Background
Arina had always been passionate about philology, and after completing her bachelor's degree, she set her sights on furthering her education in Italy. With a dream of enrolling in a master’s program in linguistics, she embarked on a journey that required careful planning, document preparation, and overcoming a significant language barrier.

Choosing the Right University
The first step in Arina’s journey was selecting the right universities and programs. Since she wanted to stay in her field of study, narrowing down her options was relatively straightforward. After receiving positive responses from several universities, she decided to move forward with the University of Pavia, where she was accepted into two programs. Ultimately, she chose the linguistics program as it best aligned with her academic background and future goals.

The Application Process
The application process involved an informal yet crucial interview with university representatives. While Arina was confident in her academic qualifications, she faced one major challenge—she barely knew Italian at the time. The interview was conducted in English, where she was asked about her choice of university and why she wanted to study in Italy. Despite the language barrier, she successfully navigated this stage.
After the interview, Arina learned that she needed to pass an Italian language exam before enrolling in the program. This became her primary motivation to intensively study the language in preparation for the summer exam.

Preparing for the Italian Language Exam
The language exam, CISIA L2, was a critical step in the admission process. It tested proficiency from A1 to C1 levels across four sections: listening, reading, grammar, and comprehension. Arina found that the practice versions of the exam were much easier than the actual test, making the real challenge even more daunting.
The exam was conducted under strict conditions—full-screen mode on a special platform, no switching between tabs, and live Zoom monitoring with a secondary phone camera to ensure no external assistance. Unfortunately, Arina did not pass on her first attempt, which put immense pressure on her final opportunity in September.
Determined to succeed, she dedicated herself to daily exercises, watching Italian films, and actively listening to Italian speech to improve her comprehension skills. Her perseverance paid off—on her second attempt, she successfully passed the exam, securing her place in the program.

Navigating the Bureaucratic Process
Beyond the academic challenges, Arina had to manage the complexities of document preparation, visa applications, and scholarship submissions. This is where the support from Your Italian Life became invaluable. Elizaveta and Taisia guided her through every step—handling university selections, coordinating communication with institutions, and ensuring all necessary documents were correctly submitted.
The Result With the unwavering support of the Your Italian Life team, Arina successfully navigated the intricate process of studying abroad. Her dream of pursuing a master’s in linguistics at the University of Pavia became a reality. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of early preparation for the language exam and acknowledges that without expert guidance, the process would have been significantly more challenging.