Università di Bologna

food is quite expensive here and getting a phone line installed also expensive.. travel is much cheaper here than uk

Generally situation in country, higher knowledge of mother tongue.

Improve a little communication before the stay of the student.

The level doesn't seem to change regardless of whether it's a 1st year or a third year course (or an 8th year??). The lecturers treat you like a piece of dung if they ever notice you at all and there seemed to be a great deal of animosity towards English speakers (especially non-American ones who don't pay huge amounts of money for support). Don't rely on the teaching staff to help you in any way and it is nigh on impossible to find anyone who can assist you with any academic questions you may have...in my opinion give up on trying to learn anything (you won't- maybe the meaning of the word bureaucracy) and have some serious fun!!!

It would be nice if they could actually take the trouble to assign you to a supervisor who might actually know something about your course area or the differences between courses and assessment methods in your native country. Oral exams are normal in Italy and most British students are used to a written culture, some assistance would have been good to help us with the transition.