Details

• Italy
• MASIMC-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For my application, I only needed a motivational letter. Usually, it is recommended to create a codice fiscale for renting apartments, doctor's visits, etc., but I have never used mine. Even when I went to the hospital once, I didn't require one.

2. Accommodation

I would start looking for accommodation early, as it's not easy to find one that is close to uni. Moreover, public transport is not the most reliable, so to avoid being late or stuck in traffic, I recommend searching for an apartment or room that is within walking distance to uni. I didn't have an apartment close to LUISS (I lived at Piazza Bologna), so I sometimes had to improvise how to get there quickly. You have to be very flexible and leave home early to be at campus on time. "Mooveit" is an app that tells you when which bus arrives, but only if the bus shares its location with the app. There is no real timetbale for when the bus arrives - the bus is usually never on time. There is one bus that drives directly to uni (164) I started using Cooltra (app to rent scooters), which is a nice experience but rather costly. I lived near Piazza Bologna - its a very beautiful place to live. In this area there are many shops, bars and students. I felt safe in this area.

3. Academic life at host university

The LUISS campus is smaller than WU, but still really beautiful. The only thing that bothered me was that there weren't really spaces for collaboration, especially when the weather wouldn't allow us to sit outside. Some people would sit in the cafeteria to work on projects, but that is not really an optimal spot. The academic culture felt more chill than at WU, though attendance is mandatory (around 80%). You actually have to sign in using an app that accesses your exact location, so you really have to be sitting in the classroom for it to work. Most of my courses involved projects, and honestly, be prepared to contribute more than some others. I found some local students weren't very ambitious, though there are always exceptions. Regarding the teaching style, it was merely frontal lectures with no real collaboration or discussions within the classroom.

5. Every day life in the host country

I spent a lot of time in different bars having an aperitivo with friends - this is something I really miss in Vienna currently. As I already mentioned, public transport is not very reliable, so you have to be very flexible about how to get anywhere in Rome. Regarding safety, I felt very safe overall. I lived near Piazza Bologna, but I would not recommend living near Termini. There are good sports options too: ERA has many options where, for only 15€, you can take different sports classes like yoga, kickboxing, soccer and many more. I actually started playing soccer during my time in Rome and was part of the ESN Roma football tournament. This is a lot of fun, and I definitely recommend joining.

6. Testimonial

I absolutely fell in love with Rome and the Romans. The people there are just so chill and easy-going. Rome is so much more than the whole cliché about it. There is so much history and culture to explore right in the city. I went to many museums and the Vatican (where I actually saw the Pope). Moreover, it is also a great starting point to see other beautiful cities. I managed to visit San Gimignano, Florence, Bari, and Siena. The food is obviously amazing, and I honestly didn't go to a single restaurant that wasn't good. Beyond the main sights, Rome has many hidden gems, from cute, quiet spots to beautiful beaches nearby. I really embraced the lifestyle: I went to the gym, started playing soccer, ate mozzarella as a snack, drank coffee, ate pasta, had a lot of aperitivi, and went to a pizza class. I also drove a scooter, which is a whole new experience when you are part of the Roman traffic. Rome has so much to offer, and the weather was great too.