Currently, Jacob is in his sixth and final year of the Medicine degree at the University of Târgu Mureș in Romania.

Let’s start with your decision to study in Romania—how did that idea come about?

Coming from Ireland, I chose to apply to Romania for a rather simple reason: I had a higher chance of being admitted there than in my home country. So now I’m in Târgu Mureș, a small city in Romania, where I’m completing my final year of general medicine. After that, I plan to return to Ireland to begin practicing as a general practitioner and, eventually, pursue a specialisation.

What motivated you to embark on your medical studies six years ago?

The main reason I wanted to study medicine was my desire to help people. At its core, being a doctor is a profession centred on helping others in every situation and stage of life. I’ve also always been deeply inspired by the work of Doctors Without Borders, particularly in war zones and developing countries where medical assistance is crucial. I hope to have the opportunity to work with them one day—it’s one of my main professional goals.

Let’s talk about your Erasmus experience here in Trieste.

To be honest, before Erasmus, I had never even heard of Trieste. When I saw where it was on the map, its unique location struck me—wedged between Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. I saw it as a gateway to the Balkans and Northern Europe, and you can really sense that influence when interacting with the locals. There’s a distinct atmosphere here that sets it apart from other Italian cities. One of the things I love most about Trieste is its people—they’ve always been incredibly kind and welcoming. And then there’s the local dialect, which definitely took some getting used to! At first, I struggled, but over time, I managed to grasp the basics. For instance, I learned that instead of saying "Come stai?" (How are you?), people would say "Come xe, mulo?" It was a slow process, but I got there!

Did your expectations about life and studying in Italy match the reality you experienced here?

When I arrived in Trieste, I didn’t expect it to be such a culturally diverse and cosmopolitan city. I was surprised to learn that many people here have mixed backgrounds, often with roots in Balkan countries like Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. Walking around, it was common to hear people speaking German, Slovenian, Russian, and many other languages. This made me feel less like an outsider—there were others like me, experiencing Trieste from an external perspective. It was a really refreshing experience.

Let’s talk about the university system. What was the most surprising aspect of studying in Italy?

In terms of practical experience, I noticed that students here are given more responsibility than in Romania. Every week, there’s an entire day dedicated to shadowing a doctor in the hospital wards, where we get hands-on involvement in tasks like measuring blood pressure, performing physical exams, and taking blood samples. There’s a lot more engagement, and I really appreciated that because you learn so much more in a one-on-one setting than in a crowded environment. In Romania, for example, when we do these activities with doctors, there are usually about a dozen of us, and only one or two actually get to participate directly.

Do you think this experience will have an impact on your professional and academic future? Have you refined your skills or grown personally through this experience?

From an academic and professional perspective, this experience has helped me develop a lot of confidence in a medical and hospital setting. I feel much more capable of discussing cases with doctors, and I’ve undoubtedly improved my practical skills, making me feel more prepared to handle complex situations. On a personal level, I’ve gained self-confidence and improved my ability to socialise in a multicultural environment. Plus, I managed to learn a new language in a year, which has boosted my self-assurance even more. It’s been an experience I would do all over again and one I highly recommend to everyone.