Erasmus Experience in Modena, Italy by Miller

Source

Why did you choose to go to Modena, Italy?

I came to Modena to study abroad so that I could do research at Unimore.

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

I was only here for 3 months, so I did not see the summer or fall weather. I received a total allowance of $5000 (USD) from my university to cover all living, travel, and miscellaneous costs.

Source

What is the student lifestyle like in Modena?

Most students go to classes during the day, usually starting mid morning. Depending on your schedule, you might get done early or not. I, for example, usually am at the university from 9am to 6pm, but I get all of my research and coursework done in that time. There are no classes on Fridays, but I come in to do research.

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

Yes! For its size, Modena has a little bit of everything. It feels small enough to be manageable, yet has plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and other entertainment. There are nice parks, a city museum, and several city squares in the center where this is a lot to do.

What is the food like?

Fantastic! It is possibly the best in Italy, but that doesn't mean it is cheap. However, there is a market in the city center, so you can get fresh food without breaking the bank.

Source

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Modena?

I had to pay a little of my own money in addition to my $5000 USD allowance since I had to lease a place at a higher rate for a short time period.

How much does it cost to live in Modena?

It is a wealthier part of Italy, so can be a bit expensive. I paid 900 euro a month for housing, but I've been told that it is easy to find cheaper accommodations for longer term stays.

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

I'm not sure about language courses, but few people outside of the university speak English, or any language other than Italian.

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

I flew, but there are trains that connect directly to Milan, Bologna, and Rome.

Source

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

The city center of course! There are many restaurants, bars, and pubs along the street that are impossible to miss.

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

Da Danilo, Enzo, and Aldina for high quality dining. Also Osteria Francescana is currently ranked the #1 restaurant in the world, but I have not gone due to the expense.

Source

Source

For casual eats, there are several pizzerias and such as Taurus and Pizzeria Vesuvio that are good. Also the gelato at Slurp and Gelateria Romana is superb.

Source

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Duomo is an 11th century church that is very famous near the city center. There is also a city museum, the Ferrari museum, and the military academy which was the old duke's palace.

Source

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

I would suggest using a bicycle for transport, but you could use the bus system too. If you don't speak Italian, have several friends who do. Also, it is just a short ~45 min train ride from larger cities like Bologna and Parma for only about 4 euro each way in case you want to explore other places.

Source