Erasmus Experience in Pavia, Italy by Elizabeth

Why did you choose to go to Pavia, Italy?

I accompanied my daughter, who is a first-year medical student on the Harvey Course in Medicine (English) at University of Pavia.

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

She has not received the scholarship yet but the application has been made.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pavia?

It's a bustling University town with most of the international label shops and Milan is only about 40 minutes away by speed train.

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

Yes indeed it is a lovely town but you need to make an effort to learn basic Italian to make life easy when shopping or asking for directions.

What is the food like?

The food is excellent with little cafeterias at every corner and a lot of pizzerias. For those who are into fast food, there is a McDonalds Restaurant.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pavia?

Being a University town there is a great demand for accommodation and cheap accommodation is hard to come by that's why my daughter had to stay in a hotel for a month.

How much does it cost to live in Pavia?

Generally, food is quite affordable. It is the accommodation which is a bit pricey. One should be prepared to spend more than 350 Euro a month on accommodation alone with no food.

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

Unless one has done Latin in High School, Italian is quite challenging. For the ordinary Italian citizens especially the older generations, only a few can converse in English. However, if you are familiar with French, most Italians can converse in basic French. Yes, there are language courses offered at the University of Pavia.

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

My daughter and I traveled from Harare, Zimbabwe and we used a plane to Malpensa Airport Milan, used a shuttle bus from the airport to Central Station, Milan where we then got on the speed train to Pavia, 35km away.

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

I was not there long enough to explore the nightlife there.

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

McDonalds is excellent and has an international feel.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Pavia Bridge and the many ancient Churches and Domes.

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

If the possible sign on for a basic course in Italian prior to going there to make life easy for you while out in the streets and doing business. However, Italians are very friendly people who will go out of their way to assist even if it means using gestures and signs to communicate while smiling all the time. The public transport system in Pavia is perfect with buses every 10-15 minutes and students get cheap bus cards valid for every 4 months.