Mobility specification

Country:Italy

Institution:University of Padua

City:Padova

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Geography

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?yes

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

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?The university offers courses in English mainly for Master's students, but Bachelor's students can also enrol (I did). These courses are usually part of whole programmes in English and thus studied by people from all over the world who have come to Padua to study a Masters, not just for Erasmus. This was very interesting for me and the debates with these students were very enriching in my studies, especially in my field of Social Geography and Regional Development.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?It offers a lot, it's an orientation week, but it's also a lot of events, trips, dinners, sporting events and so on - it's very varied and creative. A bit of a problem, unfortunately, was that the university recruited too many Erasmus students and so it was necessary to apply in advance for many of the events and "catch" a place. However, this was not the case for all events, only for the most popular ones. In Padua there was something on almost every day, so there was something for everyone.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Interpretation services

💸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?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Look early and try everything, but don't trust everything right away. I found accommodation through a Facebook group after a long search, but I don't recommend it - there are many people on FB who offer accommodation that doesn't even exist, and then ask for a deposit from students up front, which they never return - you have to ask for at least a video call and of course a contract, and check everything as best you can! We agreed with other students in Padua that accommodation is actually the only problem in this city and university... rooms are few and very expensive, hard to find and then many people live completely out of town. You have to follow the whatsapp groups that the university provides before your stay and search - many students have found really nice accommodations in the center, it's just also a lot about luck.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Probably only necessary to buy equipment for their apartment, where there was almost nothing to cook or clean.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Cooking or going to the canteen, choosing cheaper cafes over more expensive ones, cycling, using public transport to get around... then also the TooGoodToGo app works well in Padua for cheap food.

🗺 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?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I hardly rode public transport in the city, I used my bike (via RideMovi or buy my own and sell it at the end of my stay). Transport outside the city is great, trains in Italy run almost everywhere, you just have to take into account the occasional strikes (especially on Sundays, but you can still get almost everywhere, only a few connections are cancelled that day). Apart from trains, Flixbus and Itabus are very cheap, everything to Padua runs very frequently. The proximity to Venice also adds a lot of other travel options, and it's really easy and affordable.

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?All the monuments, Giotto's Capella degli Scrovegni, parks, squares...

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Venice in low season, then Vicenza, Dolomites, Croatia (Rijeka, Pula), Trieste, Slovenia, and then anything else in Italy - Flixbus to Florence, Verona, Bologna, Lago di Garda, etc.

Share your best experience:All the trips were great, I basically travelled the whole of Erasmus and I'm glad I did.

💅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

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?There is a direct overnight Flixbus from the Czech Republic and Brno to Padua, which was the perfect choice for me. I flew home for Christmas, but it wasn't worth it - before you get to Venice and then to the airport, then you have to leave Vienna again... definitely the best option is the bus.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Medicines - they were quite expensive in Padua.

🥳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?Padua is a hidden treasure beyond Venice, but it's worth discovering and you'll find it grows on you.