I nostri testimonials: Kasan - Indonesia

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

I found out about the University of Padua after searching through several universities in the European region, since I planned to study far from my home country to gain new experiences. At that time, when I was searching, I found that the University of Padua has been known for a long time as a research-based university, and it is situated in a ‘student-friendly’ city in Italy. I deemed this university to be suitable for me personally since I aimed to pursue highly academic studies along with strong scientific research. I really enjoy a peaceful environment, basically to take a break from the usual hustle and bustle in my home country. But on the other side, I can’t say I was not worried about whether I would be able to get through living in a foreign country far from home. Therefore, when I saw that there are lots of people saying that the city is very peaceful and filled with lots of international students, it convinced me even more to choose the University of Padua. At the end, after starting my studies at this university, it turns out the rumors are right! I have been enjoying my study life here, and I was able to adapt fast.

In this University, I chose to study Molecular Biology, which is strongly related to my past studies and work. I have a big interest in biotechnology, especially in the biochemistry and molecular fields, since my bachelor's. I even continued my work in a related field, in the biopharmaceutical industry, as an analytical science and development staff member who works mostly in biochemistry and molecular biology. After working for nearly 4 years there, I realized that I needed to hone my knowledge more and gain experience in practical research, which led me to pursue further studies in molecular biology. The Molecular Biology programme at this University has a well thought-out curriculum with three types of paths. I found the course to be very specific and interesting, which I thought at that time would definitely give me new knowledge since I already have a slight background from my bachelor's. I aimed to gain in-depth knowledge to integrate myself more into the field, which drove me to choose this specific programme at the university.

What are the main features of your degree programme? 

The degree programme consists of everything that is molecular in the biology fields, specified into three tracks that we can choose. The tracks course are Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology of Plants, and Molecular Biology of Metabolic Organelles. The molecular Biology track is the general path if the students do not have a specific specialization or interest. Molecular Biology of Plants is the path to study the molecular biology in plants. Meanwhile, Molecular Biology of Metabolic Organelles focuses solely on molecular biology in organelle, associated with biochemistry. All three tracks have their own general (shared between the three) and specialized courses. Regarding the activities, the programme includes various ways of learning beside lectures. There are laboratories activities, practical (computer or bioinformatics) group projects like presentations, and discussions.

How has your experience been so far? What aspects of our university’s culture or values have resonated with you the most? 

The University of Padua’s commitment to research and society resonates with me, particularly its dedication to supporting research excellence. The generation of new knowledge is essential in many aspects of life, and at the center lies ‘scientific research’. Research fields are really wide and vast; one glimpse of results cannot tell us the big picture of the world, which makes it time-consuming and costly. It is not easy for one institution to focus on research excellence, and not every institution has that kind of determination. Given how challenging and costly research can be, I appreciate the university’s determination to support students and professors in their pursuit of research.

Through this aspect, I can really feel the value in daily study. In my programme, professors uphold innovation of knowledge and try to keep up with what is ‘state of the art’ in the field. Each professor has their own unique interests in molecular biology and tries to integrate their lectures with the most current knowledge. Therefore, students can learn what is happening in the research world right now, across various fields.

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

My sole advice would be to use every resource the university provided as much as you can. I can say that the university is very ‘welcoming’ to prospective students, just by looking at their information pool. They have a really good base of information on how to apply, what the university can provide, features, and everything else through the website and lots of webinars. The information is really clear, and if you have some doubts, the university also provides international support contacts that we can use. The application platform is also very user-friendly. Nonetheless, we still have to pay attention to what the university needs for the application and whether our qualifications suit the requirements of the programme. As long as these are fulfilled, you will have a high chance of a successful application.

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

I would advise you do thorough research not only on the university, but also on the city. The food, the vibes, available testimony from the students, accommodation, administration, transportation, and everything else about the city, to ensure that you will be prepared to face anything when arriving in Italy. Whether the food will match your taste, whether the environment suits your expectations (calm or hustle), whether the accommodation suits your budget, etc. It is also beneficial to look at whether there is a good number of international students in the university or city, as you all can help each other regarding administration and accommodation. Lastly, I would advise you to look further into the academic culture of Italy, how the university pursues academics and implements them. If these match with your interests, then it will surely help you in settling in Italy.

I have been settling in pretty well. I like the food, the environment, and the infrastructure (library, shops, park, etc.). The environment has helped me focus on my studies and enjoy the student life until now. The locals here are pretty friendly in general, and I’m trying to learn a bit of Italian for smooth communication. The only challenge so far is the administration for the residence permit. However, it has been resolved easily thanks to several helps. I got help from my friends in my class, a tutor buddy (facilities from the university), and the international desk.

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

I used to spend my free time doing my hobbies (playing video games, drawing). While studying here though, my activities have got more variable. I can explore around Padua, looking at the city view and experiencing new European culture in restaurant, shops, parks, etc. Sometimes, I meet my new friends from the programme, socializing, trying new food together as it is very different from my home food. Sometimes, I join some outdoor event such as the new year’s night in Prato Della Valle, or international food street that is periodically held. I also have travelled to close city like Venice and Bologna, and tried hiking in the Dolomites mountains.