Una Europa is an alliance of 11 European universities. In this Student Guide, we have collected all the information you may need if you wish to take part in exchange studies or apply for an international degree programme at one of our universities.

• The Philological Library of Freie Universität Berlin was designed by the British star architect Sir Norman Foster.
• If you are at Freie Universität Berlin in springtime, do not forget to enjoy the cherry blossoms in front of the Holzlaube.
• In summer, you can pick different varieties of apples from the orchard next to Silberlaube.
• Berlin is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe, with a rich subculture and many international events. Among countless other things, it is home to one of the most famous European nightclubs, Berghain, and a buzzing startup hub.

• Read more about being an international student at Freie Universität Berlin

• The University of Bologna has a multi-campus structure. This means that you can discover five Italian cities with Università di Bologna campuses in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini), and maybe even the campus in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna is the oldest university in the Western world. Many famous people have walked through its doors: Giorgio Armani, Torquato Tasso, Francesco Petrarca, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Dante Alighieri are all former students of this old university.
• Be prepared to find a multitude of events that are tailored for students. The local Irish pub, for instance, organises Tandem Nights, where you can meet both local and international students, as well as practise your language skills.
• Bologna has been the inspiration for numerous movies, poems and songs. In fact, the city has many nicknames, such as the learned city, the fat city, the red city, the city of music, and the city of seven secrets.
• Everybody knows that Italian food is delicious, but in Bologna, you can find the freshest ingredients, eco-friendly agriculture, and cheap food. With a few coins you can get good coffee, great pizza or many students’ favourite drink: Aperol Spritz.

• Read more about being an international student at Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna

• The University of Edinburgh is one of six universities based in Edinburgh. As a result, the 2011 census revealed that over 12% of Edinburgh's population were students.
  
• The Student, The University of Edinburgh's student newspaper, is the oldest newspaper in the United Kingdom.
• Edinburgh is the home of the largest arts festival in the world, the Fringe. However, over the summer, there are other festivals that you can visit as well. These include: Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
• The naturally beautiful Scottish Highlands are only a few hours away from Edinburgh. You can reach the region even on public transport.

• Read more about being an international degree student at the University of Edinburgh
• Read more about being an exchange or visiting student at the University of Edinburgh

• The University of Helsinki is Finland’s oldest and largest academic institution and an innovative centre of science and thinking.
• There are around 70,000 university students in Helsinki – over 31,000 studying at the University of Helsinki – representing more than 10% of the city’s population. About 8,000 of these are international students.
• More than 250 student organisations operate within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY). Whatever your interests are, you are likely to find like-minded people and the right activities for you.
  
• UniCafe, owned by our own Student Union, offers cheap lunches for students with a vegan option always on the menu too. Also many other discounts, e.g. on public transport, are available with a student card called Frank.
  
• The most important celebration for students is `vappu´ (May Day). It starts on 30 April with the Crowning of Manta statue with a student cap and continues the next day with a huge picnic in the park.
  
• With one third covered in green areas and an archipelago consisting of 300 islands, Helsinki is a green city. Southern Finland also has multiple beautiful national parks that can easily be reached from Helsinki.
  
• The public city bike system is a popular form of travel. After all, Helsinki has 1,200 km of cycling routes, 730 km of them paved. About 500 km of them run in recreational areas and 90 km on waterfronts.
  
• The winters in Helsinki can get quite cold. Fortunately, all buildings have central heating and the majority of the apartment buildings their own sauna. In many cases, tenants can reserve their own weekly slot for bathing.

• Read more about being an international degree student at the University of Helsinki
• Read more about being an exchange or visiting student at the University of Helsinki

• The Jagiellonian University in Kraków is the oldest university in Poland, and one of the oldest universities in Europe. A good way to explore the University is to visit the Jagiellonian University Museum, and learn about the University’s history and its famous Polish alumni, among whom are Pope Saint John Paul II and Nicolaus Copernicus.
• Cracow has plenty of places for studying. Besides the Jagiellonian University libraries, you can visit the Jagiellonian University Student Zone (Strefa Studencka Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego). It is a modern space for students and academic staff to study or hold a conference, but also to relax and have something to eat.
• If you like exploring history, then you should definitely visit the Wawel Castle, the Main Square (Mariacki Basilica and Sukiennice Museum), the Jewish Quarter, and the Czartoryskich Museum, where you can admire Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Lady with an Ermine.
  
• Nature lovers visiting the Jagiellonian University Botanical Garden can see a variety of plant species from all over the world.
  
• Cracow has a captivating culture and history, but also a fascinating cuisine. If you are looking for traditional Polish food, you should certainly try Polish pierogi, gołąbki, żurek and zapiekanka.
  
• Do you have a sweet tooth? Then Kremówka is something you should try.
  
• In the city centre, the best place to do groceries is Stary Kleparz, where you can find all kinds of seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as small shops with their own handcrafted products.

• Read more about being an international student at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow

• Founded in 1425, KU Leuven is counting down to its 600^th year of existence, which will be celebrated in style.
• Georges Lemaitre, the father of the Big Bang theory, was a professor at KU Leuven.
• KU Leuven has the largest collection of banana varieties in the world. The University's gene bank currently hosts 1,547 different varieties.
• Leuven is the home of many popular breweries, of which Stella Artois, on the outskirts of town, is the most famous. You should go and give it a try!

• Read more about being an international student at KU Leuven

• Universidad Complutense de Madrid is the oldest public university in Spain.
  
• The University ranks in the top 250 universities worldwide.
• Madrid is known for its great weather. Temperatures usually stay above 7°C throughout the year.
• The famous Spanish director Amenábar was inspired to write his movie Tesis (1996) while studying at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

• Read more about being an international student at Universidad Complutense de Madrid
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• Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne is one of the biggest universities in Social Sciences and Humanities in France in terms of course offer and student numbers.
• Jacqueline Kennedy (former First Lady of the United States), Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie (the discoverers of radium, which revealed to the world the existence of radioactivity) and Pierre de Coubertin (the father of the modern Olympic Games) all studied at the Sorbonne.
• At the heart of the Latin Quarter of Paris, the historic building of the Sorbonne stands alongside monuments such as the Pantheon, the Luxembourg Garden, and the Arenas of Lutetia.
• Since its creation, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne has awarded the title of honorary doctorate to nearly seventy personalities in recognition of their actions and strong commitment to the values and principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nelson Mandela, Ban Ki-moon and Pablo Picasso are among those honoured by the University.
• Near the Centre Panthéon, you can taste some éclairs au chocolat or baguette sandwiches in the same bakery as the one in the series Emily in Paris, the Boulangerie Moderne.
• There is an important debate going on in France about the name of a typical French pastry: pain au chocolat or chocolatine, as it is called in Southwest France.

• Read more about being an international student at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne