LUISS

Durham is cheaper than Rome for housing - as you would expect. I travelled more in Italy than I would in Britain. Bills, however, were much more expensive, especially electricity and the condominio charge (if you have to pay it).

Tedious beyond belief, largely because of the huge number of teaching hours, meaning that most ´proffesors´ becoming talking books - generally humourless and they are as bored as the students. Options are quite large providing your home university allows you to take any of the year groups offered. If restricted to only one year group, then the options are somewhat limited. Italy teaches political science rather than politics as in Britain - that is to say it is very technical, training people to become civil servants - 1st year students have a compulsory statistics module for example! Some teachers might take a register. However, most Italians are happy for courses to clash. Italians write down word for word what the teacher says - although useless for revision purposes, this is an excellent way to improve your Italian. I only gave one presentation all year: no essays or tests until final exams.

The exam system is extraordinary, but great as an experience to make you ready for anything. You sit, waiting in a room with all the other candidates. A tribunal of examiners comes in late, takes a register (which as an Erasmus, you are never on). They then do 3 oral exams simultaneously in front of everyone. No analysis is required, but much explanation of what happened when (you need a good memory for these exams). Examiners may chat on the phone, text, smoke in your face, ignore you or become bloody minded. Often you will be made to see all 3 examiners. Without consulting each other, one of them will then give out a random mark at the end (in front of everybody). Depending on the examiner's mood, the exam could take a few minutes to an hour, but you might wait 8 hours, or be told to come back another day. You can, however, refuse the mark they give you, and take the exam up to 5 times (if you really think it's worth it). Examiners may ask trick questions. Once you finally accept the mark they give you, you must sign for it in the register. This signing is occasionally on a different day from the exam, and failure to sign is equal to not having taken the exam (so don't book a flight for the day after an exam - also note, exam dates can change at the last minute).

What an Italian oral exam meant.

As Italian unis go, it is supposed to be one of the best. Great, large Erasmus crowd. Delightful café terrace. Good area of Rome (though not quite central).

Living in a flat was largely the only possibility, but I recommend sharing with Italians for language purposes.