University of Sunderland

What our students think

Who: Elena Bigi
From: University of Verona (Italy)
Programme: Erasmus Exchange

I am Elena Bigi and what I'm telling is my extraordinary experience at the University of Sunderland as an Erasmus student. I come from Mantova, a small city in the north of Italy and I'm studying 'Languages for the promotion of tourism and the event organization' at the University of Verona. I decided to make the Erasmus experience in order to improve my English and also because I wanted to put myself through my paces. I arrived in Sunderland the 16th of September and unfortunately I was the first in my flat so I had to stay the first 3 days alone. But when all my flat mates arrived the real experience started.

We had an induction week, where the university's staff gave us all the information and the advice we needed. They also organized two trips in order to give us the possibility to meet other Erasmus student. We went to the Metro shopping centre, the biggest shopping centre in Europe and we also visited the city of York, with its unique atmosphere given by the gothic cathedral.

When the university started, I was positively surprised how friendly and helpful all the teachers and the people who are working inside the university are. For each of my problems they had a prompt solution. I could choose the most suitable modules for my studies and I had the possibility to attend an English course on how to write essays and reports and how to make a good presentation in classes.

During my stay in Sunderland I lived in the university accommodation Clanny House, 20 minutes walk from the city centre and well connected with the two University campuses by the free campus bus. Of course my experience wouldn't be so positive without the presence of my wonderful flat mates and all the friends from all over the world that I met here. Every evening we cooked together and we spent many nights just chatting around the table. Impossible to forget our Monday nights inside the Point, the main club in Sunderland and all the great bands that were singing in the Irish Pub, Paddy Whacks.

During the weekends we often made some trips in the surrounding area of Sunderland. We visited Newcastle, also known as the London of the north, Durham with its majestic cathedral and Tynemouth with the ruins of the castle and the beautiful beach. We also went to London, Edinburgh, Liverpool,  Leeds and Manchester, thanks to the cheap offers of Megabus and National Express.

Inside Sunderland noteworthy is the Penshaw monument, the Hylton Castle, the beaches in Rokers and Seaburn and last but not least the shopping centre the Bridges, where you can find everything you need.

Living on my own in a foreign country allowed me to grow up very quickly and it gave me the opportunity to know a different culture deeply. It was truly a memorable experience, from the friends I made to the academic life. For me it was the most formative period of my life. That's why I decided to ask for the extension of the Erasmus contract because one semester is definitely too short. Thanks to the cooperation between both Universities, I have now the chance to stay here also the second semester. Therefore my Erasmus experience is not concluded and I have new modules, new flat mates, new friends, new trips and new nights out that are waiting for me...