Erasmus Experience in Torino, Italy by Sujeet

Why did you choose to go to Turin, Italy?

I got a good topic to work on for my Master thesis at the Department of Chemistry. Besides I love the location; Alps, rivers, cafés, restaurents, lively city center..wanted to live Dolce Vita, Italian Style!!

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

I came self-funded. However EDISU piemonte is known to provide good scholarships.

What is the student lifestyle like in Turin?

Pretty relaxed and stress-free in University of Torino, but as I have heard, pretty hard-working for students in Politecnico. However there's plenty of time and opportunities to make good use of free time...learn playing musical instruments, do sports, hang out at bars, pubs, visit museums.

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

Depends on what they want out of it. As far as studies are concerned. Students should check out the programme(s) offered by the department of their choice and compare it with potentially competing Universities. For an overall balanced living I highly recommend Torino to students.

What is the food like?

Depends where you eat and what's your taste. Lots of things to try....Italian cuisine (PERFECT!!), Indian, Chinese, middle-eastern and many more...

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Turin?

I lived in the University Residence. Pretty pricy, 375 euros for single and 335 for double room; but saves a lot of headache, as there's no need to worry about paying for electricity, water, gas, internet etc and also no worries of finding roommates to avoid being pushed out.

How much does it cost to live in Turin?

650-700 Euros a month was fine for me.

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

There are language courses available in the University to build a good foundation, However gripping the language needs personal effort and practice.

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

By Air...I come from New Delhi, India.

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

I never preferred one single place...too many places honestly...depends on personal experience...

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

Pizzeria Pantheon
Gandhi Torino Indiano

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Cinema Museum, Automobile museum, Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Reale, Venaria Reale.

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

Lock your bicycles as tightly and properly as you can.