Erasmus Experience in Modena, Italy by Alberto

Why did you choose to go to Modena, Italy?

It seemed like the most well located and least expensive city in the north of Italy, so I could travel during my Erasmus experience...

I went to Venice 7 times.

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

It lasted for the whole of my Erasmus and they gave me €400 in total. I don't know how much they pay now.

What is the student lifestyle like in Modena?

It's great. Everyone in the most well-known residence, the residenza Costellazioni, is very friendly and they help out the Spanish people a lot.

Would you recommend the city and the university of Modena to other students?

Of course!

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What is the food like there?

The food is great. The pizza, the pasta and the aperitivo in the afternoons: free food you get with a glass of wine or a coke... I love it. And all of the supermarkets are very cheap.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Modena?

No, like I said before, the residence is the perfect place to meet people, even Italians. It has 12 floors and you learn a lot from other cultures.

How much does it cost to live in Modena?

Around €600 a month for rent and food. Then you still have to pay for travelling and parties...

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

From the first day, I was chatting in Italian while drunk to two Italians and a couple of pizzas... After a month, I was speaking very fluently and I came home knowing quite a lot and with a qualification under my arm. It's a lot like Spanish. Also, the most important thing is to not hang around with other Spanish people. Just with foreigners.

What is the cheapest or best way to get to Modena from your home town?

By plane. Ryanair.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Modena?

Ugh, that's a whole other issue, but the area of the city centre and you can also catch the train to go to Bologna, it's right next door and there is a lot of partying there.

And to eat in Modena? What are some of your favourite places to go?

There's a pizzeria next to the residence which is very good. But at any rate, any place there is very good. It's Italy.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

For a cultural visit, I'd recommend buying a guide for Italy and travel all over the country by train. Rome, Bologna, Venice, Milan, Parma, Pisa... There is a lot of culture in all of the surrounding cities.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Modena in the future?

Save up beforehand and travel a lot. I went almost at the end of my course and now I haven't found any use for it, nor for my second degree or my doctoral thesis, nor for my MBA or any of the scientific articles I've published... It's all useless. Experience, languages, contacts and opening your mind to the huge world and getting rid of negative thoughts are the most valuable things that I got out of my Erasmus experience. I love the social network, I wish that I'd known all of this before I'd gone.