupation and can visit the Wall etc.
Friendly people: Everyone is genuinely lovely and helpful and will be patient with your Arabic - and nothing ever gets stolen, I left my passport and all my money in a taxi and it was returned!!
Close to everything: Ramallah itself is such a small place so you can easily walk around, and there are great transport links to places like Jerusalem/Bethlehem/Nazareth etc.

Cons

Border crossing: It can be really difficult to get to Ramallah and you will have to lie at the Israeli border (as it's impossible to get a visa otherwise) which isn't fun - risk of deportation etc.
Distressing: Not an easy place to live with constant raids, unpleasant interactions with Israeli soldiers at checkpoints etc.
Small city: Ramallah can get a little cramped if you like big cities, and there is a very tight-knit foreigner community so it's easy just to stick with them and not make Palestinian friends.

CAIRO | Luc Conlon

Pros

Cheap: Cheap in comparison to other middle eastern countries in terms of living costs
Things to do: Lots to see and do, museums, historic sites
People: Outside of touristy areas, people are generally approachable and keen to help
Weather: Weather is a bit cold in winter but other than that wall to wall sun
Teaching: Good quality teaching at ILI (the language school)
Well-connected: Ideally placed to go south further into Africa or explore more of the Middle East
Easy to make friends: Good number of students from European/UK universities so easy to make friends.
Shopping: 2 major shopping centres with good range of recognisable brands if you want some familiarity

Cons

Environment: Pollution and chaotic streets.
Hassle: You can encounter a lot of hassle in tourist areas.
Teaching: Teaching is not always with university-level language students at the school, so proficiency levels vary and it can feel a bit slow sometimes.
Meeting Egyptians: Not being at a university can limit the amount of Egyptian friends you make.

RABAT | Verity Roat

Pros

Easy transport links: You can get to many other places in Morocco via the train lines.
Food: There's a good variety of food, including some international food options like sushi!
A fair amount to do: There are lots of pool halls, cafés, etc. And you will see female Moroccans using them, unlike in the rest of the country.
Feels very safe: Tourists are a hot commodity in Morocco, so police do a lot to protect them. Even walking around on my own at night, I felt safe.
Size: It's small-ish for a capital city, so most things are within walking distance. If not, taxis are easy to come by.
Relatively cheap for a capital city: This is, unfortunately, with the exception of language schools whose tuition is VERY expensive. I think Cambridge cover at least some of these fees though...
Clean
Beautiful: The Oudayas and beach in particular are stunning.
Lovely weather: I was there January - March 2016 and barely had to take a coat out with me. I understand that in the summer it's very clement without being overly hot, unlike cities further South.

Cons

Costs: Language schools are expensive.
Harassment: Men do have a tendency to yellow 'gazelle' or 'hello beautiful' at you in the street. However, it never escalated, so I never felt unsafe.
Boring: It is sometimes a little boring (constantly playing pool gets a little repetitive after a while!)
Accommodation: Homestays through the language schools are expensive, as is accomodation provided by language schools. However it can be hard to find your own accomodation. I luckily found a flat with a friend from Cambridge and a Moroccan, but this was technically illegal as Moroccan men shouldn't live with women they are not related or married to...I was reassured that if we were found out, he'd go to prison, not me!

TAROUDANT | Verity Roat

Pros

People: The people are so friendly and generous and even though some are very poor, they will invite you round to their house and give you such a wonderful feast.
City: It's an absolutely gorgeous city.
A surprising amount to do: There's a couple of gyms, hotels with pools and one hotel which even serves alcohol!
Proximity to Agadir: It's not the nicest city in the world, but if you are missing Western comforts (wine, beer, bacon...), you can go and find them in Agadir.
Proximity to coast: There are loads of gorgeous coastal towns which are only a short drive away.
Weather: It has absolutely beautiful weather 90% of the time. I think in my 6 months staying there it only rained once.
Safety: It feels incredibly safe. I heard one story of a Western girl having her bag stolen, but I myself never experienced or witnessed any crime.
Costs: It is incredibly cheap to buy food and other day-to-day essentials, e.g. transport tickets.

Cons

Transport: The trainline in Morocco ends at Marrakesh, and, as Taroudant is about 4 hours drive south of Marrakesh, getting around can be a little tricky. However, there are many grand taxis and coaches which, while not the comfiest of options, are cheap at least!
Weather: whilst it is beautiful, in the summer it can get up to 45 degrees, which can be a pain for those not used to it. Especially as there is little air conditioning!
Work: Unless you want to volunteer for Moroccan Children's Trust (which is what I did and would thoroughly recommend) there aren't actually many options for getting a job or voluntary work in Taroudant.
Lack of language tuition: When I went on my YA, Cambridge didn't require you to go to a language school at all, just to have a few hours a week tuition. However, I found it really difficult to find a tutor as well and ended up asking a local teacher for help! So, while not impossible, it is difficult to find language tuition!
Conservative: Most of the women wear a hijab, if not a full body covering more akin to a burqa. Whilst this is not necessary as a Western woman, it does make you stand out and therefore a target for harassment. Also, views on LGBTQ+ are incredibly conservative and sexism is quite strong, less so for Western women, but, for example I found it impossible to get my female friends to meet me in a café as that was "where the men went". There are also some random behaviours that are not massively approved of if done by a woman (for example, having tattoos, or smoking).
Alcohol: It's very hard to get hold of alcohol and many Moroccans will be quite upset if you drink in their presence.
Harassment: Female Westerners are harrassed almost constantly in the street. However, as in Rabat, it never felt like it would escalate to more than just verbal abuse.

Country-Specific Advice