Mobility specification

Country:Italy

Institution:University of Padua

City:Padua

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of History

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?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?yes

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?For the same credit value there were more lectures or seminars at Padua University, otherwise the pleasant surprise was definitely the very warm and positive attitude of the teachers. The larger number of international students makes the discussions more interesting and allows to observe different points of view.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?For sure, ESN in Padua offers events at least once or twice a week. So I participated in the whole orientation week, trips, excursions and parties.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

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

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?I looked for accommodation through Spacest or Housing anywhere, I was happy with it, but you almost always have to pay a deposit and a brokerage fee.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?In the Venice area, the sausages are very high quality, but also expensive. I like salami, but I've probably spent the most money on it. Otherwise, of course, the restaurants are expensive, and the only discounted menu is at the canteen. The most expensive is beer, which costs about 6 or more euros per pint. The most money in general is probably spent on travel, in my case across Italy.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Absolutely, either by going to the canteen or to cheap supermarkets (In's, Conad) instead of smaller convenience stores (Despar). There are cheap clothing and shoe stores near the main squares.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?As for trains, they are the most reliable. Tickets can be bought through Trenitalia. But the buses are usually not on time and some services don't even leave even though there is no info about the closure. It is possible to get monthly, quarterly or yearly subscriptions for public transport at an affordable price. It is about 27 euros per month.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Pratto della Vale, Piazza del'Erbe, cathedrals and churches, Parco del'Europa, Giardini dell'Arena, Club Anima

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Definitely take the train to Venice, then Vicenza, Treviso (the original tiramisu), Bologna, Lago di Garda or Verona. Lots of people went to the Dolomites or to the town of Asiago for skiing.

Share your best experience:The best experience was Halloween in a pub and then in a club where I met about 12 friends of different nationalities. We've seen each other regularly since then and among them were some amazing political science students who were very funny and who had an incredible general insight.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Bus

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?You don't need to have anything specific, but it's definitely nice to take some goodies from the Czech Republic to make you feel at home for a while.

🥳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?A wonderful Erasmus in a country where you don't feel like a stranger after two weeks. And those who speak Italian will be loved by the locals.