Exchange Report

I would definitely recommend staying relaxed until information about the timetable and other organizational details is officially released. It’s completely normal not to have all the information right away, so there’s no need to stress about it. I would, however, suggest starting your apartment search early. It’s also a good idea to research in advance which neighborhoods are nice and popular places to live.

Finding an apartment in Milan is honestly not that easy, so it’s important to start looking early. When I was searching, I was mainly advised to use Facebook, but I didn’t have the best experience with it. In the end, I found my apartment through a WhatsApp group from Bocconi University, which worked much better for me. In terms of location, I think Navigli and Porta Romana are very beautiful areas. However, the most practical area in my opinion is Porta Venezia. You do have to get used to the fact that it generally takes longer to get everywhere than it does in Vienna. Things are simply more spread out, and commuting can take more time. As a woman, I initially had some concerns about safety. However, I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe during my time there. In my experience, there’s really no need to worry.

Regarding the university, I can say that everything was very well organized. I was able to choose all of my courses myself, and there was a huge variety of classes available. The ESN team organized a lot of events throughout the semester, which gave us plenty of opportunities to meet new people and connect with other students. Unfortunately, the campus itself was not particularly beautiful, as I spent most of my time at the Bovisa Campus. I would say that the teaching style was very similar to the one at WU. There was regular interaction with the professors, and you could easily approach them and ask for help if needed. One difference, however, was that almost all lectures were streamed online. This meant you could follow many of them remotely. Even though it was officially considered important to attend in person, in most courses it wasn’t really a problem if you participated online instead.

Public transport is probably among the best in Italy, but you still need to be patient. There are strikes quite often, and getting around can take a long time because the city is very spread out. In terms of activities, the city was really great. ESN organized a lot of events, and even beyond that, there was always something to do. I also always felt safe there. There were many sports options offered by the university, and the city also had plenty of Pilates studios where you could sign up at relatively affordable prices.

Overall, I can truly recommend Milan. From there, you can go on so many great trips, and the trains to other cities are really affordable. You can travel to the sea, but also head north to the mountains. There’s always something going on in Milan, and the city has many cool neighborhoods that are all very different from each other. If you enjoy going to restaurants or cafés, Milan is really a dream because you can find a lot of great food at relatively affordable prices.