Italian University Revealed: 5 Key Insights from an International Student's Perspective

I rush to my morning Italian class, but then again not really. I contemplate stopping for my usual cappuccino and chocolate cornetto at the bar near the Foreign Language building. I learned that in Italian universities, there is often an unsaid rule of classing starting roughly 15-20 minutes later. This is one of the many culture shocks I've experienced during my studies at the University of Bologna.

My usual morning cappucino and nutella cornetto/brioche, taken by me!

I have stepped out of my comfort zone multiple times: In Taiwan, Japan, China, and now Italy. One of the greatest forms of education for me has not only been traveling but immersion whether that’s working or studying in another country. Challenging my perceptions of time and learning, as well as jumping between high-context cultures and low. I remember my first ever study abroad experience in Taiwan six years ago. One of the first things that struck me was the fact that despite that there were only around twenty of us in a classroom, my professor still used a microphone. At first, I thought it was just my professor, but when I would walk past other classes, it seemed to be the norm. During my teaching experience in Japan, I encountered even more cultural shocks in education on the teaching side, such as using "O" or "maru" to indicate correctness and "X" for wrong answers, as well as the practice of wearing separate pairs of indoor shoes for the school building.

Having finished my first year, I'll tell you about the cultural and educational differences I've found, studying at an Italian public university. Of course, this has been my experience, so take it with a grain of salt

1) Lecture styles

Imagine your professor having a conversation with you--for two to three hours. Classes may not start on time, but once they do, it can be quite long. There is more or less class participation, and you can even choose whether you want to attend lectures or not (attending student or non-attending). Ultimately your final grade depends on one exam. Depending on the professor, there may be a short break though I've had professors who don't mind lecturing for the full duration. Because it feels like a free-flowing conversation, I have to paraphrase notes fast, sometimes I use a recorder. On top this, much of the content revolves around theory, leading to my next point

2) Theory-based learning

The Italian education system is heavily theory-based. In my undergraduate experience in the US, base-level knowledge of theory often suffices, while practical education is more valued. The drawback to a practical model (at least in the US) is that you can find yourself only scratching the surface of the material. The merit of theory-based learning,—I find— is that in theory, you have an in-depth understanding of the material and are more likely to explain the intricacies. This makes sense for the humanities and to a large extent, the social sciences. This was the first time studying my academic strengths—social sciences and humanities— was comparable to studying my worst subjects (science). Here, it was heavy memorization and understanding of slides and readings front to back. It is not enough to have a superficial understanding, which I would see in the exam sessions, leading to my next "surprise"

3) Oral exams

Here, you book an exam date at any point in the year and the professor asks you questions about the readings, course, (or even your research paper if required). You are evaluated on a scale of 30 points, where 30L is roughly equal to an A+/100. Although I'd like to believe that I'm a confident speaker, the added pressure is that usually, it's not just you and the professor in the room--but every other student waiting for their turn to present. On top of that, technically-- anyone can listen in on your exam. You could even bring your friends. Some professors will tell you your grade on the spot, others on their website.

The benefits of oral exams are that you gain public speaking, persuasion, and charisma—all necessary soft skills for the real world. If you can't explain the subject matter, then you haven't mastered it. At worst, imagine taking a driving test, but instead of being on the road with the instructor, you're in a classroom-- and the instructor is asking you how you would drive if you were on the road.

4) Summer Internships are not common

Months before my summer plans materialized, I told someone I might do a summer internship. After all, in the US, that's typically the norm as you have the most free time. I soon realized based on job postings and my own curriculum, summer internships were hardly a thing. It's not part of the school culture and it makes sense: Exam sessions run until the end of July, and then during August Ferragosto, everything closes down for a month. I've noticed that most students partake in internships/traineeships during the semester or right after they graduate. Still, even if it's uncommon,— I wouldn't rule out doing a summer internship, as the pros far outweigh the cons.

5) Disorganization

This last point isn't exclusive to university, but life in Italy in general--from the bureaucracy down to crossing the street. In the case of schooling, most commonly — my classes and exams rarely start on time. To counter this, the level of disorganization can vary, and the advice I would give is—like applying to all masters programs— choose your location and program wisely and strategically.

Internationalization and adaptation have been one of the strongest skills gained throughout living abroad. Finding an opportunity, even if there appears to be none. Studying in Italy certainly has its merits depending on your goals. I know it has for me.