Miami feels like the capital of Latin America as much as a US city, with Spanish everywhere, Cuban coffee on every corner and a beach culture that never really stops. The University of Miami in Coral Gables and FIU to the west anchor a huge student scene. It is glamorous, diverse and endlessly warm, if not the cheapest place to land.

• Home to the University of Miami and Florida International University (FIU).
• A genuinely bilingual city where Spanish is as common as English.
• Beaches, nightlife and Latin culture set the year-round pace.

Student life mixes beach days on South Beach with the art bars of Wynwood and the buzz of Brickell. The nightlife is legendary, but there is plenty beyond the clubs, from Little Havana dominoes to gallery nights. The heat pushes life outdoors and late into the evening.

• Wynwood's murals, breweries and bars are the student-favourite night out.
• Beach days on South Beach and Key Biscayne are a weekly ritual.
• Catch a Miami Heat game downtown or a domino match in Little Havana.

Miami is pricey for the US, driven by housing: budget around 1,600 to 2,500 dollars a month with shared rent. Beachfront and Brickell rents are steep, so sharing further out saves a lot. Nightlife can drain a budget fast if you let it.

• Shared rooms run about 800 to 1,300 dollars a month depending on area.
• Save by sharing inland and using the free Metromover and Metrorail.
• A cortadito costs a couple of dollars; club nights cost far more.

Students share flats around Coral Gables and Coconut Grove near the University of Miami, or in Brickell and the west near FIU. Beachfront living is glamorous but expensive, so most share inland. South Florida rents are high, so start early and budget for a deposit.

• Coral Gables and Coconut Grove suit University of Miami students.
• Brickell is central and lively but among the priciest areas.
• The Studcasa Miami group is a good place to find housemates and vet listings.

Miami is car-oriented, but the free Metromover loops downtown and Brickell, the Metrorail runs a single line, and the Metrobus and Brightline fill the gaps. Traffic is heavy, so many students combine transit with cycling and rideshares. The beach and the mainland are linked by causeways.

• The Metromover is free and covers downtown and Brickell.
• Metrorail and Metrobus reach Coral Gables, the airport and the south.
• Brightline trains run to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

The University of Miami is a private research university and FIU a large public one, both on semester systems, strong in marine science, business, law and Latin American studies. Expect a mix of lectures and seminars, continuous coursework and professors who expect engagement. The Richter Library at UM stays open around the clock in term.

• Register early; marine science and business courses fill quickly.
• Both universities run active international offices with trips and orientation.

Almost every exchange student needs a visa, and which one depends on your programme and nationality. Most exchange students come on a J-1 exchange visitor visa (with a DS-2019 from your host university) or an F-1 student visa (with an I-20); your US university tells you which and issues the document. You then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 form, and attend an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, so start the moment you're accepted, as interview waits can be long.

Budget for the SEVIS fee (around 220 dollars for J-1, 350 for F-1) plus the visa application fee, and note J-1 visas carry mandatory health insurance rules and sometimes a two-year home-residency requirement. Keep every document for border entry.

• Most exchange students, J-1 (DS-2019) or F-1 (I-20) visa
• Pay the SEVIS fee (~$220 J-1 / ~$350 F-1) before your interview
• Complete DS-160 and attend an in-person consulate interview
• J-1 requires compliant health insurance; check the two-year home-residency rule

Miami runs on Cuban food and coffee: croquetas, ropa vieja, medianoche sandwiches and endless cafecito, plus Colombian, Venezuelan and Haitian flavours across the city. Little Havana is the cultural heart, and the art scene explodes each December during Art Basel. Eat where the queues are Spanish-speaking.

• Do a full Cuban lunch at Versailles or a neighbourhood ventanita.
• Wander Calle Ocho in Little Havana for coffee, cigars and dominoes.
• Try arepas and Latin bakeries across the city for cheap, filling eats.

Miami's neighbourhoods are worlds apart: elegant Coral Gables and leafy Coconut Grove near UM, high-rise Brickell downtown, artsy Wynwood, and the beaches of Miami Beach across the bay. Your campus and your budget decide the base, with sharing inland the sensible money move. Factor in traffic to the beach.

• Coral Gables and Coconut Grove: leafy, walkable and near UM.
• Brickell and Downtown: high-rise, central and well connected but pricey.
• Wynwood and Little Havana: creative, cultural and cheaper to share in.

Miami is the gateway to the Keys, the Everglades and the Caribbean. Key West is a classic road trip, the Everglades sit on the doorstep, and cheap flights reach the islands and Latin America. The Brightline makes car-free trips up the coast easy.

• Drive the Overseas Highway to Key West for the ultimate weekend.
• The Everglades are 40 minutes west for airboats and alligators.
• Cheap flights from MIA reach the Caribbean and Latin America.

Miami rewards those who embrace its Latin rhythm and plan around the climate and costs. A little Spanish goes a long way, hurricane season runs into autumn, and the nightlife can wreck a budget. Get to the beach early and pace yourself.

• A little Spanish opens doors; much of the city runs bilingually.
• Hurricane season runs June to November; keep an eye on the forecasts.
• Ask the Studcasa Miami group about beach car-shares and Keys road trips.