Erasmus Experience in Sassari, Italy

Why did you choose to go to Sassari, Italy?

I knew friends of mine had chosen to go there and they told me really good things about it. I was looking for a laid-back city, as well as somewhere affordable and Sassari is perfect for that.

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

My grant lasted 9 months and I got €470 a month, paid in 3 installments.

What is the student lifestyle like in Sassari?

Well, it's not like it is in other cities in Italy, like Bologna. It's more laid-back, but there are students here and they're all great people, of course! The people here are really welcoming and you will always meet a lot of people.

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

I would recommend it to everyone who, like me, is looking for a laid-back city. If you like mountains and the beach, the island of Sardinia is perfect for getting to enjoy activities like mountaineering, climbing, paragliding, etc. There are amazing beaches here, where you can go scuba diving and loads of other things! Sardinia is paradise.

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What is the food like there?

It's the Mediterranean diet, the food is great, there's a lot of pasta and rice... it's Italy...

There's a university canteen in Sassari, where you can have lunches and dinners for very little money, I would recommend it to anyone coming to Sassari!

How did you find your accommodation?

I found it through two students from Sassari who had been on Erasmus at my home university, they helped me to get in touch with flat landlords there. I shared a flat with two other girls on Erasmus.

How much does accommodation cost there? What are the prices like there in general?

A room in a student flat costs more or less €200 a month on average.

There are student residences there, too.

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

I took a basic level course for 3 months before I came to Italy, when you get there you can enroll on language courses, which can earn you university credits, unless the timetable clashes with your university classes there! This is a bit of an oversight, they should really sort it out.

What is the easiest or most economical way to get to Sassari from your home city?

You can fly from Madrid or Barcelona to Alghero with Ryanair. There's also a connection between Cagliari and Valencia, but it's much more difficult to get to Sassari from there.

You can also get the ferry from Barcelona.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Sassari?

There are clubs in Sassari (I didn't go to them very often), as well as bars that stay open until 3 in the morning. The ones in the centre of the city and the ones near the Via Napoli have a really good atmosphere.

There are a lot of concerts and festivals put on in the city and its surroundings.

You'll find the party scene pretty quickly because you'll most likely be hanging around the other Erasmus students and you'll be able to explore it all together.

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

The university canteen is the cheapest place to eat everyday, the pizzerias are really cheap and a lot of them can deliver food to your house. There's a pizzeria in the centre, called the Muflon, which I really liked.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The cathedral in Sassari is a beautiful sight to see, there are some interesting museums to visit, but Sassari doesn't really stand out for its culture.

You can visit the other, much more interesting cities on the island, like Alghero, Castelsardo, Oristano, Orgosolo and many others. And don't forget about the beautiful coastlines there.

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Do you have any advice for future students in Sassari?

Have a great time, I'm sure you will, and if you want to well academically speaking: go to classes, get to know the professors (seeing as the majority of your exams will be orals) and organise the dates of your exams so you have enough time for them all. Try not to leave them all until the last few days as June is the best time of year to go to the beautiful beaches of Sardinia! Well done for choosing Sassari as your destination, it's really worth going there and I'm sure you won't regret your choice.