My flight home from Milan back at the end of December gave me time to reflect on my exciting experience in Italy and the opportunities that came with studying at Bocconi. The time I spent abroad not only allowed me to learn a lot about myself but also, enabled me to experience the Italian culture first-hand. Meeting so many people from many different countries was very exciting as I got to learn about their cultures. Now I have friends in so many countries that I can visit and who I can’t wait to visit me.

Studying abroad helped me build my own confidence and knowledge especially at Bocconi which is an incredible university. It is clear to see that this university is one of the best in Europe and the best in Italy as the faculty are very helpful and are open to help with any queries and the students are very ambitious which motivates you. I found most of my modules fun and easy to understand however, as Bocconi specialise in Economics, my financial macroeconomics was harder than the others. However, my professor was always available to help out and make sure I understand everything. It is important to be aware of the module breakup as you can choose to be non-attending which means your final grade is down to only one exam (100%) however, I did for one of my modules and didn’t find it difficult as my professor always contacted me to ensure I was understanding everything.

I stayed at the Isonzo residence which is one of the newer housing spaces at Bocconi so it was very clean and modern. It was only a 15 minute walk from campus, in a safe location and mainly Italian students. Although, living with Italians helped me gain a better understanding of the language and culture. There is very good security so I always felt safe and even a cleaning service which was very useful. Most of the people I spoke to found it hard to get the Bocconi accommodation so had to find their own apartments which was not hard and they found it fun to live how the Milanese do however, if you do want the university accommodation I recommend to apply early on. Additionally, I did some research into the different halls and found there was one just for exchange students called Arcobaleno however, it was a 20 minute tram ride and was a lot older than some of the other residences. I still had many exchange friends who I had class with and met through the first weeks of activities so enjoyed staying where I did.

There are lots of things to do in Milan including the main sight such as Duomo and Galleria but also many museums and galleries along with many bars and restaurants. The city is known for its ‘happy hour’ and is great for socialising so just ensure you go out to the main activities in the first few weeks to meet many people and then you will be able to plan trips and dinners. However, there is also the exchange group called ESN which is a group of Bocconi students who run trips and events just for exchange students which is a great opportunity to meet many other people. The cost of living in Milan would be similar to London however, the coffee, pasta and pizza is a lot cheaper along with budget-friendly aperitivo where you pay for a drink and eat as much as you want. Navigli is the place to go if you want cheaper drinks and foods with a great view of the canal.

It is easy to transport around Milan as it has the tube, trams and buses at a low cost. I bought a student card at the beginning of term for 3 months which was very useful when travelling around Milan and I used the ATM app to plan routes in advance which has timings and easiest ways to travel the city.

It may seem daunting moving to another country for 4 months to a year on your own, especially when you speak only little of the language. However, Cass are always available to help out and answer any questions. In addition to this, if you are a UK student and are studying abroad in Europe you can receive an Erasmus grant to help fund your experience so you will not be confined or restricted when wanting to travel and eat out. Studying abroad, especially in Milan/Italy, teaches you a lot about yourself and builds your confidence but also, enables you to meet many people from many different countries and allows you experience the culture of the country and you could even be able to learn another language which is extremely useful.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience in Milan as the four months I spent there was full of amazing times travelling, eating out and having a good time with great friends. I would recommend Bocconi as it lives up to its reputation and is an amazing university with very useful facilities.

https://www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/Bocconi/SitoPubblico_EN/Navigation+Tree/Home/Campus+and+Services/Campus/Bocconi+Campus/Isonzo+Residence

Ciao,

Jasmine 🙂