Life at Università Cattolica
A helping hand from a former student with tips and advice.
First of all we are gonna present to you the school :
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (English: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) is an Italian private research university founded in 1921.
It is the largest private university in Europe and the largest Catholic University in the world. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy, with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piacenza, Cremona, and Rome.
The university runs several double degree programs with other institutions throughout the world. Degrees are offered both in Italian and in English.
As exchange students, we understand the struggles of adapting to a new country and university. That’s why we decided to create some tips to help you in your first semester as an international student.
Top 7 tips for international students in Università Cattolica :
- 1) Place to study :
Are you finding trouble studying at home?
As exchange students we understand the struggle of studying at home, it can be challenging, especially if you have a roommate that is always distracting, with bad jokes, poor taste in music, and smelly food. Since the semester started we struggled to focus on our studies, until we met Tommaso, a local student from Cattolica who told us about la Biblioteca di Milano. Since we found out about this library, we couldn’t stop going. We were amused by the library. Since 1921 La Biblioteca di Milano has always been a space where you can relax, focus on your studies and find any information you want. It is currently supported by all kinds of modern technology, this includes wifi in every room, streaming videos, original DVDs, recordings from satellite and digital terrestrial, and more. It is an area where you can cultivate yourself with thousands of books, meet new people, and repose. We advise every student to study in Catolicas library. It is a space where you can study by yourself or with your classmates. There are rooms that you can book easily with an application called Affluences. If you have any questions or doubts we advise you to contact bibliopoint without hesitation, they will happily respond to your doubts. Bibliopoint is the central information desk for all services provided by the Milan campus library. It is available to users from Monday to Saturday, by phone or email. Phone: +39 02 7234 3849 Email: biblioteca.informazioni-mi@unicatt.it
Opening:
Monday-Friday: 8.00–20.00
Saturday: 9.00–18.00
2)Place to eat :
Do you want to eat cheap and delicious food?
As exchange students, some of us struggle to cook, some even struggle to try to not burn the kitchen. If you are one of these students we advise you to try Cattolica’s cafeteria. Universita Cattolica provides their students with one of the best cousins that you’ll find at a price-performance ratio, including a badge that allows students to eat in the cafeteria at discount prices. If you activate your card at EDUCAtt by paying the required fee (20€ for exchange/study abroad students), you will get a discounted price as follows:
For only €5.65 you can have a fool meal that includes the main dish, second course, fruit, bread, and drinks. Lunch meals are even cheaper with a price of € 4.50 you can choose between two courses. Always order the pizza!
Also if you don’t feel like spending money you can always bring your home-cooked meal to the main cafeteria and have lunch at “my FOOD AREA” from 11.30 am to 3 pm.
Cattolica cafeteria is a place where you feel welcome, it’s a place where you can meet new people, make new local friends and eat delicious food. The service is one of the best and the staff is really nice, you almost feel at home.
Cattolica counts with five different cafeterias: Cafeterias (mensa) at Cattolica, Educhef Mensa & Pizza.9 — via Necchi 9 (main cafeteria), Mensa.6 — Col. Paolo VI, via Verga 9, Mensa.18 — Coll. Marianum, via San Vittore 18, Mensa.30 — Residenza Buonarroti and piazza M. Buonarroti 30. Each of them has unique food. After going to every cafeteria we concluded that our favorite is the main cafeteria due to its iconic architecture and outstanding dishes. We encourage students to not be afraid of using Catolicas facilities.
How does it work?
You have to charge money on the student card beforehand to buy your meal: use the prepay machines outside the main cafeteria in via Necchi 9. If you have any doubts don’t hesitate to ask the staff.
- Most important dates :
- 3) Tips how to be organised with the courses :
So, when it comes to organizing your classes, let us help you.
First tip? Get organized! Easier said than done, we admit, but let us explain our method. To get properly organized, make a to-do list! Do each day of the week separately so you have a global vision of what you have to do. Make a separate post-it note if you want with the big events of the week so you don’t miss anything. Why is it so important to be well-organized for the midterm and final exams? Simply because these are the tests that allow you to validate your year. No one is going to stop you from succeeding. On the contrary, the teachers will push you to move forward and progress constantly. On the other hand, everything is far from being easily acquired. Although the teachers listen to you, they are still very demanding on deadlines and the level of work submitted.
- 4) Find people to help you for any problems :
There are several people you can contact if you need help, especially if you are an international student. Here are some of them:
- 5) Place to meet some students :
Meeting and sharing are two strong words of your exchange. That’s why we decided to list the most interesting places to meet other students, like you! who just dream of discovering new people and new cultures.
Multimedia Library (Mediateca)
It is an innovative structure where students can consult a rich collection of streaming videos, original DVDs, recordings from satellite and digital terrestrial, and online databases on specific subjects. The Multimedia Library is specialized in cinema, theatre, television, advertising, video art, music, and documentaries. It is located on the main campus (Gemelli), at the Gregorianum building, ground floor.
Opening time : Monday-Friday: 9 am-5 pm — Saturday: 9 am-12 pm
Computer rooms and internet access
Computer halls around campus allow for internet access either on fixed desktops or personal laptops (wall connection or Wi-Fi if available). 17 computer rooms are usually open all day until 9:00 PM. Cattolica provides wi-fi in areas of the main building. Some areas of the main cloisters have wi-fi from 7.00 am until 10.00 pm.
- 6) Associations/ activities :
ESN Unicatt Milano is the local section of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) linked to Cattolica University. The volunteers work together with the other five Milanese sections, ESN Milano Statale, ESN Politecnico Milano, ESN Bocconi, ESN Milano IULM, and ESN Milano-Bicocca, to help international students in Milan have an unforgettable experience. The association has many partners such as AC MILAN, AON, BAR MAGENTA, and many others.
The association started in 2011 when five students from Cattolica had the idea to contribute to the Erasmus Student Network after the positive experience they had during their exchange abroad. They decided to find an ESN section at their home university to be in contact with foreign students. In July 2012, at the National Platform in Foggia, ESN Unicatt Milano officially became part of the ESN Italy network. To date, the section has over fifty active members.
7) Sports
The university’s sports activities and the activities of the degree course in «Physical Education and Sports» take place in the UCSC «Rino Fenaroli» sports center in Milan. International students can also play sports, including basketball, volleyball, and football.
Interview of the international student in Erasmus: Alyssia AMON:
“Do you have a little advice for Erasmus students?
-Of course, I do! If I had to address them directly, I would, first of all, wish them a very nice stay in Milan and advise them to enjoy it as much as possible. Don’t forget that this is an opportunity and that even if sometimes it will be complicated because it will be! But try as much as possible to integrate yourself into campus life by participating in the associations and events offered. There are sports associations, and charities, and all involve social work, what more could you ask for?
How did you manage to integrate and make friends easily?
-The particularity of this school is that they are very present in the life of their students. The ESN association invites the students to activities and facilitates contact between the students. The ESN offers a lot of activities every day. There are even groups of each nationality, for example, a French group, to give the young people more confidence and to reassure them that they will not be alone on outings. There is even an integration weekend, which is very inexpensive and helps to strengthen ties. Each week the student organization organizes at least 3 outings and there is something for everyone! From bowling to karaoke, they will help you feel at home at the University so yes, you can easily make friends.
What do you think is the best thing about Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University?
-Without a doubt, I would say diversity. It has a cachet, an authenticity that sets it apart from the rest. In addition to the international curriculum and its various buildings, there are the teachers. They are all very kind and attentive, and they take time to deal with each student individually, even though they have hundreds of students. I like the atmosphere so much that I am taking steps to continue my studies here. Who knows? Maybe thanks to the University I will finally have found my place?”
