I nostri testimonials: Aline - Brasile

About myself 

I am an international student from Brazil, currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Materials Science. My background is in Chemistry and I identify closely with being an experimental scientist. I love being in the lab, testing new reactions and creating new materials. The joy of discovery and the opportunities for learning are my main motivators. My professional life has taken me in many directions and I have taken part in very different research themes, such as drug discovery and solar energy harvesting. But the common thread between them was my desire to pursue scientific innovation and create a real-world impact on society. 

Why did you choose the University of Padua and our degree programme in Materials Science? How did you learn about our institution? 

I chose the degree in Materials Science because it lies at the intersection between Chemistry and Physics and it has vast industrial applications. Therefore, the possibility to use the materials that we investigate in the laboratory in real-world scenarios are more tangible. 

I chose the University of Padova because I saw it as an opportunity for professional growth. That is, acquiring more specialized knowledge would allow me to improve my career and teach me the skills to develop more complex and delicate systems. The quality of the publications and the collective expertise of the faculty between the Chemistry and Physics departments also attracted me. The breadth and rigor of the class listings were also interesting to me to complement my theoretical background. 

I learned about this institution by looking for the highest rankings of universities in Italy. Standing within the top 5 in the country, this convinced me that the education I would receive here was excellent. 

What aspects of our university’s culture or values have resonated with you the most? 

Being in STEM can be stressful at times and what I have grown to appreciate the most is the calmness of Italian culture, which is present within the University. This has helped me manage deadlines and long lab days much better compared to other institutions, in which the single focus is the work. Here, researcher and faculty seem to have a more holistic view of us students. Therefore, I believe that my mental health and work loads are more balanced with my personal life.

What are the main features of your degree programme? 

Materials Science is highly interdisciplinary, and I believe this feature reflects well in the degree. There are chemistry-heavy courses, lab-based activities and more theoretical and physics-based classes. In addition, we are free to explore in greater depth the courses that resonate with us by taking advantage of the wide access to articles and books provided by the library. There is also the opportunity to add classes from other departments if you are interested, as part of the elective courses in the study plan. Of course, they must align with the general requirements of the degree, but it gives you the possibility to specialize in the topics you want. I believe this to be an outstanding feature of the degree since it allows me to tune my education to match the path I want to follow. 

The professors are also open to hosting office hours for extra questions, and they really help you navigate the concepts with ease. This kind of support makes for an excellent signal that the faculty want you to succeed, learn and grow. 

What advice would you give to prospective students when it comes to preparing a successful application? 

Start early, read carefully the application materials and be organized. 

Choosing a degree that fits your learning expectations takes time and is a decision that is life-changing, especially if you are an international student moving abroad. Therefore, prepare your application with time so that you can make sure to cover all aspects of the process: classes and education, living and housing, entertainment, transportation, finances and so on. 

You might come across many questions while planning and that is normal. The University has provided many materials to aid you in this, so take your time to read them. Many applications follow the same general procedures, and they have been posted to make your life easier. Nonetheless, if you cannot find your answers, do not hesitate to ask the university offices and other fellow international students through the Unibuddy platform! 

Your organization is also critical. There will be many documents that you need to supply during the application and while it might seem silly, having separate folders for each segment might be surprisingly helpful. 

What advice would you give to students thinking of studying in Italy? How have you settled in here? 

My main advice is really about culture shock. This is something that you will experience and the first few months can be quite challenging to keep up with it. This is also normal and I promise it will pass (even if it might feel like it would not). So, my advice is: the less you resist it, the easier it will go. Every culture has both positive and negative parts, but I have been able to spot many great things about Italy since I got here: people are very friendly and relaxed, the food is amazing, there are a lot of green areas and people in general live a very healthy life. There are a lot of chances for short trips around Europe, especially when holidays merge with the weekend. This is a big plus, since everything in Europe is pretty close by and by coming to UniPD you would also have the chance to explore!

But, if you get homesick, take advantage of the fact that the University has many internationals! Meet with people from your own culture, get into the WhatsApp groups and you will soon be forming your own community. 

What do you like to do when you are not studying? How do you like to spend your free time? 

I love to play videogames, especially those filled with secret rooms and challenging boss fights. I enjoy the opportunities to explore different worlds and build the story of my character as the game progresses. 

Traveling has also been a major part of my life, and I have lived in four different countries to far! I think that understanding different cultures and being adaptable are important life skills that I often exercise when I am abroad. In addition, traveling makes for great opportunities to try new foods!

And in the context of dinning, the food in Italy is, honestly, a different kind of standard. As a pasta lover, I find myself in paradise. There are several great restaurants around the city center and desserts are always available, which I highly appreciate. 

When I am not gaming or cooking, you can also find me biking around the beautiful green areas here in Padova!