University preparation in Italy for foreign students

For students who are going to study at a foreign university, the question of preparation is becoming more relevant than ever: how will the studying take place, what to expect from the entrance exams, whether the knowledge gained at the native school corresponds to European models will help the student to maintain self-control and adapt more successfully to the foreign learning environment.

Italy is the home of the oldest universities in the world, where history was made, amazing discoveries took place, outstanding people studied. 25% of the masterpieces of art are located in different parts of our planet, and the remaining 75% have settled in Italy. Powerful research centers, coupled with legendary fashion and art schools, attract students from all over the world.

In addition to the unique historical heritage (modern residents of the state are heirs of the Roman civilization), the republic is a leader in scientific fields. Famous Italians: Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, Enrico Fermi (the physicist who created the world's first nuclear reactor), Leonardo da Vinci, Alessandro Volta, Galileo Galilei – and this is just the beginning of the list. Thinkers, inventors have given the world a lot, from sunglasses and coffee machines to cars. The very word "university" originated in Italian, and the University of Bologna is the oldest in the world. The country is famous for its fashion houses and cuisine.

The pre-university preparation in Italy plays an important role, as the higher education institutions may set different requirements for foreign students, the admission procedure may also vary. Below the information for the international students is provided:

University preparation in Italy begins at the stage of selecting a university and an educational program. Leading universities in Italy offer a wide range of bachelor's degree programs for foreign students in Italian and in English. The country is known for outstanding thinkers, scientists, and artists, so many programs in different fields are considered "strong" in Italy:

• Humanities
• Natural Sciences
• Art History
• Urban planning
• Architecture
• Business and Law
• Engineering Science
• Social Sciences
• Jurisprudence.

The majority of universities in Italy offer numerous bachelor's courses lasting three years. Master programs last for 1-2 years. Below the list of the most popular university programs is provided:

• Fashion design
• Design and tailoring of fashionable clothes, communications
• Brand development
• Medicine and Surgery
• Visual merchandising
• Digital management
• Graphic design
• Photo
• International tourism
• Business Sciences
• Product design
• Urban planning
• Interior design
• Philosophy
• Development of transport schemes
• International diplomacy
• Genomics
• Engineering sciences
• Marketing and communication in the fashion world
• Archaeology
• Writing, literature and publications.

Having selected the program you are interested in, decide on the most suitable university. The key points when choosing a university will be: the price of tuition, admission conditions, how student life goes on campus, whether there are scholarship programs. After you have collected the information on the Internet, contact the representative of the admissions committee and apply for admission. The university should clarify whether the student meets the basic requirements: if so, then it is necessary to submit an application and a package of documents to the Italian Embassy.

International Foundation is a program that is widely spread all over the world, it can be found in prestigious universities in Italy. Studying on the course involves the study of priority disciplines, improving language skills. Preparatory programs will help a foreign student to adapt to new learning conditions and make friends. Certificates of such courses are highly valued: in some cases, after graduation, students are 100% guaranteed enrolment in the 1st year.

The following state Italian higher institutions offer the effective university preparation courses in Italy:

• The University of Turin (UNITO), one of the top ten universities in Italy, offers a one-year Foundation program in English and Italian. The cost of studying will be about 30 thousand euro per year.
• In Accademia Costume & Moda the foreign students can not only improve the language of the Foundation course, but also gain knowledge in the field of design, fashion and costume, which will help with further studies at the bachelor's degree. The cost of studying at the academy is from 5,000 euro per year.
• Istituto Marangoni Milano is a top educational institution with strong programs in the field of design and fashion. The university also has a Foundation program, studying takes place comprehensively in two languages – Italian and English. The tuition fee is from 13,500 euro per year.

In order to study at the faculties of Medicine, architecture and Engineering, the foreign students will have to pass specific entrance exams. Language requirements are an equally important aspect. At universities, the students can study in English or Italian, a large number of programs in English are available in the master's program. To confirm knowledge, it is necessary to pass language tests:

The foreign students must provide the following package of documents:

• Copy of passport
• Photo
• Academic transcript
• Application form
• Detailed description of the completed studying program
• Resume, motivation letter
• Recommendation letters
• International language certificate
• Portfolio (for students of the faculties of Architecture, Urban Planning and Design)
• Official results of SAT or ACT.

Universities set deadlines, in each individual case it is necessary to clarify the deadlines for submitting documents. The final cost of studying depends on factors such as the prestige of the university, its location, the specifics of the program and the language of instruction. The foreign students must not forget about the associated costs:

• Accommodation
• Power supply
• Educational materials
• Pocket money
• Transport.