Veronika pursued her Master’s degree in Fashion Culture and Management at the University of Bologna. She found the programme via Studyportals. We asked Veronika about her experience of searching and applying to a university abroad.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What is your name? How old are you? Where are you from?
Hello! My name is Veronika Lugo. I am 28 years old, from Miami, Florida.
Where are/were you studying and what programme? What degree and how long is your programme?
I am studying Fashion Culture at the University of Bologna - Rimini Campus for a two-year Master's programme.
Why did you want to study abroad?
I wanted to gain a new experience of being in a foreign country. I also wanted to meet classmates from all over the world, since my program is an international one.
What were your main priorities when choosing your university and your programme (e.g. academics, accommodation, university services & facilities, personal & professional development, city & culture, cost & funding, practicalities, social life)?
The main priority for my choice of university was first and foremost the academic program. I was really interested in Fashion Culture and very few schools in the European Union teach this subject. Secondly, the cost was a major factor in contributing to my decision.
Was this your first study choice? What other universities did you consider? What was the main reason for your final choice?
I actually found out about the University of Bologna last year. The programme has only been active for two years.
Other schools I was accepted into were the University of Glasgow and Washington State University in the US. My final choice ended up being the University of Bologna because I received a scholarship from the university.
Did you know from the start that you wanted to study in that particular country and city? Why did you choose this particular location?
At first, I was concerned with the programme curriculum. The location was something I wasn’t putting in the equation.
But once I was accepted into the University of Bologna, I knew studying in Italy was a wise choice. Italy is known for fashion and the decision to study here seemed the most logical.
Did you find your study programme on Studyportals? How did Studyportals help you in your decision process?
Studyportals helped me research many different programmes and ultimately led me to find the University of Bologna. So all I can say is “Grazie Mille” (Thanks a lot) to Studyportals for helping me reach my educational goals!
Did you take a language test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) when applying for the programme? If yes, which one did you choose, why and how was your experience with it?
I did not have to take a language test because English is my native language.
What would be your advice for students from your country that consider studying abroad?
Students applying from the US to a programme abroad should leave ample time to apply for scholarships, housing, and other bureaucratic processes at the Consulate of the country you choose to study in.
How did you finance your stay abroad and what financial advice would you give to future students?
I was lucky enough to finance my education through a scholarship from the university and another scholarship from the Italian government agency ER.GO.
Why would you (not) recommend this particular city / university? How would you rate your experience on a scale from zero to ten (0 – It was a total disaster, 10 – I had the time of my life)?
I would definitely recommend the University of Bologna to prospective students. In my case living in Rimini, I am very near many other amazing cities in the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. Naturally there are many opportunities to get the real taste of Italy! I would rate my experience thus far with a 8.
Is there anything that you would do differently if you could do it over again?
I don’t think I would do anything differently. I was very careful in choosing my programme and making sure I was financially able to study. Overall I am very happy and enjoying my time here.
What was the biggest surprise in your study abroad adventure?
My biggest surprise so far has been making such great friends so fast. It is amazing how kind and generous everyone is in my programme. I know I am making some life long friends during my studies here.
Were you inspired by Veronika's story?