Hidden treasures of a semester abroad at Ca' Foscari
In his story about the exchange program with the Venetian Ca’ Foscari University, Dmitry Kuznetsov, graduate of the master's program Project Management: Project Analysis, Investments, Implementation Technologies, reflects on just how diverse his semester in Italy turned out to be. A lecture by a Nobel laureate, a group project on Venice Fashion Week, and meeting students from a course on magic and alchemy are just a few highlights.
In the fall semester of the 2018–2019 academic year, I took part in an international academic exchange program with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. My choice of university and program was driven by two things: location and course offerings. I had long dreamed of visiting Venice, and this was an opportunity not just to go as a tourist, but to fully immerse myself in the city’s atmosphere, live like a local, and study something truly meaningful. The courses offered fit perfectly with my degree at HSE University (a requirement for academic approval). Ca’ Foscari has a rich catalog of courses taught in English, so everyone can find something that matches both their curriculum and personal interests. In Venice, I met some students from St. Petersburg who had enrolled in a course on magic and alchemy—but found it quite challenging since the reading materials were written in Old English!
When choosing your courses, it’s important to check where they take place and how your schedule is laid out. Ca’ Foscari’s buildings are scattered throughout the city, and getting from one to another can take 15–25 minutes on foot. Water buses are an alternative, but they’re not always faster. In Venice, you quickly get used to walking a lot every day.
Studying wasn’t easy, but it was definitely engaging. I spent a lot of time preparing for exams, sometimes giving up weekend trips to nearby cities. Exams started just six weeks into the semester. The Italian grading system is based on a 30-point scale: anything below 18 is a fail, and a “good” grade starts at 25. The fail rate for courses was surprisingly high.
But despite the tough grading, I have many warm memories of studying at Ca’ Foscari. On my very first day of classes, Nobel Prize–winning economist Robert C. Merton gave a guest lecture. One of our projects focused on the lack of popularity of Venice Fashion Week. Our team interviewed local artisans, fashion accessory makers, and designers to understand their perceptions of the event, whether they wanted to participate, and whether they saw any benefits. We visited the historic Luigi Bevilacqua weaving workshop, where complex patterns are crafted on wooden looms from countless spools of thread. We also met costume makers, mask designers, jewelry crafters, and leather artisans. Thanks to this project, I met fascinating people and grew close with my teammates.
The university offers a free Italian language course to all exchange students. I highly recommend signing up. The course combines grammar and speaking practice and includes five hours of instruction per week. It helps you start speaking and understanding basic phrases quickly. Italians are much more welcoming when you speak their language, and you may even meet other Russian-speaking students through the course.
Ca’ Foscari’s libraries are not only convenient but also beautiful. They have strict etiquette, and many of them offer stunning views of the mountains, the Venetian lagoon, or the canals. Libraries are popular among local students—sometimes all three floors are full, and queues form before opening.
Venice has a unique climate. It’s warmer than Moscow, but extremely humid. If your apartment has a dehumidifier, use it—it can collect several liters of water a day. In October and November, the city experiences floods, and classes may be canceled because university buildings become inaccessible. But it’s absolutely worth going out and experiencing the flooded city. It’s a mesmerizing sight: temporary walkways appear on the streets, vendors sell rubber boots and covers, and at one point, the water in St. Mark’s Square reached my waist.
There’s no central heating in Venice, and homes are heated with gas. It gets cold in November, and you’ll need to keep the heat on every day. Gas bills can reach €200–300 per month, so plan your budget accordingly.
What helped me get accepted into the exchange program was a strong academic record. I not only passed the selection process but also received a mobility scholarship from the Endowment Fund. That year, Ca’ Foscari offered 10 spots to HSE students—more than any other university. I got my acceptance letter quickly and began preparing for the trip.
The biggest challenge I faced was finding housing. I needed a private apartment because my family was planning to visit. Ca’ Foscari has a housing office that helps students find accommodation. Every week, they sent a list of available apartments with contact details. Unfortunately, most landlords didn’t respond to emails or would reply saying the place had already been rented. I also searched all the Italian housing platforms. I got three replies—two of which turned out to be scams. The scammers sent fake Airbnb-style links and asked for a deposit. In the end, I found only one legitimate option after a month of searching, and I took it right away.
Looking back, I fondly remember my exchange semester and envy those who still have this adventure ahead. During my time in Venice, I met incredible people, experienced life in another country, picked up some basic Italian, improved my English, and added a valuable international study experience to my resume.