Applying to University abroad, how and when?

[Twinkie1]

DD is only 15 but has her heart set on studying in France or Italy.

She wants to do microbiology.

I know it's a long way off but does anyone have any experience if the process.

DD speaks French but will have to do the course in English. She has seen a few places that do this but we have no idea when she will have to start looking into things more seriously.

I know it's a long way off but any advice will be appreciated.

Would it not be worth looking at courses here that have a year of study in France or Italy for the third year? Lots of universities offer the year abroad in the third year but it makes a standard degree four years. These are taught in French or Itakian though, not English.

My DD did part of her compulsory year abroad at an allegedly prestigious Italian university and reported back to me that the lectures were huge, and throughout the students were either talking, snogging or eating. The lecturers were usually having a fag before the lecture and nothing ever started on time, in the lecture theatre advertised or even on the day it was supposed to happen. Totally chaotic she said. The exams bore no relation to the content of the lectures and so many people fail they have about 6 exam sessions a year! This was at the oldest and most historic University in Italy. It taught Oxford University how to teach Law! It is also barely in the top 200 of the best universities in the world but is THE best Italian university. They also had 88,000 students!!! Why would you want to go there? There is one university that teaches in English in Italy but I believe it is a private one. I don't think there was any university accommodation either because most students live at home.

No doubt others will have inside info on French universities but honestly, don't go to Italy. Their universities, like their economy, are struggling!