Studying Abroad at the University of Padua, Italy: An Interview with Iona

Eilidh Henderson
Wednesday 29 March 2023

One of our Global Office Interns spoke with Iona about her experience while she was living and studying in Padua, Italy. Iona is a third year Classics and Italian student who spent semester one studying in Italy. In the interview she talked about her time abroad and her advice for future study abroad students.

Student looking over the city of Padua

Why did you choose to study at the University of Padua?

I decided to study abroad at the University of Padua because it is one of the oldest universities in the world (this year it is celebrating its 800th anniversary!) with a diverse student body from all over the world. In Padua I’ve been able to meet not just Italians but other exchange students from all over Europe and further afield as well. I also chose Padua because it offers a wide range of courses, many of which I would not have been able to study at St Andrews. I’ve been able to take classes on Roman history, Greek archeology, the history of classical art, and the history of the renaissance! I am really passionate about Classics, and at Padua I’ve been able to attend evening lectures on classics from Classics professors like Mary Beard – one of the most well-known scholars in the field!

 

What is the teaching like at Padua? Is it very different to St Andrews?

The biggest difference between Padua and St Andrews is that all of my classes at Padua are taught in Italian. This was difficult in the beginning, but luckily there were lots of friendly people in my classes who helped explain things to me and helped me with my lecture notes. I was a complete beginner in Italian when I came to St Andrews, but since coming to Padua my Italian skills, including my conversational Italian, have improved so much!

The style of teaching in Padua varies from class to class. Some of my classes are taught in giant lecture theatres with hundreds of students, whilst others are taught in tiny old cinema rooms which seat just twenty people. The exam structure in Padua is very different to St Andrews, but again my classmates helped me work this out.

Old streets in Padua

What is it like living in Padua?

Living in Padua has been amazing. The city is lovely and has lots of attractions, including the oldest botanical garden in the world with a tree planted in 1500! The city is quite small and easy to walk around, and when I need to travel further out, the public transport system is easy to navigate. There are a few cinemas which show films in both Italian and English, there are lots of beautiful piazzas, food markets, restaurants, cafes, and even escape rooms!

I live in the centre of Padua in a flat with both Italian and international students. This has been great, as I can practice my Italian with my Italian flatmates and learn more about Italian culture, and I can also learn about other cultures from my other flatmates.

As a student in Padua there are also lots of opportunities to get involved in the wider community. For example, I responded to a Facebook advert from a mother looking for a native English speaker to help her daughter with her English homework. This has been a great experience, as I’ve been able to help improve the girl’s English, and she has also helped improve my Italian! It feels really good to be involved in the local community here in Padua.

 

Have you been able to travel whilst living in Padua?

Yes. One of the great things about Padua is how central it is in Italy. I’ve visited Venice and Verona, and also lots of smaller places in Italy. Traveling around Italy has been a great experience, as it has allowed me to see more of the country and experience more of the Italian culture. Padua is well-connected by train to the rest of Italy and is only a half-hour train ride away from the airport which is well-connected to the rest of Europe. The trains are fairly inexpensive in Italy – for example, it only cost me €7 to take the train all the way to Verona!

Student by the sea

What advice would you have for future study abroad students?

My biggest piece of advice would be to start looking into the visa process early. Getting a visa can be quite complicated, so make sure you know exactly what you have to do and complete all the relevant paperwork in time. Also make sure you are well organised and know all the things you need to do – applying for your visa, finding accommodation, booking flights… Also, Italy requires new residents to apply for a residence permit within eight days of arrival – this is a separate application to your visa, so make sure you don’t forget to do this too!

 

Would you recommend studying abroad?

Absolutely. Studying abroad has not only improved my Italian skills, but it has also allowed me to see more of the world and make friends from lots of different places!

Venice

Thank you so much Iona for sharing your study abroad experience!

If you would like to find out more about studying abroad, please email [email protected].

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