Mostafa from Iran studies Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Bologna.
I am Mostafa Taghipour and I come from Iran, my life at Unibo is absolutely exciting – can't wait to tell you all about it!
Coming to Italy and choosing Unibo
I graduated in Chemical Engineering in Iran, I was quite happy with my BA, however I have always been aware of how competitive the job market is. For this reason, I decided to further my education and get a master's degree in sustainability. At that moment, the first decision was whether I wanted to study in my country or abroad. My mind was already set on studying abroad, but to which country? The answer was easy for me: Italy. As an Iranian, I feel there’s a cultural connection with Italy, moreover it is my intention to enjoy my life while studying and Italy is the perfect place to do that. Finally, there are many Iranian students here and this makes me feel less homesick.
Once I chose the country, I had to find the right university, my requirement was for it to be high in international rankings. Of course, that filter in my search led me immediately to Unibo. The Department of Chemical and Civil Engineering of the University of Bologna is one of the best in the world and is very committed to researching in the field of sustainability.
Nothing is impossible if you are a good planner
In order to make my enrolment process successful, I had one motto: plan, plan, plan! So every day I checked the web pages of the programmes I wanted to apply for so that my documents were ready long before the call for application opened. Once I got my acceptance letter from Unibo, everything went smoothly despite some bumps in the road. Indeed, because of the pandemic, my TOEFL test was cancelled three times and I could not take the test by the application deadline date. However, the degree programme coordinator of my MA helped me by extending the deadline and providing an alternative English assessment method (via video call). Things like this make you appreciate your new University even before you set foot in it and, in general, the programme coordinator was very efficient and made communication easy and pleasant.
A further point of attention for me was how to get a visa and a scholarship. Iranian students need a student visa to attend Italian universities, therefore I had to be very scrupulous with all the papers to hand in at the Italian Embassy in Iran as getting a visa can be tricky. That precise and overzealous attitude paid off as my enrolment turned out to be successful.
I also applied for ER.GO benefits (the regional agency for the right to study) and received a fee waiver while already in Italy. There are no unique techniques for obtaining scholarships and advantages; simply be knowledgeable and thorough in your research. Unibo provides a variety of services to its students, including study rooms, libraries, ALMAWiFi, and the International Desk - all of them are easily accessible, my personal experience with such services was undeniably positive.
Unibo, a culture of efficiency
This efficiency that I witnessed to from day one applies also to the rest of the MA programme. The entire programme is so well-organized, there are many elective courses, such a diversity of themes and topics suited to every student’s interest. We could even attend classes of other degree programmes: a great opportunity to learn about new subjects.
Real world experience at a top-class academic institution
At the University of Bologna, professors really care about their students. In Iran, professors do not entertain such close relationships with their students, here instead they’re always happy to help and assist students. I was amazed at the fact that they were so interested in us and involved us in their own projects. Such activities enhanced our software skills remarkably and made us ready for the job market. Moreover, the University has incredible internship opportunities at very important companies, which is fantastic for job prospects.
I didn’t have a great start but then...Bologna won’t let you down
To be honest, my first days here in Bologna were not very exciting because of the lockdown. When I arrived in Bologna, I had to stay at home and, in those days, going out with my friends to go sightseeing was an impossible mission. But even then, despite the lockdown, I was lucky enough that my flatmates were three cool engineering students and we had a lot in common.
As soon as the lockdown restrictions were lifted, I was so happy to see so many young and international students everywhere. I already knew before applying that Bologna was the best destination for Erasmus students from different countries, but it was incredible to see that with my own eyes. Bologna is not a large city, yet it is large enough to surprise you with something new every day. In other words, Bologna won’t let you down. The only irritating side of this city is its accommodation shortage, that is the most difficult thing for a newcomer, Italians included!
Other than that, Bologna is the right place for young people. I will never get tired to repeat this: Bologna is the place to be if you like going out and meeting new people – I would go so far as to say that Bologna is the promise land for gregarious, fun-loving people!
If you are an adventure-lover like me, Bologna is conveniently located for this type of leisure activities. Cycling, climbing and wild camping are the things I like to do in my free time and the Emilia Romagna Region (where Bologna is) offers plenty of opportunities in that regard. However, when in Bologna, lock your bike safely, as it might get stolen – this is the only issue I’ve had with the city so far.
Where language fails you, hands will help you!
The major issue for me when I first arrived in Bologna was connecting with locals: people here do not speak English very well. However, they can communicate with gestures what they can't communicate with words! In my opinion, acquiring some basic Italian was mandatory. As a result, I took Italian courses, which were held by an institution named “Labas”: I learned the fundamentals of the language and I am still improving it. Meanwhile I get my Italian going by speaking with Italian students and friends.
