Università degli Studi di Pavia

There's a 3 week language course for erasmus students in September for 1st semester and again in February for 2nd semester students. It's definitely worth flying out that little bit earlier in time for this course. It's a really good ice-breaker, a great way to meet other erasmus students and build a rapport with the Italian students on the STEP comittee and the teachers are really helpful if you need any accomodation or settling-in advice.

Registering can be a bit daunting as you're pretty much left to your own devices. Best advice is to look at the course list, decide on a few you like the sound of then just turn up and sample a few lectures for the first couple of weeks before making your final decisions.

Didn't find them very exigent. Maybe because I was a foreign student... Liked the seminars during Marketing course.

Yes. More projects! The courses aren't very difficult and therefore you tend to feel too relaxed about them. Some projects throughout courses would help learn more and get more interested.

All the exams are oral with the whole class sitting behind and listening...! Not used to it, it was quite terrible, but an experience!

More help for foreign students...a part from one meeting at the beginning we had to organize ourselves completely alone.

expect to have to organise everything yourself!

be patient with the Italian educational system and learn Italian quickly or you will understand nothing.

Be prepared to do written and spoken exams in italian! The teachers do not prepare special exams for ERASMUS students.

Compared to my University, the course in PAVIA was quite easy and with little interest. I had the best time of my life in Pavia but, I did not learn much. One of my favourites courses was: Economia Regionale but, it was very "italian specific".

All courses are in italian. And only some of the teachers speak english