Erasmus Experience in Bologna, Italy by Carlos

Why did you choose to go to Bologna, Italy?

Because the student city life there is well renowned, and its university is one of the most prestigious.

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

They gave me a scholarship for the 6 months. The grant is €250 per month.

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What's the student lifestyle like in Bologna?

Incredible. There are many Erasmus students and above all, a lot of Spaniards.

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

Of course. If you want to have an unforgettable Erasmus adventure, Bologna is the ideal place for it.

What is the food like?

Pizzas and pastas are the main dishes but they are experts in them, especially the pizzas, and the pizzerias are very cheap.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Bologna?

It didn't take long, even though I started looking only two months before I went which is quite late. The best way is to start looking quite a while before you go in order to find the best places.

How much does it cost to live in Bologna?

Italy in general is expensive, more so than Spain, and I do a big food shop for about a week or a week and a half for around €20.

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Is the language easy to get to grips with? Did you go to any language courses in the university?

I didn't do any course but it's easy to understand, you only need to be there, listen to the natives and go to your classes and you will understand it. To speak it is a little bit more difficult, but it is all a matter of practice.

What is the most economic way to get to Bologna from your own city?

By plane, from any Spanish city.

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

There are loads of clubs with a very similar atmosphere to those in Spain, with two rooms with one that plays reggaeton or trap music, and the other plays techno or commercial music. The only inconvenience above all is that the rooms are a little bit small for people that are accustomed to clubs in big cities.

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Is it good to eat out in Bologna? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Ciao Piazza and Pizza Casa are excellent spots for cheap but good quality pizza.

Lab16 is a good spot to have the popular "aperitivi" which is like a free buffet with good quality food.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Culturally, Bologna doesn't have many places to visit, and you can visit the places that are there in a short amount of time, but there are pretty sites to see.

What advice would you give future students heading to Bologna?

The most important thing, is to look at accommodation with plenty of time. Also, it's very important to join Erasmus associations: ESN Bologna and Erasmusland Bologna to be able to go to events with other Erasmus students and get to know people.

And last but not least, keep calm when you go even if you are going alone because you will make lots of friends, get to know a lot of people and have a great time.