I nostri testimonials: Angelina - Russia

Student of Local Development

"The University of Padua is a huge community that has a lot of things to offer: you can participate in many activities that you're interested about, create something new, become a part of an orchestra, magazine, sports team, clubs and much more"

About myself 
Hey! I'm Angelina and I'm getting my master's degree in Local Development at the University of Padua. I finished my bachelor's degree in Public Administration in 2021 in Russia and 3 years after I worked in a project in the field of international education and career. During my first degree programme I was involved in various activities such as student media, volunteering, international conferences and programmes etc. Now I am doing my 2 projects, study and work. I was thinking about studying abroad quite long, but wasn't sure about university and programme, since I wanted something more practical and also logical continuation of my previous studies and, finally, thanks to the University of Padua and Local Development, I did it! In my free time I love travelling, reading, journaling and learning something new (for instance, history of art, in addition to my main studies at the University). I hope that our University will give you a lot of opportunities as it did for me!

Why did you choose the University of Padua and the Local Development degree programme? How did you learn about our institution?

It’s a very interesting story! As I said, I was thinking and planning about studying abroad for few years and considered different programmes and universities, including the University of Padua, but was in doubt what to choose. In 2023 I went to volunteering in Turkey and met there my current friend from Italy who was going to apply for the Local Development programme at the University of Padua. After that I decided to explore more deeply its programmes and initially thought about other programmes (such as Human Rights and Multilevel Governance) but in the end I chose Local Development due to its proper study plan and practical subjects that will be really useful for my future career. And now I understand that it was a very good choice! The University of Padua is a huge community that has a lot of things to offer: you can participate in many activities that you’re interested about, create something new, become a part of an orchestra, magazine, sports team, clubs and much more, you can try exchange programmes or combine your studies with another great university degree.

What are the main features of your degree programme?

Local Development is a multidisciplinary programme where everyone can find something interesting and useful that can help them to make a change in various fields. For me, the main feature of the programme is its focus on gaining practical knowledge and skills that you can apply immediately after learning them. The programme has mandatory courses but, at the same time, you have the opportunity to choose between plenty of elective subjects that can improve your study experince (for example, I never studied tourism and I chose it to enhance my knowledge in this sphere) and help in your career endeavors.

Is there any class/subject that has stood out to you so far?

Since I am more into practice, I truly enjoyed GIS: Mapping and Analysis and also Essentials of Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, the latter is the field I want to work in. Both prepare for real professional work: as researcher, data analyst and/or facilitator of changes.

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

First, think deeply why you want to apply to a specific programme and study there. Do you really need it? If answer is yes and you can clearly explain the reasons and goals to get this degree, it’s almost done. Your CV and motivation letter (documents needed for application) should be logically connected and show your road from point A (your dreams, purposes and intentions through your previous studies and experience) to point B (studying at the University of Padua): why exactly this programme and this university, what led you to them? how studying here can help in achieving your goals (whether academic or career)? Tell the Admission Commitee everything concretely, linearly and in order, BUT without repeating your CV (of course, you can mention something that is there, since it's your life way, but not copy-paste).

What advice would you give to students thinking of studying in Italy?

Do you like this country? Do you want to live there? Did you dream about visiting Italy? Did you always admire the beauty and culture of Italy? Do you like Italian food and drinks? If all answers are yes, your studying and living here will be more pleasant and easier, because despite all bureaucratic peculiarities, adaptation to a new country, not knowing of language and so on will be perceived just as necessary steps, not serious issues. So, learn everything about the country and understand for yourself if is it suitable for you and why do you really want to be here.

What do you do when you’re not studying? What does the city have to offer?

When I am not studying, I like to walk in the city. In Padua, in addition to famous Botanical Garden, Prato della Valle and Basilicas, there are a plenty of squares, museums, libraries and hidden gems that you can visit. I love to find hidden paintings, mosaics, maps, signs on the walls of buildings, it’s like a lottery. By the way, all the university’s museums you can visit for free, including my favorite – Museum of Nature and Humankind.