Here at EDUopinions we aim to provide visitors of the website, prospective students, and curious parents with an in-depth view of the best universities all over the world by presenting honest reviews written by students themselves.
Italy is an increasingly popular place to study, being home to not only incredible views and landscapes, great food, and beautiful architecture, but also what is believed to be the world’s oldest university. The University of Bologna (UNIBO), the oldest university globally, is thought to have coined the word university and is ranked number three by Times Higher Education for the top five universities in Italy. Similarly, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is ranked number two on this list, so both universities are ranked highly, but what are the differences between them?
University of Bologna
UNIBO is situated in the province of Bologna and was established in 1088 and is not only the oldest university in the world but one of the largest universities Italy has to offer with a community of over 85,000 students in 2018. With over 200 degree courses, UNIBO is a multi-campus university with locations all over Northern Italy as well as a campus in Buenos Aires, Argentina. UNIBO is also ranked number 180 worldwide for universities by QS Rankings and the Times Higher Education Ranking.
Most Frequent Comments
With an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 on EDUopinions, UNIBO is generally praised by its students. Common themes in its student reviews include the university’s internationality, as they offer courses for both Italian and international students. As well as this, course content has also been commended by students. Another theme found in reviews was the location of the university, as students found the city of Bologna ideal for university life.
I am very enthusiastic about my experience at Unibo! I attended a two-year-long master’s degree in Italian Studies (plus one year to write my thesis) and it was amazing! I met professors who were not only interested in you as a student, but also as a person, and it is extremely important for the quality of your learning process. The tipical Italian way of teaching (seminars with little use of essays) is here not a handicap, but a plus, because it helps you go deep into the dynamics of literature and its connections with the present life and the daily routine we all have to face. Moreover, services Bologna offers to young students and the flow you can breathe in the city (1 out of 4 people is a student there!) helps you study with enthusiasm and awareness. I had a blast and I do really think those were the best 3 years of my life!
However, the main complaint made by reviewers was that sometimes student-teacher interactions were not effective.
The University of Bologna is the oldest university in Europe so its buildings and the city are one. Depend on your grade you will have lessons in an old building or in a newer one. Most of them are in the city centre, so it’s really convenient for students. In the case of Economic grade, they also have an English grade made not just for international students but also for Italian people. In the class you can find students from everywhere, so you don’t have to be worried about classmates or works in a team. In general, teachers don’t make difference between an Italian or an international student, so you’d better not to expect any help in exams. Like the rest of the Italian universities, the content of the subjects is too much theory and not enough practical exercises. Anyway, even if I would have liked a bit more of comprehension of teachers, my experience in the University of Bologna has been great.
Overview
Overall, students had a great time at UNIBO and left positive reviews. They praised the city of Bologna, the international opportunities, the student experience, and the content of their courses. If you studied at the University of Bologna please leave a review of your experience.
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
Established in 1810 and located in Pisa, Tuscany, the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies only accepts the best students, so you know you are learning from and with the best. Currently, the school has only 50 undergraduate openings split between social sciences and experimental sciences, with under 1000 students attending the university. Students must take an entrance exam to be accepted into the university and be able to demonstrate that they can proficiently speak two languages. The school is also ranked 153 by The Times Higher Education Ranking and 167 by QS Rankings for universities worldwide.
Most Frequent Comments
Right now there are not any reviews on Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies on EDUopinions, therefore it has no average rating. If you have studied or are in the process of studying there please do not hesitate to tell us about your experiences.
Overview
Situated in a beautiful part of Italy, the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies offers a first-class education and student experience for both Italians and international students.
Conclusion
To conclude this review of both the Universty of Bologna and Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies we will go over a few of the points mentioned and compare the two universities.
- Both schools are longstanding with prestigious reputations
- The University of Bologna has 11 reviews on EDUopinions averaging at 4.4/5 stars
- The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is located in Pisa, a beautiful part of the country
- The University of Bologna has campuses across northern Italy and one campus in Argentina
- The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies has more rigorous entrance requirements than the University of Bologna.
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