Mobility specification

Country:Italy

Institution:University of Pavia

City:Pavia

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

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

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓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?manageable

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Italy has a completely different style of teaching - they have a semester divided into two shorter ones and in each of them they teach different subjects. So at Erasmus you can try to choose whether you want everything right at the beginning or later on, or spread it out over the whole semester. Also, it's not a rule that teachers and students are better at English, so be prepared for the fact that you won't get by with English alone (although it's still better than nothing).

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?I'm sure it is! It should be noted, however, that I was going to Erasmus via the Institute of Musicology at a separate faculty in Cremona, which is about 1-1.5h of train rides away from Pavia, so the evening ESN parties and programme was not really an option. On the other hand, it is better for engaging directly with Italian students! In Cremona there is a choir, a drama club and now also a photography club, where everyone is very nice and welcomes foreigners with open arms. Although student events are only maybe 3 per semester, they are a lot of fun and give you more space to explore the country and culture.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:18000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I don't think I had any unexpected expenses there, but Kiko Milano was a big ruin for me, so watch out for that, otherwise you'll definitely leave a lot of money there too! Also, for example, we weren't allowed to stay in the dorms over Christmas, and that's when airfare gets expensive, so better to buy at the beginning of the semester so it's not an unnecessary expense then.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?If you cook, you can live in Italy for a similar amount of money as here, at least through the food. I used to go to Esselunga most often and occasionally walk to Lidl, they also have Carrefour there, but the prices are higher and the choice is much smaller. Also look in advance for student discounts at cultural institutions and museums! A lot of museums offer free entry or a few Euros for students (we managed to do this in both Milan and Florence), because you don't save much on trains, they don't have student discounts. Also - wherever you go, walk or get a bike, public transport is really not worth it.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

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

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Definitely the Trenitalia app! In the north you can get to most of the cities by train and without this app I would be completely screwed - they have a special system that even after you buy the ticket you have to activate it before you get on and you don't really want to look for the clicker at the station. (But also beware, there are often strikes and trains don't run, so you have to watch the days when it does and doesn't run)

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?mostly fine

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Go to the Po River at sunset (very magical), also the violin museum (even if you're not that interested and it's not the cheapest, it's still the cradle of violin instruments) and definitely get a tour of the musical instrument museum right at the faculty. Of course the square and the spectacular duomo. If you're lucky enough to go to their theatre as well, your chin might drop to the floor like mine did.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?A full city is a short drive away! Milan, Verona, Mantova, Crema, Pavia, Bologna, Peschiera del Garda and we even took a weekend trip to Florence. And these are all beautifully doable as day trips full of happiness and historic buildings (and smiling people!).

Share your best experience:A Halloween get-together where one of the guys at the bar decided they liked our Erasmian friend and convinced the waiters that it was her birthday that day and they brought her a Pandoro with a candle. The boys didn't get anything out of it, but at least we had a nice drink (because Pandoro is a must-eat).

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The Italians have time for everything, so deal with everything in advance so they can work in peace (and you can get everything done in time) and also the whole country is on racing holiday in August, so watch out for that.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?BEDHSEETS! In Italy they only use thin bedspreads so unless you're a complete winter lover, don't forget the duvet.

🥳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?It's not easy to go to an isolated faculty where the course offerings in English are virtually non-existent (but the professors you choose will let you take the exam in English, which is a big plus, and you'll learn Italian in lectures during the semester!), but it's definitely worth it. If you're expecting a cultural experience and travel from Erasmus, send your application there right away, if you're more attracted to the ESN program, the faculty in Cremona probably wouldn't be your place - but I still wouldn't trade and this semester was worth it.