Mobility specification

Country:Italy

Institution:University of Siena

City:Siena

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Experimental Biology

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?no

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised by the very personal iteraction between teacher and student, in a more friendly spirit. I would also single out the interest in improving one's presentation. In almost every course, creating/developing a presentation, either individually or in a group, was part of the final grade.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?After arriving, it was great for me to participate in the Italian courses offered for foreign students, which gave me not only the basics for everyday life, but also a "social circle".
The ESN organisation, directly for Erasmus+ students, then creates events, especially during the so-called welcome week - which is ideal for getting to know people. Then during the semester it is more of a self-initiative. What I would like to point out is the initiative of the university - it frequently sends out invitations to various workshops, events, meetings,... in a more academic way. Moreover, the university has collaborations with cultural organisations in Siena and students are often offered free tickets to theatre performances or the philharmonic. All these opportunities give space to get to know each other. Moreover, Siena is a small city where everyone walks, so it happens that one passes familiar faces every few minutes.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Other

Special needs - Other:I have no experience with any of the above. But what is great is the Tutor Guild, which operates in every faculty and gives students the opportunity to understand the material through their peers.

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:28000 CZK/month

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Food is both in supermarkets (compared to the Czech Republic up to twice as much) and in the university canteen (around 10 euros) more expensive. Then there is public transport - Erasmus students are not eligible for student discounts so a three month ticket is 100 euro. It is not the most advantageous.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The Mercato, or classic Italian market, is held every Wednesday and you can get everything from bed linen to socks and pans at more reasonable prices than in the shops.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Their app works great, in addition to the map function and current location, informs passengers about the current departure time of the bus (i.e. the delay). Tickets are either purchased through the app and activated online, or contactless payment works on the bus. This is both on urban routes and on non-urban ones around Tuscany.

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?In Siena, perhaps every view spot - see the city from "afar". Just wandering the streets is wonderful too, one feels like they are in the Middle Ages. Must see then is at least one Contrada museum (a museum of one of the historic districts that participates in the Palia - a horse race in the main square).

What are the must-visit trip destinations?To local Tuscan towns and vineyards around - San Gimignano, Montelpuciano, Pienza....
Florence is just around the corner, so more than ideal for a spontaneous day trip. And I mustn't forget Rome.

Share your best experience:Wandering the Tuscan countryside and visiting small towns are definitely among the best experiences. Tuscan, and Italian cuisine in general, is delicious and I have become a lover of coffee and Aperitivo. I have had incredible experiences, not only culturally but gastronomically.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

How did you get to the place?Plane
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Transportation to Siena is relatively smooth from both Rome and Pisa airports.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Winter can be a bit of a surprise, so even though the weather is autumnal most of the time, make sure you pack a winter jacket. Otherwise, I can't think of anything special.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Erasmus in Siena exceeds even the best expectations. It was hard to leave this Italian life full of wonderful experiences.