Nguyen Thi Van, a third-year student in Data Science at the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has excelled in winning a scholarship under the Erasmus+ international academic exchange project. Currently, Van is an exchange student at the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Trento (Italy). Traveling alone in a country to another continent, the 21-year-old girl has undoubtedly encountered not only numerous challenges but also valuable opportunities. Let’s explore the journey of this brave and talented girl as she conquers the land of spaghetti!
Was the preparation for studying abroad a challenge for you? What do you think about the support from USTH?
The preparation for my exchange study at the University of Trento (Italy) was quite smooth. All procedures, from selecting the university, major, and courses to preparing visa application, were supported and enthusiastically advised by the Department of International Cooperation Office at USTH and the University of Trento.
Could you share about the tuition costs at the partner university in Europe? Is the tuition higher in Italy?
Based on my personal experience, the tuition costs at the partner university are not significantly different from the costs at USTH. However, some expenses for personal living may be higher than in Vietnam. Among these, the most notable are house renting and other living expenses such as food, drinks, and shopping.
During your studies at the partner university, have you ever encounted any difficulties (such as language, learning methods, study environment, etc.)? Can you share your tips for quickly adapting to studying and daily life in Italy?
Trento is a small, not overly crowded city located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy, in the Alps. For me, Trento is a relatively peaceful place and particularly easy for newcomers to adapt to. Therefore, I did not face too many difficulties and was able to adjust to the new life quite quickly.
The living environment here is quite healthy. The Italian friends and other exchange students studying in Trento are friendly and open. Because of this, I find that a culture of respecting differences and a spirit of inclusiveness are essential for quickly adapting to life here.
How do you feel about the exchange program at the partner universities? Is the program overwhelming?
Currently, most of the courses in the exchange program at Trento are part of the Master’s program due to the equivalency of course credits between USTH and Trento. In the initial period of the exchange program, I took some time to adjust because the program I was studying at USTH is a Bachelor’s. However, thanks to the dedicated support from the teachers and my peers, I gradually became familiar with the workload and was able to confidently keep up with the lectures.
An essential part of studying abroad is adapting to a completely new lifestyle. Can you share your memorable cultural experiences?
For me, enjoying Italian cuisine with local friends has been a truly exciting experience. In the beginning, I missed Vietnamese dishes a lot, especially when some of the local food were not my thing. However, after a few times being introduced to traditional dishes by my Italian housemates and experiencing various flavors, I realized that every country’s cuisine has its unique characteristics. It takes patience and an open your heart to truly appreciate its beauty.
What advice do you have for upcoming exchange students?
I hope that you can maintain a spirit of readiness to experience new things when arriving in a new country because only then will you gain many interesting lessons and grow from each journey.
Thank you, Van, for sharing your interesting experiences. Wishing you a successful exchange semester!
