Erasmus Experience in Turin, Italy by David

Why did you choose to go to Turin, Italy?

It's a big city in Italy, perhaps it's not as well-known in Spain as places like Rome, Milan and Venice are... but one that has always seemed very interesting to me.

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

For me, it was for seven months, but I'm only on Erasmus for 6. The money you get depends on which part of the country you come from and on whether or not you receive the MEC grant, and there are also other special grants you can apply for.

What is the student lifestyle like in Turin?

I can only talk about the Polytechnic. The university in Turin is divided into the Polito and the Unito. The Polito is a very well organised university, there's a lot of help available for the Erasmus students and foreign students, and the level of the classes is pretty high.

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

Yes, without a doubt. If I could go back, I would still choose Turin to go for my Erasmus again.

What is the food like there?

It's alright, a bit different. It takes some getting used to when you arrive.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Turin?

I got lucky and I found a good flat on the first day. Regardless, I would recommend that you find your accommodation before you come.

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How much does it cost to live in Turin?

The prices are a bit higher than in Spain, but if you know how to look for cheaper supermarkets, you can save a bit of money and you'll be thankful for doing so.

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

Yes. I went on a 90 hour summer course offered by my university, Unican, in Cantabria. Actually it's a very useful course, since there are a lot of day to day situations when you'll need to, at the very least, hold your own. Once I got there, I'd recommend you go on the courses the university there offers, it's very easy to improve your Italian in a short amount of time.

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

By plane, definitely. You'll have to look at the flights to Milan as well as to Turin. Milan is two hours away from Turin by bus and it'll end up being very affordable.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Turin?

A lot of Spanish people usually get together in the piazza Saluzzo. And then the clubs that Erasmus students like are Quasar, The Beach or Global, depending on the day of the week. Once you're there, it's easy to find out what parties there are.

And to eat in Turin? What are some of your favourite place?

I don't really like going out to eat, just the occasional pizza for dinner.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

It's a very pretty city. The first thing to stand out here is the Mole, it's the most recognisable building in Turin. The squares in the centre of the city,

Via Roma, Via Po, la piazza Vittorio Venetto, the Monte dei Cappuccini where you have some of the greatest views of the city, the Valentino party... And then, for the museums, the Egyptian museum is one of the best in Europe, the Royal Palace in the piazza Castello or the cinema museum.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Turin in the future?

Make the most of travelling around Italy and Europe from the beginning of your Erasmus. Then things get a bit more complicated and, actually, it's cheaper to explore Europe.