267 reviews
4.16 / 5 based on 267 reviews
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Saoirse B
Student life
Describe host city:
Student life dominates the city
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Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife, Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The best pizzeria was La Medina near the duomo. Best place to casually meet up with friends and acquaintances was the piazza where Spritz was and also during the summer there was always Prato della Valle! Night spots - Fishmarket nightclub had the best Erasmus nights and there was a great Spanish night every Thursday in Tutor Club. The best way to make the most of the Erasmus experience in Padova is to join the ESN the Erasmus Student Network - they organise Erasmus theme nights every week, trips to Firenze, Napoli, Roma, Assisi. They also organise welcome and farewell parties and plenty in between!
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Saoirse B
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
Because I went there alone and didn't know very much Italian so it was a great way to meet people, both Erasmus and regular students and I had to speak in Italian in order to be understood so I had to pick it up quite quickly.
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Personal comments
The accomodation was very reasonably priced although I thought it unfair that the Erasmus and foreign students had to pay more than the regular students for housing.
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Saoirse B
Academic
Course recommendations
Talk to the Italian students and former Erasmus students. Try and talk with the lecturers in charge of the course and explain your situation to them.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
The majority of the exams are oral exams which is very different to my home university system, it was a bit nervewracking but perhaps better than having to sit written exams with limited language ability. I would suggest though that the student attempts the exam at the first possible opportunity to get a feel for the system and to repeat or improve on the exam.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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Saoirse B
Languages
Language of instruction: Italian
Was learning Italian a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Italian
How much did you improve your Italian?
My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I had very little Italian before I went to Padova. The language contained in the legal textbooks was very technical and sometimes difficult to follow but I passed 4 exams and got very good marks. In the first semester the university ran free language classes which were a great help. There was one small problem, these classes started after the academic classes and you were assessed on your arrival which meant by the time they started, my language had greatly improved and I was still in a beginners class.
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Saoirse B
Overall
I wish I had known...
That there is an airport in Treviso which Ryanair flies to and there is a very good bus service which goes directly to Padova from opposite the terminal. I think it runs until 10pm and costs c.10Euro. This would have saved me a considerable amount of time and money as I originally flew to Milan and had to take a train.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
The university is a great university, most of the lecturers are very nice and approachable.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
I would definitely recommend joining the ESN as soon as you arrive in Padova - its situated in the little sidestreet opposite the Bo. Also if you are going to travel a lot then it is worth buying the Carte Verde at the beginning of the year to make significant savings. Also if you get a chance definitely go to see a concert or opera in the arena in Verona. And go to the carnivale in Venezia!
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Saoirse B
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
An ERASMUS grant
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
The cost of living in Italy (even in the North of Italy) is significantly cheaper than Ireland.
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Telephone, Food, Housing, Nightlife, Overall, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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