Generally, Italy is a very safe country. This is even truer in the smaller cities and towns. Yet of course, it is just prudent to exercise caution as there would always be incidents of petty crime and accidents. Paying attention to your surroundings and being street smart will help you avoid such things happening to you.

One of the main concerns in Italy – especially in the larger cities – is the fact that there is a relatively high number of deaths due to motor vehicle accidents. Italian drivers are not the most prudent in the world. Statistics show that a large part of casualties in Italy is due to such accidents which have been linked to drinking and driving. Be especially careful during the early hours of the morning after a night of drinking and partying.

If walking is your main means of going around, pay careful attention to your surroundings. Pedestrians do not have the right of way in Italy. Just because you are not in a vehicle does not mean that you should not watch how much you drink. Walking on streets – which probably do not have pavements – is not a good idea if you have a couple glasses of wine in you.

Crime is not such a big problem in Italy though there have been cases of petty snatching. This has been done by people on scooters who grab pedestrians’ bags and then speed away. To help avoid this, you should always keep watch over your belongings and try to hold them on the side away from the street. Common sense dictates that you do not carry with you a large amount of cash. Neither should you have all your important documents (passport and the like) with you on the street. Keep them in a safe place and just bring copies with you.

Italian men are known for being very appreciative of beauty. This could pose a problem for women students – but only if you take them seriously. In general, such displays of appreciation are merely part of the culture and they mean you no harm. To avoid any serious situations, do not go out alone at night and as much as possible, go with a group of people.

It is a well known fact that majority of the countries that are members of the European Union use the euro as their currency. Italy is no exception. However, it is also known all over the world that the United Kingdom still retains its old currency, the pound. However, UK residents are not as unfamiliar with the euro as other non-EU residents. As such, it should not be so difficult to adjust to your new currency.

If you bring in cash with you (in the form of pounds), it would be good to be aware of the exchange rate. This fluctuates daily so you should check with the banks before changing your money. Alternatively, you can check online at currency converter sites. Before leaving the UK, you should change a small amount of cash into euro. This would facilitate your going around the city and avoid the hassle of having to find a bank or a money changer upon your arrival.

Budgeting is one of the main concerns of foreign students in another country. Unlike being at home, you probably won’t have such an easy access to cash. If you can afford a credit card, then you would be equipped for emergencies. However, you should really try to avoid relying on that as there are more efficient and cheaper ways to get by.

You can prepare traveler’s cheques before you leave the UK. This is a good way of having a source of money without having to carry large amounts of cash with you. You should, however, also make inquiries with your bank at home as to how much the charges would be to encash them in a foreign bank. Also make sure that you have a list of your traveler’s cheque numbers and that you keep them in a separate place. In case of loss, you will be able to notify your bank and do something about it.

Alternatively, your ATM card will suffice. Cash dispensers are available all over Italy. You just need to check with your local bank if they have a branch or an affiliate in Italy. You should also inquire as to the fees that you may incur if you use their ATMs in a foreign country.

All roads lead to Rome – or so the saying goes. In today’s modern times, though Rome may not be the center of the world, it sure is one of the most important cities worldwide. Home to the Vatican, site of the ancient Roman Empire, and a basketful of history – that’s what you can find in Rome, and more.

The University of Rome is one of the best schools that you can go to for a period of studying abroad. Located in the Art Nouveau neighborhood, two of the best offerings of the University of Rome are the Italian language and Italian cuisine programs. Courses are offered all year round and all levels of students are accepted. The average cost for such programs can range from 500 GBP to 1000 GBP, depending on the length of your stay.

The American University of Rome is another excellent choice. It offers a wide variety of programs from arts to business to sciences, and more. With a low student faculty ratio of 19 to 1, students – both local and international alike – are assured of personalized instruction.

Studying in Rome is not complete without excursions within and outside the city. Indeed, one’s studies include such educational and cultural trips. On weekends, students can marvel at the art and architecture within the city itself. Longer breaks may allow for possible travel to neighboring towns and cities.

Depending on the institution that you sign up with, you can have different types of accommodation while you are in Rome. The most common arrangement is for your institution to set up a flat for you. Flats are normally shared with other students like yourself. They are normally located strategically near trattorias, markets, and other shops. More importantly, staying in flats give you the freedom you would want to explore all that Rome has to offer.

With all that Rome has to offer and considering that it is one of the most modern cities in the world, the cost of education might come in a bit pricey. The exact costs vary depending on several factors such as the University, length of stay, and accommodations. For one term you would need about 7,000 GBP while you would need about 14,000 GBP for a whole year’s stay.