Exchange Report

Focus on finding the right accommodation for your time in Rome - it’s what will determine a good part of your experience. Don’t worry about the academic part - all courses are very doable! Getting to Rome by train is a good option in my opinion, I took a train during day and it worked great.

I found my apartment through a friend of mine. He used a service called „sturent“. Anything between 600-850€ is a good(ish) price, but some people are willing to pay up to 1250€ per month - so it really depends on your needs and funds. Try to be as close to university and the metro as possible. Trieste, Parioli, Ludovisi - that’s where you want to be. San Lorenzo could also be an option. I stayed near Termini which was very convenient for day trips and getting around the city due to its central location. However, the safety issues are not to be underestimated.

The campus is beautiful, as large parts of it are in Villas. There’s three major locations, Via Parenzo (Law), Viale Pola (Law) and Viale Romania (Economy). There‘s also a library near Parenzo which a nice outdoor area to study. The teaching style is very old school overall. Participation is the exception. The first classes - in some courses even the first weeks - were very chaotic in my experience. The academic level starts out very low but does increase over time.

ATAC, the local public transport company, is infamously unreliable. The metro is good but it doesn’t cover the entire city. The buses are a hit or miss situation. Download „moovit“ as the schedules on Google Maps are oftentimes not accurate. The monthly pass is 35€ and absolutely worth it - get it a Tabacco. The premium subscription for Lime is also good - for 4€ all rides are only 1,80€. You have to wear a helmet! (Or else run the risk of being fined by the police) Get the MIC card for local museums! Try the smaller museums, it’s usually a much better experience than the packed, if famous, ones. There’s an infinite amount of events happening on a daily basis in Rome. You will never run out of things to do. The city is brimming with life. The safety situation is good overall, however, there are certain areas where you definitely should be weary.

Rome is a city where all periods of history coexist - not just ancient times but the Middle Ages, the Papal state, the Renaissance, … I learnt so much about art and culture, all while eating amazing food, going to concerts and spending every weekend at the beach. 10/10