Field of study in Wageningen: Management and Consumer studies
Study period exchange: 01/04/2019 until 01/07/2019
Country (exchange): Italy
City (exchange): Milan
University (exchange): Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Faculty (exchange): Economics
2. Motivation for exchange
Why did you choose to go on study exchange?
I wanted to expand my horizon, and learn how it truly is to live completely on your own in a big city like Milan.
What is the reason you chose for this country/university?
I chose Milan since I have always loved Italy and its culture and thus my aim was to study the language and learn more about the people, traditions and the country
3. Accessibility to reach destination
Do you have any tips to reach your exchange destination?
Just fly to one of the three airports, Malpensa, Bergamo, or Linate. The first two are located an hour outside the city, the third one is more closer. I flew on Malpensa, form there you can take the bus (Malpensa Express) or the train (to Cadorna FN). I think Bergamo also has a direct train to Milan of about an hour.
4. University and studying
Could you provide some general information about the followed courses?
How is the study formalized?
You have lectures through the weak. Each lecture takes a minimum of 2 hours and is giving in one of the buildings of the university which are spread throughout the city. They are all located in a range of 10 minutes from each other. The level of the courses varies a lot sometimes, the work is quite extensive, sometimes you do not have to do anything. Exams can be multiple choice or open questions, but in general open questions are preferred. The level of the exam is not really high and the exams do not last long at all. The longest one I took was 1,5 hours (HR management) and the shortest one 45 minutes (Logistics and Operation Management). Important to note is that the university does not work the same as the WUR, regarding the length of courses. My exams were about the readings of 3 months. Sometimes courses have a mid term to make the workload of the exam less, but this is not always the case.
What is the culture of the university?
The culture is laid back. It is not weird that your lectures start an half hour later than anticipated. They teacher are friendly and you can ask them anything if you have problems.
What does the university offer the student additionally?
You can eat there and have some coffee, both are pretty good. There is also a canteen where you can eat for 4 Euro (never used it). Furthermore, the university does offer some sport facilities but they are compared to Wageningen crazy expensive.
5. Housing-travelling-living
What are the possibilities for housing?
It is quite hard to arrange this, My tip is to use Uniplaces,com, It is a legit company and you can find housing easily.
What is the culture of the country like?
Really relaxed and laid back, even in Milan. The food is amazing and relatively cheap. Go to Navigli for apperativo a few times and order Milan speciality Panzarotti
Could you give a general price indication of the place of residence compared to living in Wageningen?
Minimum of €550.
Could you give some information about public transport infrastructure?
Metro in Milan is very good and very cheap, get a metro card at one of the big stations on Milan (e.g. centrale, Cadorna FN, Garibaldi, Duomo). However, I did a lot of bike riding, since it is often faster and you see more of the city. Bikemi is a service in Millan where you can take a bike everywhere in the city and it costs only 30 Euro for a year.
6. Free time
What are must-sees in the area?
Milan: Duomo, Navigli, Garibaldi, City life, Brera, Parco Nord, Idroscalo, San Siro match
Italy: Rome, Bergamo, Cinque Terre, Venice, Como, Sirmione, Varese
7. Challenges & best moment abroad
What was a challenge you have experienced?
The challenge was that I did not speak any Italian. Once I met people who were on Erasmus too it did not matter that much, but in the beginning it was hard that locals do not speak a lot of English. It would be good to have some Italian knowledge, but you can also follow a course here.
8. Contact details
Would you like to ask Yannick more questions about his exchange?
Send him a mail: Yannick.wijgman@wur.nl