I chose the University of Padua because it is one of the world’s most established universities. Also, the university is situated in an historical city, which is near to Venice. I chose this Programme at UniPD because I like Social Psychology and there are many brilliant professors specialised in Social Psychology who can help me to pursue my goal in this journey. Namely, for me this department is convenient especially for those who want to continue their career in academics like me.

The programme has a multidisciplinary approach that integrates various disciplines including psychology, anthropology, sociology, and medical sciences. This interdisciplinary approach allows us to gain a holistic understanding of psychology and other related Psychological sub-branches. This programme focuses on both Social and Clinical Psychology, which gives us the possibility to specialize in both sub-branches. This programme enables us to develop intercultural skills. So, we learn to work effectively across various cultural settings. The programme includes practical training through internships which gives us the opportunity to have a hands-on experience.

There have been a few courses which I enjoyed and where I learned many things about my field of interest such as Intergroup Relations, Self and Identity: From the individual to the social self, Human Rights and Intercultural Dialogue.

Before applying to Unipd, they need to have solid knowledge in basic psychological concepts, as well as a good grasp of statistics and research methodologies, since Psychology is a science. If their high school or prior studies have not covered these areas extensively, they should consider taking preparatory courses or engaging in self-study to build their skills. They must have at least a B2 level of English to understand the terminology. If they are wishing to study in italian, they need to have a good level of Italian as well.

What I like most about Padua is that it is a lively city, neither small nor large, as I am an extroverted person from a metropolitan city, Izmir. So, it resembles my city in terms of liveliness.

I suggest they learn at least some basic Italian before coming here because daily life, including social interactions and administrative tasks, often requires some knowledge of the language. They should plan their finances considering tuition fees, accommodation, food, transportation, and leisure activities. While Italy can be less expensive if compared to other Western European countries, costs can vary greatly between cities. For example, northern cities like Milan tend to be pricier, whereas southern parts of Italy are generally more affordable.