Bocconi University, Italy

Ciao a tutti! My name is Avanti and I am currently on exchange at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.

After travelling around Europe for 6 weeks, I have settled down in Milan and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here! Milan is an bustling metropolitan city that maintains its old world charm. It is full of character with its gothic churches and cobbled streets however, it is also a modern and vibrant city with designer shops, restaurants and bars.

Most people in Milan speak or understand English hence it is easy to ask for help and meet new people. While it is not essential to know Italian, knowing a few key words and phrases is useful and it is a great way to connect with people. I would highly recommend the language course offered by the university as it is a great way to meet fellow exchange students and be immersed in the culture.

Speaking of culture, food is very important in Italy! There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that offer traditional pizza, pasta, pastries, gelato and many more delights. Be sure to go to Navigli in the evening for ‘aperitivo’ – a Milanese tradition where you get a drink and buffet for €10-15.

Bocconi University has an extensive exchange program with over a thousand students from around the world each semester. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is an organisation that organises fun events and weekend trips for exchange students. So far there have been events for aperitivo, parties and wine tasting and there are also upcoming trips to Lake Como, Cinque Terre and Rome! Becoming a member is a great way to make new friends and experience more of what Italy has to offer.

Bocconi offers limited student housing, hence many people on exchange find private accommodation through websites such as Spotahome, HousingAnywhere, AirBnB and Uniplaces. No matter where you stay, Milan has plenty of public transport options available such as buses, trams, metro and trains so everything is within reach!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Milano thus far and I cannot wait to see what the next few months have in store!

Avanti Gomes
Bachelor of Accounting
Bocconi University 
Italy

For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.global-exchange.uts.edu.au