Why did you choose this particular partner university?
The university of Genoa wasn't on my list at first. I had never been to Italy and had no connection to the country. However, as the process of selecting a partner university unfolded, the university of Genoa very quickly emerged as a positive choice. The range of courses is very appealing, and above all, the opportunity to take all courses in English was a major advantage. I decided to take on this adventure, so to speak, since I neither spoke the language nor knew the culture.
How do you like the university city? How do you experience the culture of the host country?
Genoa is a wonderful city. It has a lot to offer and is very well connected. Like most Erasmus cities, it has the ESN (Erasmus student network), through which you can meet other Erasmus students and take part in activities and parties. The sea and the mountains surrounding Genoa are both beautiful and diverse.
There are also beautiful coastal villages in the area around Genoa (and Cinque Terre isn’t far away either). The city is relatively large, but often doesn’t feel that way at all; especially when the tourists are gone, it’s pleasantly quiet (but not boring). You can also visit many other cities from Genoa if you’re feeling adventurous.
Where do you see the biggest differences between your host university and the MCI?
The biggest differences are probably in the type of classes and, above all, in the exams. There are no seminars, only lectures. That means there’s very little group work (occasionally, a term paper had to be written in a group, but in the lectures, you just listen). Apart from that, UniGe is, of course, much larger, and each department is located in a different part of the city.
What is different, however, are the exams. You have to register for the exams yourself, which is not the case at MCI. Most of my exams were oral exams (though this varies, and sometimes you can submit a substitute assignment to avoid the oral exam). The exams are structured a bit more freely than at MCI, which means each instructor designs the exams differently. The oral exams are held in the lecture hall together with all the other students. In theory, anyone can listen in, but most people are poring over their notes. But you’re also pretty good at tuning out the others during the exam.
Finally, the grading system is different too. There’s a 30-point scale. If you score below 26 points, you’re often advised to try again. This is advantageous on the Italian job market, but has little impact on Erasmus students.
What has been the biggest challenge so far during your semester abroad?
The biggest challenge for me was the Italian language. Outside of the university (and in some cases even within it), English isn’t always sufficient. I would recommend that everyone take a language course before traveling to Italy. You should also be able to speak and understand English quite well, as the professors themselves sometimes struggled with it, unfortunately.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
I highly recommend visiting Righi, high above the rooftops of Genoa. You can take the cable car up there and enjoy wonderful views of both the city and the surrounding countryside (and it’s a great starting point for hikes). Another place outside of Genoa that I highly recommend is the village of Camogli. It’s a 30-minute train ride away, and everyone I visited with agreed it was one of the most beautiful places ever.
Impressions from a semester abroad in Genoa ©Soraya Hock
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