Erasmus Experience in Rome, Italy by Rebecca

Why did you choose to go to Rome, Italy?

I am studying Italian at my home university and I thought it would be exciting to study the language in capital city, where I could meet a variety of different people.

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

My Erasmus placement is for 10 months. I received an Erasmus grant from the European government of 400 Euros a month which is divided in to 70% at the start of my placement and the remainder when I have finished.

What is the student lifestyle like in Rome?

The student lifestyle for Erasmus students here in Rome is great because there are a lot of students nights in bars and clubs organised by the ESN organisation for universities. This group also organizes many trips to other parts of Italy with discounted prices.

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

I would recommend the city to people who enjoy living in a very busy and active city because there are always a lot of things happening around the city at all times of day. However I think it would not be the best place for students who come from small, quiet places, who may be unable to deal with the noise and the amount of people in the city.

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What is the food like?

The food is one of my favourite things about Rome. There are so many different restaurants and shops that sell amazing, tasty food. There is something for everyone's tastes in Rome.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Rome?

I found my accommodation with help from the university. When I applied they gave me a list of landlords that usually rent properties to Erasmus students each year.

How much does it cost to live in Rome?

Rome is a very expensive city which is to be expected from a capital city. Students coming to Rome do need to be prepared to pay a lot of money for accommodation, clothes and food.

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

At first the language may seem very confusing and intimidating simply because of how fast and how animated Italian people are. There are language courses available at the university and I would recommend students to take some. There is also a Tandem group which gives students a chance to meet up with a native speaker and learn the language while at the same time help the other person learn your language.

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

I would recommend going to a bar that serves aperitivo. This is the place where you pay a single price of usually about 8 euros for a cocktail or other (usually) alcoholic drink on offer and then you can eat from the buffet for free for most of the night. Aperitivos can be found in most bars and restaurants in Rome but my personal favourite is TrentaTre found in the Testaccio area of the city.

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

There are many amazing places to eat in Italy so it is never difficult to find something typical for all types of cuisine. The best area for restaurants is in Trastevere where a wide variety of restaurants can be found.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are the most famous sites such as the Colosseum, Vatican City, Di Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. However some particular favourite places of mine that people may not have heard of, are The Orange Gardens and Villa Borghese. Villa Borghese has a variety of things to see from beautiful gardens, museums to a cinema and play parks for children.

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

I would recommend students to try the Tandem language programme and to make as many friends (especially Italian ones) as possible because it is a very big and busy city and you can start to feel lost and homesick quite easy.