Erasmus Experience in Milano, Italy by Morgan

Why did you choose to go to Milan, Italy?

I wanted to live in a big, vibrant continental foreign city after having been in the south of france for my first term.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

For this term I recieved €750 from Cardiff university as the second installment of the Erasmus grant.

What is the student lifestyle like in Milan?

Being a large, metropolitan city, student life is thoroughly enjoyable. There is always something to do and something new to try. The vast array of universities provide great facilities to study in as well as having the city's own libraries and study bases that are available to use.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Milan to other students?

Most definitely.

What is the food like?

Because of its cultural diversity the city has everything to offer from quintessential, home grown Italian cuisine -with great warm and cold aperitivos open across the city in the evening for as little as €6 with a drink of your choice- to all you can eat chinese buffets, sushi houses and a smaugers board of other international places to eat.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Milan?

In the end, no, because I am staying in a student residence designed for domestic and foreign students studying/visiting the city. However there were plenty of sites (that looked legitimate) that required a down payment in order to use their service to look for flats/rooms/appartments etc.

How much does it cost to live in Milan?

I pay €550 a month and talking to friends in various types of accomodation, a cost of around this figure seems to be fairly normal.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

The lanugage course at the university is 6 hours a week and students are split up into groups after having sat a small test at the start of the term. The language will come, with understanding and vocabulary growing everyday, but patience is a necessity as it is easy to feel frustrated that you are not progressing and sometimes even feeling totally out of your depth.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Milan from your city?

That totally depends on where you are living. In the centre the trams and buses are super easy and you can pretty much get anywhere you want on them for very little. If more of a commute is required then a monthly pass on the metro is only €22 and is definitely worth the money. (A single journey costs €1.50)

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Milan?

There are a huge varieties of clubs, bars and venues to cater to all tastes and -price brackets!!- but starting a night in Navigli/Porta Romana/Collone for an aperitivo or a few drinks is never a bad shout.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Milan?

For a quick bite to eat in the day with some sport on, Rookies Bar in Navigli has served me well although it isn't the cheapest (abit of a running trend with eating out here) and Nerofondente further down the canal was fantastic. There are however an enormous number of pizzerias,foccacerias, and restaurant/bars where you can eat brilliant italian food for less than a tenner.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Milan has a glorious supply of classic Italian churches, the most spectacular being the Duomo cathedral which acts as the city's centrepiece and a tour of the inside and the roof is a must. The original painting of the 'Last Supper' in the Basilica Santa Maria is also a must-see although booking long in advance is a necessity. There is also an incomprehensible number of art galleries ranging from brilliant classical italian portfolios all the way through to the modern day and rolling exhibitions that will continually provide new spectacles and fantastic collections to go and see.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Milan in the future?

Your time is what you make of it. Study hard, Party hard and be open and willing to whatever comes your way.