Country Information Italy 
It is hard to imagine that Italy suffered a severe Diaspora during the late 1800’s. Today it is one of the most livable places in the world according to the quality of life index on 8th position. The reasons could be the genuine Mediterranean climate of the peninsula’s southern half, its history with the world famous Baroque and Renaissance artists, and its family friendly environment. The country of Michelangelo, DaVinci, Caravaggio and Vivaldi has been molding Europe’s culture since thousands of years. Starting with the Roman Empire who built not only Rome’s Colosseum, going on with Italy’s famous renaissance philosophers who brought a scientific revolution to the old world of science and not even ending with its cuisine that spreads addicting goodies like pizza, biscuits and the finest coffee in the world.

Located at the Mediterranean Sea but having parts of the Alps, Italy is quite versatile in its climate and landscape. While the climate is rather continental with cold winters and moderate summers in the North, summers are really hot and dry in the coastal regions of the South. This means you can spend a day at the beach already planning a skiing trip for the next day. Since the country has a good railway system and thanks to cheap flight agencies you can move fast. Whatever region you decide to visit you can find interesting sites everywhere. While the North stands for a developed industrial region with the fashion capital Milan, touristic cities as Venice or Florence and big luxury companies like Ferrari, the South is a picturesque agricultural and touristic centre with its own charm.

Concerning education, all types of studies can be pursued at Italian universities. The teaching language is Italian but summer courses are available in English as well. English is widely spoken amongst young people and in touristic areas but as soon as you leave big cities you need for Italian language skills in order to experience more of the country than just surviving. The costs can go up to 1000 Euros a month. You can get financial support through programs as ERASMUS sponsored by the European government provides scholarships for students from all over the world. One probably can stay in a student accommodation until you find some roommates who you can share an apartment with. You should keep apart 400 Euros a month for accommodation. For non EU citizens working in Italy is only possible with a permit which is almost impossible to get; so better try to apply for a scholarship.

For relaxation, Italians surely know how to make life pleasant. You’ll find plenty of cozy cafes and leisure activities to please your taste. Italy first featured gladiator fights during the roman times but decided to worship football stars who just recently won the world cup nowadays. All in all, Italy is a place to study where cultural input and a comfortable living are possible at the same time.