Università degli Studi di Padova

Before I started this course, I had almost no clue what Economia was all about. I attended a Language High School before and my passion are languages, but I felt like I wanted to study something new. I'd like to work in a European Institution some day and language knowledge is surely useful, but not enough. So I chose Economia. In my country it's seen as a degree that is more likely to make you land in a good job position. I chose Padova first of all for its closeness to my hometown, but I knew it's also quite renowned in Italy for its teaching quality and after-graduation ranking position for jobs, especially in the economic field, second only to Bocconi (Milan).

I am currently at the 3rd year of my degree and I find myself very happy with my choice. Sure, it's been tough at times, particularly in the beginning when I had more Mathematics to catch up than my average colleague (most of them had previously studied in economic or scientific schools). But all the courses I've taken until now have been really interesting. I like the fact that this degree gives you a broad preparation - we have exams about Economics, Accounting, Law, Finance, Business Administration and so on. The first 2 years all the predetermined courses are compulsory, but you are free to choose how you wish to build your 3rd year: do you want to get more specialised in Corporate, Entrepreneurship, Banking, Law...? No problem, there's always a path for you.

Almost all professors are kind and helpful. They are surely all well prepared and know their subject deeply - although in some cases they weren't always able to convey their knowledge (lacking teaching skills), it's possible to prepare yourself for an exam on your own.

Schedules are very well organised - really, I've heard stories from my friends of other faculties and I feel lucky. Timetables never overlap. You know lessons and exams' dates in time. All lessons are in buildings close to one another so you don't need to move and hurry from one part of the city to another. Most of the lessons have "human hours": other than in particular cases, you will never have to wait 4 hours between a class and another, instead you will be free either in the morning or afternoon. For each class there are at least two teachers that follow the same program, so if you don't like the teaching methods of one, you can go listen to the other. The only thing I don't like is that classrooms immediately close after the class ends so one can't just stay there and study but instead has to move somewhere else, without apparent reason, but that's not a big deal.

Sorry this is so long. I think I've mentioned everything. Overall I believe this is a good university and degree program and I would recommend both to those who are interested in the economic field but also have a international vocation and want to acquire skills in many related areas.

Before I started this course, I had almost no clue what Economia was all about. I attended a Language High School before and my passion are languages, but I felt like I wanted to study something new. I'd like to work in a European Institution some day and language knowledge is surely useful, but not enough. So I chose Economia. In my country it's seen as a degree that is more likely to make you land in a good job position. I chose Padova first of all for its closeness to my hometown, but I knew it's also quite renowned in Italy for its teaching quality and after-graduation ranking position for jobs, especially in the economic field, second only to Bocconi (Milan).

I am currently at the 3rd year of my degree and I find myself very happy with my choice. Sure, it's been tough at times, particularly in the beginning when I had more Mathematics to catch up than my average colleague (most of them had previously studied in economic or scientific schools). But all the courses I've taken until now have been really interesting. I like the fact that this degree gives you a broad preparation - we have exams about Economics, Accounting, Law, Finance, Business Administration and so on. The first 2 years all the predetermined courses are compulsory, but you are free to choose how you wish to build your 3rd year: do you want to get more specialised in Corporate, Entrepreneurship, Banking, Law...? No problem, there's always a path for you.

Almost all professors are kind and helpful. They are surely all well prepared and know their subject deeply - although in some cases they weren't always able to convey their knowledge (lacking teaching skills), it's possible to prepare yourself for an exam on your own.

Schedules are very well organised - really, I've heard stories from my friends of other faculties and I feel lucky. Timetables never overlap. You know lessons and exams' dates in time. All lessons are in buildings close to one another so you don't need to move and hurry from one part of the city to another. Most of the lessons have "human hours": other than in particular cases, you will never have to wait 4 hours between a class and another, instead you will be free either in the morning or afternoon. For each class there are at least two teachers that follow the same program, so if you don't like the teaching methods of one, you can go listen to the other. The only thing I don't like is that classrooms immediately close after the class ends so one can't just stay there and study but instead has to move somewhere else, without apparent reason, but that's not a big deal.

Sorry this is so long. I think I've mentioned everything. Overall I believe this is a good university and degree program and I would recommend both to those who are interested in the economic field but also have a international vocation and want to acquire skills in many related areas.

The University of Padua, the second oldest university in Italy (and fourth in the world, being founded in 1222), is closely interwoven with its city. Faculties, halls of residence, and student facilities create a pattern of vivid university life, experienced by students from all over the world. Among the most prestigious courses, Medicine and Law made the history of the institution, with students such as Galileo Galilei and William Harvey. I graduated in "Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures" in 2012, and I am now completing my MA in "Modern American and European languages and literatures". I think that, besides their quality, the most interesting aspect of my courses has been their heterogeneity, encompassing subjects such as Antropology, Philology, Postcolonial Literature and Cultural Studies. This made me develop a professional knowledge and skills that are at the same time extended but also very specific.