Reviews of Università di Bologna | Italy

Useful | 1

anonymous

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
European Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Languages

Language of instruction: English

Local language was: Different than language of instruction

Was learning English a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my English

Was learning Italian a key decision factor?

Yes, I wanted to improve my Italian

How much did you improve your English?

My level before: No problems in any areas (including slang)
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)

How much did you improve your Italian?

My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: At ease in most situations

Language difficulties

Social

Educational

Administrative / Institutional

Overall

Personal comments

It actually came as a surprise that there were so many courses in English where to choose from. I had prepared myself to struggle with academic Italian, yet finally chose only courses taught in English, for they were really interesting and Master's level. It admittedly held back my Italian skills, but since the quality of the courses was so good I have no regrets.

Useful | 1

anonymous

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
European Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Academic

Course recommendations

I studied at MIREES, Institute for Central Eastern and Balkan Europe, and they had plenty of high profile courses in English. As an Erasmus you also got all flexibility you needed.

My academic experiences

Quality of courses

Variety of courses

Access to resources

Interaction with teachers

Interaction with international students

Interaction with local students

Personal comments

Access to libraries and the internet was a problem, as was the communication with the administrative staff - Italians can be very lazy when it comes to replying emails, even important ones.

My opinion of the university assessment

Exams at end of course

Exams throughout the course

Essays and/or projects at the end of course

Essays and/or projects throughout the course

Overall

Useful | 1

anonymous

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
European Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Expenses

Main source of funding:

Government assistance

Other sources of funding:

Family<br> An ERASMUS grant

Work opportunities:

I didn't want/need to work

Personal spending habits

Internet and telephone are expensive in Italy, as is energy. Food is cheaper. I travelled the whole country though so that required some money.

Travel, Overall, Telephone, Housing:

was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife:

was the same price as at home.

Food:

was less expensive than at home.

Accessibility of student needs

Second-hand text books

Second-hand household items

Computers / Internet

Administrative

Money from home

Personal comments

Check out if your own bank has a deal with any bank of your host country - you may save the withdrawal commission.

Useful | 4

anonymous

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
European Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Overall

I wish I had known...

If I had known how many and how good courses, available in English, they were offering, I could have sorted the equivalences with my home university better.

In my opinion:

I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.

Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important

Academic reasons

3

Culture

3

Costs

2

Activities

2

Campus life

2

Party / people

3

Weather / location

2

Personal recommendation

Go there to study and to travel, if you go. In Forlí there are other students too, but certainly not that many as in Bologna. So if it's nightlife and 'ordinary Erasmus' that you're after, go to a bigger place.

During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot

Became familiar with another culture

4

Traveled

4

Improved language skills

2

Met people from other countries

3

Became more independent

4

Partied a lot

4

Experienced a change in life

3

Advanced my studies & career

3

Final comments

When travelling in Italy, skip the north. The south is much more fun.

Useful | 1

anonymous

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
European Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Housing

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

Own flat is, after all, your own - barring the landlord. Greater freedom, and the feeling that you are a real resident in your new home town.

Personal assessment

Cost

Facilities

Location

Cleanliness

Space

Personal comments

I got my flat through a good local friend, and was lucky enough to land in a single room. Many Italian students share their rooms with another person, which I could have personally found slightly inconvenient.

Useful | 1

anonymous

University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
European Studies, Graduate, Erasmus

Student life

Describe host city:

Students equally interact with the local and student community

Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal social experience

Activities

Nightlife

Travel

Overall

Personal comments

My campus was located in a small and somewhat dull city called Forlí, where the best 'club' was a sort of cultural centre named Arci; cheap drinks, easy-going people and good rock. As for Bologna itself, I can recommend Contavalli, where I knew the owner. Ask for a drink called 'Pompa idraulico'.

Università di Bologna

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