Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I'd like to live in an apartment shared with other students (as I did when I was in Italy) for the great opportunity to live with people of different countries

Personal comments:
There are many foreign students in the city and I understand that for the University it would be rather difficult to find lodgement for everybody. I found my first accomodation in internet, it seemed OK but once I was there the appartment was further than I had expected from University, indeed it was in a village some kilometres far from the ciy. The flat was pretty nice and big and I was lucky with my flatmates but I long for a flat in the center of the town. Finally I moved on May with 2 friends to a smaller old apparment in the centre of the town and I could enjoy living in the storic centre of a beautiful medieval city!

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

Travel: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

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

Personal comments:
I hardly had coffee before I went to Italy... but il cappuccinno bewitched me! My favourite cafes: Il Morlacchi (the best cappuccino in a chic cafe) and Il Blitz (a wide variety of tea in a cosy place). At night I used to go to Lo Zoologico (foreigners and italians enjoying music from the sixties!) and to different pubs where were organized spanish, greek, german parties (or whatever nationality represented in the city!) Perugia is a university town but is also a chocolate town. In October-November you can't miss the Eurochocolate (an open market where the only product to buy is chocolate). In July it's time for music: The Umbria Jazz Festival (the best musicians playing, in the streets of a city where, at least for 2 weeks, the rythm which leads its life is jazz)

Course recommendations:
This is pretty much pot luck, the best advice that I can offer is to speak to any Italian student friends, or the boys at the Erasmus meeting point (they organise trips, and social events for the international students, aswell as helping you out with any queries if they can!), and ask them about the different courses, and what the teachers are like. Because although I hate to say it, you're mark depends on how much of a swot you are, and how nice the teacher feels like being. The exams are all oral, so therefore are not anonymous, fair and just. It's all exam politics here, giving the right impression, asking lots of questions in class and always sitting at the front to be seen to be attending. For some modules you will be expected to do exactly the same as the other Italian students, and for some you will have to do less than half the workload, though unfortunately for you, or fortunately if you are a lucky person, you will have to take a stab in the dark as much as we did! Just choose something that you think you will be interested in, and that you already have some knowledge about.

Personal comments:
Here it is the students that do the chasing. If you need something then ask, and keep asking until you are blue in the face! Be prepared to wait until you can't feel your legs anymore, and never let them put you down, you have just as much of a right to be there and to be seen to as quickly and as efficiently as everyone else- just keep reminding yourself of that!! As I said before, be clever. Know your teachers! and be honest about your ability and what would be a reasonable compromise.

Language of instruction: Italian

Main source of funding:
An ERASMUS grant

Other sources of funding:
Family
student loan

Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options

Personal spending habits:
The general cost of living out here is definitely cheaper, and after a while like anywhere else you learn where to shop, eat out and go out in order to spend your pennies more wisely. Travel was more obviously because I tried to see as much of Italy as I could, but the uni runs very economical trips away too. Then of course I have spent a small fortune on the phone as nearly all student properties are without a landline, even properties in general don't have this luxury, so inevitably if I didn't want to go to the phonebox every single time I wanted to call someone, I'd just use my mobile...oh dear! All I can say is be careful, but you'll all blatantly do the same!

Travel, Overall, Telephone: was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife, Housing: was the same price as at home.

Food: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
Finding out these things is all part of the experience!

In my opinion:
Most people loved it.