Studying In Italy
Study possibilities in
Italy
To fulfil their requirements
students of OSLS 391-392 (OverSeas Language Study) may enrol at any Italian
State university. Most UNE students choose the University of Siena as their
place of study because it is smaller than the big city universities, it is close
to many places of interest such as Florence and Pisa and is well set up to cater
for foreign students. Siena is also a very charming city to live in. However,
students from UNE have also studied at the University of Milan and at the University
of Turin.
To date no agreement exists
between our university and an Italian university that exempts students from
paying fees in Italy although such an agreement is being sought with Siena at
this time. By Australian standards, however, fees for courses at Italian universities
are not expensive, approximately $400 altogether per academic year.
Choice and approval of
Italian university and individual courses
Students wishing to spend
their intercalary year in Italy should first consult the Convenor of Italian.
They will be advised to find out on the internet which courses (units) are available
at the university at which they intend to study and choose from these three
year-long courses (or three semester-long courses if they are majoring in two
subjects and spending only half their intercalary year in Italy). At least one
of these units should be directly related to the Italian units they have been
studying at UNE; the others should be of a nature compatible with Italian studies.
For example a student also majoring in French may wish to take a French language
or literature course in Italy if it is taught in Italian. These courses must
be approved by the Convenor of Italian who will then arrange for them to be
approved by Faculty.
Accreditation of study
in Italy
OSLS students are not required
to take examinations at the completion of their studies in Italy. However, on
completion they must forward documentary evidence of attendance to the Convener
of Italian at UNE. This should be in the form of a letter written by the coordinators
of the courses in which they have been enrolled, attesting that they have attended
these courses throughout the academic year, for full year courses, or for the
entire semester for semester courses.
Documentation required for enrolment:
- Enrolment is carried out through the Italian Institute of Culture in Sydney. Students must send to the Institute:
- A form provided by the Institute specifying the university of their choice and the individual courses (units) in which they wish to enrol.
- A letter from UNE, signed by the Head of School, stating that they are enrolled at UNE and that they wish to enrol as a non degree student in Italy. This letter specifies the University at which they wish to enrol and the individual courses they wish to take. It also must state that the students concerned are familiar enough with the Italian language to be able to follow lectures at an Italian university.
- An original copy of their Academic Record, translated into Italian and legalised by the Italian Consulate.
- Two passport-sized photographs.
Student visa
Australian students studying
in Italy must obtain a Student Visa before leaving Australia. The visa is issued
by the Italian Consulate in Sydney after the enrolment has been accepted by
the Italian University. Students must collect the visa in person from the Consulate
prior to departure for Italy. In the case of Australian students being in possession
of a passport of a country belonging to the European Union, the visa may be
applied for in Italy on presentation of the confirmation of enrolment at the
Italian university to the local Questura (the relevant branch of the police.)
It is not the responsibility of the University of New England to apply for or
in any way organise the Student Visa.
Accommodation in Italy
Italian universities do
not have residential colleges that are available to foreign students. Intercalary-year
students must therefore arrange their own accommodation in Italy. Flat sharing
or family situation type accommodation can usually be found without difficulty
by consulting notice boards on the university campuses.
General information
Italian staff will be happy
to provide intending students with as much information as they can about the
institutes and places in which they wish to study and about life in Italy in
general. Intercalary-year students often find that reality differs greatly from
the impressions they had before they left to embark on their studies in Italy.
However, although all foreign travel involves some discomforts as well as pleasure,
Australian students usually enjoy their stay in Italy and describe it as a worthwhile
and satisfying academic and cultural experience.
Some technicalities:
1. Enrolment at UNE:
You must enrol in OSLS
391 (one semester on exchange) and OSLS 392 (two semesters on exchange) at UNE
during your study overseas.
In order to be able to
enrol in OSLS 391 and/or OSLS 392 before departure, students need a letter from
the Head of School approving their OSLS enrolment. The Exchange Program Coordinator
will provide this letter to students to attach to their enrolment form.
2. UNE Examinations
If you are currently enrolled
in UNE subjects, and you commence your Overseas Study Unit before the end of
semester.
a) You need to change your
enrolment from internal to external (if appropriate) and notify the Faculty
of Arts of your new address.
b) If your unit has an
examination, you need to inform the UNE Examination Office well before your
departure about your new domicile, by September if the exam is in November and
by April if the exam is in June.
The UNE Examination Office
needs time to organise a supervision at your host university. Failing to do
so may result in not being able to sit your examinations and therefore get a
result of "Failed Incomplete".
N.B. Be aware that you
will have to pay for the supervision at your host university.