Exchange Report Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi Francesca Mak Year 3 Fall 2016
Monthly Activity Log September School officially begins. I joined many orientation activities which were mainly organised in the evening. Most activities are open bar events with free flow wine or a cocktail of one s choice paired with a buffet of finger food. I also joined ESN (Exchange Students Network) which organised group tours to cities nearby such as Verona and Lake Como in Italy and Munich, Germany to experience Oktoberfest. I really enjoyed these trips as I got to not only learn about new places but meet new friends as well. Apart from student organised trips, I travelled to Paris, France and Copenhagen, Denmark. October October is the month of midterms, but since I did not have any, I took advantage of the free days to travel around Italy with my friends. In order, we went started from Milan and went to Venice, as well as Murano and Burano, then Florence and Pisa, followed by Rome, and after, Naples and Capri, before taking a straight train back to Milan.
Italy I also travelled to Iceland, which is I highly recommend going to. Although Iceland was the most expensive trip I took, it is also the most memorable one. I was really amazed by the natural scenery and wonders, despite having need to suffer in the cold. I was also very lucky to see the Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights. Two other places I went to were Brussels, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands. November I spent most of my time in Milan studying for my upcoming final exams in December. To unwind and relax, I would hang out with my friends and go for aperitivo. I went to Vienna, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic at the end of the month to experience the Christmas Markets. I thought Vienna really had the most beautifully decorated markets.
December Milan is much colder now and the sun sets at around 4.30pm. I finished my final exams and ended my exchange with a trip to Barcelona, Seville and Madrid in Spain and London, UK. General Exchange Information Visa Procedures Orientation Activities Book an appointment with the Italian Embassy in advance. It takes at least 14 days for the Visa to be ready. International students should apply for their Visa in Hong Kong rather than their home country as the Italian Embassy in Hong Kong recognises HKUST. It is better to settle accomodation before applying for the Visa as proof of accomodation is required. A list of documents required can be found on the website of the Consulate General of Italy, Hong Kong. Exchange students can sign up for a variety of welcome and social activities. I found that these activities were particularly helpful and/or interesting: Guided campus tour, to familiarise oneself with the new environment Classical and fashion guided tours of Milan, to view famous attractions and understand Milan s history and local culture. Welcome Cocktail, to socialize and get to meet other students and staff.
International Services & Activities Accomodations Courses Registration Bocconi organises an Italian Language Crash Course that is held before the semester officially starts. I recommend signing up for this crash course as not only did I get to learn a new foreign language that enabled me to communicate with locals, I also learnt about the local coffee and food culture, as well as their cultural practices and celebrations.i joined ESN Bocconi (Erasmus Student Network) which organised many activities for international students. I signed up for ESN Open Bar nights and trips to other cities, including Lake Como and Verona in Italy, as well as Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. I stayed off campus in a rented apartment near school. I found it using www.dovevivo.it/en/. The apartment was well-furnished and was convienently located next to a supermarket and tram stop. It is also a short 10 minute walk away from school. Securing the apartment was not difficult and I received the deposit approximately a month after I checked out. Course registration will be done through the you@b student diary. Details of registration can be found in the emails that they will send before the application period. Bocconi implements a firstcome-first-serve system.similar to HKUST, courses are not allowed to be changed after the add-drop period. A minimum of 2 courses is required and a maximum of 5 is allowed.
Teaching & Assessment Methods Sports & Recreation Facilities Finance & Banking (including currency/ expenses) Social Clubs & Networking Opportunities Health & Safety Students are allowed to choose between enrolling as an attending or nonattending student for each course. This is useful especially when there is a clash in one s timetable, which is a common occurance in Bocconi. As a nonattending student, attendance is not expected, but usually workload is more. Non-attending students are also exempted from group projects. It is important to note that examination content and format differ from attending students, as a 100% of the course grade is based on the final paper. I took several course as a non-attending student, and found that the workload was indeed significantly heavier. I also found that I learnt much more in the class I attended I was significantly more involved. There is a gym near the school campus, but requires a fee. Euros is used in Italy, but credit card is widely accepted in Milan. This includes the canteens on campus. I did not find it necessary to open a local bank account. Bocconi offers a meal plan which enables one to save on canteen meals. It can be purchased in a set of 10. I bought a set of 10, which I found sufficient for one semester. Bocconi offers a wide range of social clubs to join. I joined ESN Bocconi which helped me to meet many new local and international friends. Milan and Bocconi is generally quite safe. However, pickpocketing is common.
Food Transportation Climate Communication Cautionary measures Bocconi offers a selection of pasta and freshly made pizzas. It also serves aromatic coffee that costs less than one euro. Apart from eating the meal plan, I also would cook in my apartment as pasta is incredibly inexpensive and tomatoes are very rosy and fresh. Aperitivo is a drink that comes with a buffet of food, and is a popular night activity in Milan to socialize with friends. It costs about 10 euros. I mainly relied on the tram for transportation around Milan. Other modes of transport include the metro and bus. All modes of transport use a ticket system which costs 1.50 euros for a single trip. Validation of tickets is required to avoid being fined. Since I live close to campus, I would walk to and from school. I also enjoyed walking to Navigli (a river lined with restaurants). During summer Milan was hot and humid, but in the autumn and winter Milan was very cold. Temperatures dropped close to zero, and I only experienced very light snowfall on one of the days. I bought a 4 month data plan from Vodafone. Data could be used in all parts of Italy and not just within Milan. A small charge is deducted for use outside Italy at different rates. Wifi is widely available in shopping malls and restaurants. It is better to carry a sling bag infront of one rather than a backpack. Items To Bring Travel Essentials Passport Wallet (Credit card, cash in euros, HKID)
Neck Pillow [especially useful for long haul flights!] Photocopy of passport and HKID Bocconi Letter of Acceptance with Visa approved stamp (given during collection of Visa) Electronics Laptop Camera Adapter (2 pin) Chargers (Phone, laptop, camera etc) Portable Charger Clothes Autumn/Winter Clothes ie Outerwear, Sweaters, Uniqlo Heattech shirts and/or leggings [a real lifesaver!], Scarves, Beanie Spring/Summer Clothes ie Shirts, Shorts/skirts Underwear Socks and Shoes Others Toiletries Bed Sheet Pillow Nail Cutters Plasters Hair Dryer Stationery Medicine Vitamins Instant Noodles/Snacks Useful Links and Contacts International Student Desk https://www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/bocconi/sitopubblico_en/ Navigation+Tree/Home/Campus+and+Services/Services/International+Relations/ International+Students/International+Student+Desk/ Course Selection Instructions http://www.leap.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/bocconi/sitopubblico_en/ Navigation+Tree/Home/Campus+and+Services/Services/International+Relations/ International+Students/International+Student+Desk/Before+Your+Arrival/ Educational+Offer/Course+Selection/ Course Catalog https://www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/bocconi/sitopubblico_en/ Navigation+Tree/Home/Campus+and+Services/Services/International+Relations/ International+Students/International+Student+Desk/Before+Your+Arrival/ Educational+Offer/Educational+Offer_Bracco+2012+04+17+12+01