Erasmus Experience in Ferrara, Italy by Vítor

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Why did you choose to go to Ferrara, Italy?

It was actually my 4th option, but I did not regret it in the end. Italy is always a nice country to visit, especially Ferrara.

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

I've been in Ferrara for 5 months, I had about 1300 euros total to spend. Got a little extra from my parents each month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ferrara?

If you're going to Engineering like me, get a bike and get ready for long rides everyday, or get a room closer to the uni, but you'll be further from the center. Parties are great and especially safe. Everyone is nice to each other.

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

Yes, of course. Ferrara is one of the best cities I've been to. If you like bike riding I'd definitely recommend it.

What is the food like?

The food is great! No surprise though, it's Italy after all. Even the canteen foor is great, and it's not that expensive (around 3, 7 euro for a decent meal).

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Ferrara?

That was my main problem. Most of the house/appartment owners only wanted affiliation for the whole year, so if you're going for a semester like me, you better prepare your accomodation as soon as possible.

How much does it cost to live in Ferrara?

Not much, depending on where you're from. But I'm pretty sure it's one of the cheapest towns in Italy, if you know where to buy your groceries (Eurostar for example).

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

The language is not that hard, especially if you're Latin. I'm Portuguese and I've known people from Lithuania, Poland, etc. who spoke Italian much better. There's a course in the University for around 50€, but I recommend you take a course previously in your country's University.

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

I've travelled by plane to Milan and then by train to Ferrara. I didn't have many other options, but if you live close by I'm sure you can get there by express bus/train.

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

It really depends on your taste. There's the typical club Renfe, but the Duomo is always full of people on Wednesdays.

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

I can't recommend restaurants because I tried to save as much money as I could. However, the canteen is nice and cheap.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Duomo mainly. I haven't been to any other cultural place during my stay.

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

If by chance you didn't get accomodation, there's a cheap hostel near the center. Also, try to interact with other Erasmus students through Facebook or other social networks.