Study in Italy
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Study in Italy a guide for International Students Study in Italy! Situated in Mediterranean Europe, Italy is a country of great beauty and culture. Italy’s splendor lies largely in the deeply- rooted history which has formed its traditions and way of life, from the classical music to the flavorful food; the bus- tling cities to the quaint, walled-in villages. Education in Italy is highly esteemed with a wide range of excellent academic institutions throughout Italy welcoming students to study almost any subject imaginable. Italy has played an important academic role as one of the catalysts in reforming Europe’s higher education through the Bologna Process. Students in Italy gain valuable knowledge not only within the classroom, but also through everyday life in this dynamic, incredible place. In This Study Guide 1. About Italy/p.1 1.1 About Italy/p.1 1.2 Italy in Short Facts & Figures/p.2 1.3 In this Study in Italy guide/p.2 2. Education in Italy/p.3 2.1 Education System in Italy/p.3 2.2 The Erasmus Mundus Program in italy/p.4 2.3 Education Specifics in Italy/p.5 3. Practicalities when you Study in Italy/p.6 3.1 Study/ Work Visa for Italy/p.6 3.2 Costs of Study in Italy/p.7 3.3 Student Accommodation in Italy/p.8 3.4 The Italian Language/p.8 4. City/State Guides in Italy/p.9 4.1 City Guide: Rome/p.9 4.2 City Guide: Bologna/p.11 4.3 City Guide: Milan/p.13 5. About Educations.com/p.16 1. About Italy 1.1 About Italy 1.1 About Italy 1.2 Italy in Short Facts & Figures The Alps mountain chain forms Italy’s northern border with 1.3 In this Study in France, Switzerland, and Austria, while the rest of Italy Italy guide makes up the infamous boot-shaped peninsula of the Apen- nine Mountains jutting into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy’s deep-rooted history began some 200,000 years ago in the Paleolithic period, but is best known for the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations that reigned over Italy for over a millennium. Evidence of these powerful empires can be seen throughout Italy, and is ingrained in the lives of Ital- ians today. As one of the 8 most industrialized countries in the world, Italy plays an important role on an international level, and influences both continental and global economies. Art in Italy is prevalent in all aspects of society – the architecture, the fashion, the music, even the food. The climate of Italy is temperate, with warm, sunny summers and mild winters. Visitors and residents of Italy alike enjoy majestic moun- tains, idyllic islands, placid lakes, splendid cities, and much more – the ideal destination for an education like no other. p. 1 / 1.2 Italy in Short Facts & Figures Capital: Rome Government: Unitary Parliamentary Republic Area: 301,338 km² Population: 60.6 million Currency: Euro Calling Code: +39 1.3 In this Study in Italy Guide Studying abroad in Italy is an exciting experience of meeting new people, seeing new places, and being surrounded by the Italian language. From the winding canals of Venice to the ancient splendors of Rome, stu- dents can experience a wide variety of novelties in Italy unlike anywhere else in the world. Before embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, there are a few things students should know when they decide to study in Italy. This in-depth Study in Italy guide includes infor- mation on all the in’s and out’s of an education in Italy, from the education system to the academic calendar as well as practicalities like costs and visas. Read on to learn more about education programs in Italy and pre- pare for an amazing study abroad experience! / p. 2 2. Education in Italy 2.1 Education System in Italy 2.1 Education System in Italy 2.2 The Erasmus Mundus In the 1990s, Italy’s education system underwent reform Program in Italy based on the Bologna Process which aims to create a 2.3 Education Specifics compatible system of education throughout Europe. In in Italy accordance with the Bologna Process, Italy has imple- mented a 3-cycle system consisting of the following: • First Cycle: Bachelors degrees (3 years) and Single- cycle degrees (5-6 years) • Second Cycle: Masters degrees (2 years) and 1st Level vocational masters • Third Cycle: Doctorate, Specialization school, and 2nd Level vocational masters Italy’s higher education is structured in a binary system consisting of two main articulations: the university sec- tor and the non-university sector. At present, the university sector in Italy is made up of 89 university institutions classified within the following categories: • 58 state universities – public entities endowed with scientific, teaching, managerial, financial and book- p. 3 / keeping autonomy • 17 non-state universities – legally recognized by the state • 2 universities for foreigners – specialized in teaching/ research for development of Italian language, literature, culture • 6 higher education schools – specialized in postgraduate university studies • 6 telematic universities The non-university sector of higher education in Italy includes 4 education typologies and their education institutions: • higher schools of design: polytechnics for the arts, acad- emies of fine arts, national academies, higher institutes or applied arts, higher institutes for musical & choreographic studies • higher integrated education (FIS): programs of higher technical education & training (IFTS) • higher education in language mediation: education institu- tions for language mediators • specific fields (e.g. archiving, military studies, restoration) 2.2 The Erasmus Mundus Program in Italy The European Union’s Erasmus Mundus Program aims to improve the quality of European higher education through academic co-operation and scholarships, allowing both EU and non-EU students to attend high-quality education courses in Europe. The Erasmus Mundus Program promotes the European Union as a center of excellence in learning around the world, through which application processes are simplified and foreign students have the support of their home education institutions. So far, 2.2 million students have participated in the Erasmus Mundus Program since its start in 1987, attending 4,000 higher education institutions in 33 countries. / p. 4 Exchange students from outside Europe are able to attend educational institutions in Italy through the Erasmus Mundus Program and are generally handled as European exchange students. In all participating uni- versities in Italy, a European Officer is dedicated to the management of education programs offered through the Erasmus Mundus Program. 2.3 Education Specifics in Italy Most teaching in Italy’s higher education takes place in large lecture halls, depending, of course, on the specific education course. Students in Italy are expected to complete a consider- able amount of self-study outside the classroom in order to prepare for examinations. Higher education examinations in Italy are held after the teaching period and are mainly oral, although some education courses in Italy also require written tests. Each examination is offered on several dates from which students can choose. Stu- dents in Italy are also entitled to turn down a mark and re-take the examination if they are not satisfied with their first result. The academic year in Italy is made up of two semesters. The first semester starts in September/October and ends in Janu- ary/February. The second semester starts in February and ends in July. The actual start and finish dates vary in every university, but each academic semester lasts for roughly 20 weeks, made up of a 14-week teaching period and a 6-week examination period. p. 5 / 3. Practicalities when you Study in Italy 3.1 Study/ Work Visa for Italy 3.1 Study/ Work Visa for Italy 3.2 Costs of Study in European Union (EU) students may enter Italy with a pass- Italy 3.3 Student Accommo- port or an ID card and are entitled to study or work in Italy dation in Italy without a visa for as long as they wish. They must, however, 3.4 The Italian Lan- register with the Questura (police station) to obtain resi- guage dence and therefore should ensure they have all the docu- ments requested for this procedure before leaving their home country and entering Italy. Non-EU students are required to attain a study visa prior to entering Italy. Visa applications should be sent to students’ nearest Italian Embassy or Consulate. Always start these procedures well in advance of the intended date of entry. Visa procedures are subject to change, so it is worthwhile to contact the Italian Embassy for information to confirm cur- rent visa requirements. Non-EU students may work if they obtain a work permit, which is quite difficult, so it is not recommended to rely on getting a job upon arrival to Italy. In addition to having a valid ID or passport (with visa if re- quired) upon entering Italy, students should also carry the following documents with them: • Letter of acceptance from the university; • Proof of adequate financial means of support, including the amount necessary to travel back to their home coun- try or have already purchased a valid return-ticket; and • Health documents. / p. 6 3.2 Costs of Study in Italy Institutions of higher education in Italy establish their own tuition fees, but in the case of university education, there is a legal minimum cost for enrollment and a maximum cost for student contributions, which cannot exceed 20% of state funding. Average tuition fees for a higher education in Italy are between 850 euro and 1,000 euro per year, depending on the university and education course of study.