Pavia, Vul Area
A small city with a charming and well preserved historic centre by the banks of the Ticino River, Pavia is less than half-an-hour by train from Milan (Italian centre of finance, culture and fashion) and within easy reach of the Swiss border, the Northern Italian lakes and the Ligurian coast. Pavia offers a unique educational environment characterized by a strong sense of integration between university and city. The Department of Political and Social Sciences, hosting the Master in World Politics and International Relations, is located in the enchanting original structure of the University, where the Studium Generale was founded in 1361. The building is situated at the very heart of Pavia, in one of its most popular shopping areas, and is just a few minutes’ walk from the Visconti Castle and its park, and from the picturesque bank of the Ticino River.
In 2011 the Pavia rowing team came first in an international tournament against Oxford, Cambridge and Pisa
The perfect combination of city and university life is illustrated also by its system of colleges. Pavia hosts the largest college system in Italy, comprising 15 colleges (two of them dating from the 16th century) providing students with comfortable accommodation and facilities, as well as a daily supply of social and cultural opportunities. In addition, the University Sports Center (CUS) offers modern training facilities for track and field, canoeing, rowing, volleyball, rugby, fencing, archery, sports for physically disabled, aerobics, basketball, swimming and sailing. The central location of the colleges, as well as their multicultural and multidisciplinary population, makes them the most appealing housing solution for many students. Apart from the colleges, however, Pavia also has a lively private market. For more information, see Fees and Accommodation.
Although the University and Colleges, with their many public lectures, classical music concerts, and exhibitions, are undoubtedly the core of Pavia’s cultural life, the city offers many other forms of entertainment, including those of the Teatro Fraschini (with an opera, ballet, and drama season), two cinemas (with frequent “cineforum” discussions, as well as movies in original languages), a Civic Museum located in the Visconti Castle, and many occasional events such as a jazz season, photography and fine arts exhibitions, and open air concerts.
Alessandro Cattaneo, Mayor of Pavia
A message from the Mayor of Pavia
“Dear Student,
If you are looking at this website, you are probably considering applying to enroll in the Two-year Master in World Politics and International Relations. We at the Town Hall are keen to encourage you to do so.By applying to Pavia University, you will be following in the footsteps of generations of scholars who, over the last 650 years, have traversed Europe to visit our city and to achieve academic success. Pavia is a historical capital, and to this day retains its distinctive architectural features and some splendid art treasures. But Pavia is also a vibrant, modern community, thanks to the thousands of young people who frequent its university. This combination gives Pavia an unmistakable atmosphere, one that we do our best to promote, through the city’s many cultural initiatives and its collaboration with the University. I am convinced that your encounter with our city will make your period of study a unique experience.
Arrivederci a Pavia!”
Alessandro Cattaneo
Mayor of Pavia
Carla Jemma, BA and MA student of the Faculty of Political sciences
“I chose to study Political Sciences at the University of Pavia, and one factor that attracted me was its tradition of college life. Pavia is an exception in the typical Italian academic scenario, as it hosts many colleges, where students can live unique experiences. I wanted to live in a stimulating environment, where I could share my interests and my passions with people of my age, and so I chose to apply for the test to enter a “merit college”. Luckily my application was succesful and I spent three wonderful years in “Santa Caterina da Siena” college. The students of the college were strongly motivated but also friendly and relaxed and I had the opportunity to meet students from other faculties and share my experiences with them. Most of the colleges are very close to the Faculty and they offer cafeterias, common spaces and all the equipment necessary to study and prepare for exams. I think the colleges provide a very healthy and fruitful environment in which to live and study. ”
