You might know Venice as a romantic city full of art and beautiful museums, a city in which elegant gondolas navigate the canals under the bridges that connect the hundreds of islands to one another.
But you might be surprised to know that Venice is also a university hub among the best in Italy and in Europe! Thousands of students each year enrol in the top universities in Venice: Iuav and Ca Foscari University. The former is dedicated to architecture and arts, whilst the latter has a broad variety of both bachelor's degrees as well as master's degrees, mainly in Economics, Natural Sciences, and Foreign languages. The quality of Venetian education comes from its history and from the top research teams that operate in the city.
This brings not only international students to the universities but new citizens to the city! Are you curious to know the different universities of Venice and what the university experience in Venice is like? Then keep reading!
ALL THE UNIVERSITIES IN VENICE
There are not just Iuav University and Ca Foscari, but also prestigious schools such as the Venice Academy of Fine Arts, or the Music Conservatory Benedetto Marcello Palace (which was once the palace of the Doge), located near Accademia. These institutions have brought in all these years many great students and honourable professors in the university life of Venice.
The project "Study in Venice" even proposes single courses that you can take on a huge variety of different fields, in addition to bachelor's degrees or masters.
In the monastery of San Nicolò in Lido, just forty minutes from San Marco by waterbus, the Global Campus on Human Rights has developed in recent years into a community of students from all over the world.
Venice has located different University campuses both on the main island, in small islands of the lagoon, and in the mainland.
IS VENICE A STUDENT-FRIENDLY CITY?
It might seem more and more that Venice is designed for tourists, but in reality, just by looking a little bit deeper, students will be able to experience a completely different city, way more authentic and economically sustainable.
The city (and the universities) enables a wide variety of incentives for its students: each student can demand a monthly pass for the water bus system that connects the different islands, and public transport is available/viable even late at night.
There are special museum discounts as well, so each student can discover all the beautiful art of the city while studying. These and many more offers should make the entrance, and the stay in Venice as students way more affordable and cheap.
There are campuses (especially in the Santa Marta district and in the economic campus of San Giobbe) that offer cheap rent (usually of single-room apartments) and many services to its students. It's a great place to make new friends and pay less money.
It might not be cheap, but it might be cheaper than the rents that some locals offer. But if you are lucky you can also seize some good apartments down the centre of the city.
The Ca Foscari University of Venice as well as Iuav offer programs designed to ease the arrival of new international students from all over the world. Once arrived, students will set up their personal email password and account, log in to the portal and connect with the bigger community of students.
There are many associations that promote the student's life in Venice, among which there is ESN, on top of this, Facebook pages and websites are designed precisely to make the student's experience the best.
Venice is also full of libraries in its athenaeums, and students usually go there to study (they're very crowdy, so book in advance)
THE NIGHTS IN VENICE
It is clear by now that Venice is indeed a perfect city to experience university life. Both private and public institutions promote universities and projects that stimulate students to do their best while having fun.
Speaking of which: University life is not just about campuses, classes, teaching, and budget accommodation, but is also about the best places for other students and visiting friends and professors.
The favourite places of Venetian students are Rialto Erbaria, close to the ancient fish and herbs market, campo Santa Margherita (which is the biggest campo together with san Polo), close to ca Foscari, and Fondamenta Cannaregio. In these places, everyday students sit to drink a coffee in the morning or go walking and drink in the evening. Whether you just wanna take a walk or grab a drink, you won't be disappointed.
Campuses themselves, like Santa Marta and San Giobbe, see a good number of parties during summertime. And close to them, there are many pubs where you can drink.
It's cool to see how usually tourists from all over the world have fun with students and Venetians all together, and this is clearly a good sign that the city of Venice has done a good job in creating a nice environment for all the people visiting and living here.
For just a couple of euros, you can grab a drink and something to eat in campo Santa Margherita and meet new people, speak different languages for free, and discuss research projects and vacations.
If drinking and partying all night is not for you, don't worry, Venice has also some famous attractions to visit and discover as a student. This year, for instance, there will be plenty of art exhibitions, on top of which there is the biennale of arts "The milk of dreams".
THE THREE VIG TIPS:
Check all the university sites and choose your best degree, and remember, there will always be one for you. The website of Ca Foscari is particularly well organized and displays a lot of practical info. You can also find them on Instagram!
Venice can be either expensive or cheap, it is up to you to find the best ways to save up some money, so feel free to look for nice tips in Venice Insider Guide as well, we got you covered! you can also live on a budget.
No matter what country you are coming from, or if you are enrolled in Ca Foscari or IUAV, remember to connect with the big communities of students and check up on the classes. if you don't live in the main island you might also want to take the train, cars or waterbus.