Italy Studying

It’s hard to dread the first day of school when Rome is your campus and heaping bowls of pasta al dente and creamy gelato alla fragola make up your meal plan. A growing number of students report that studying abroad is the highlight of their university, or post-educational experience. If you’ve never studied abroad, you don’t know what you’re missing—and if you have studied abroad, your former destination certainly could not hold a candle to Italy’s many sunny cities. Either way, opportunities to immerse yourself in la dolce vita italiana —while hitting the books every once and awhile—can be found in every corner of the beautiful, bold, and boisterous boot.

Study-abroad programs range from basic language and culture courses to university-level classes, often for college credit. In order to choose a program that best fits your needs, research as much as you can before making your decision—determine costs and duration, as well as what kind of students participate in the program and what sorts of accommodations are provided.

In programs that have large groups of students who speak the same language, there is a trade-off. You may feel more comfortable in the community, but you will not have the same opportunity to practice a foreign language or to befriend other international students. For accommodations, dorm life provides a better opportunity to mingle with fellow students, but there is less of a chance to experience the local scene. If you live with a family, you could potentially build lifelong friendships with natives and experience day-to-day life in more depth, but you might also get stuck sharing a room with their pet iguana. Conditions can vary greatly from family to family.

Visa Information. Italian bureaucracy often gives international visitors the run-around, but there are ways to minimize paperwork confusion. Just remember that all non-EU citizens are required to obtain a visa for any stay longer than three months. For info and applications, contact the Italian embassy or consulate in your country. Before applying for a student visa, however, be sure to obtain the following documentation: valid passport, visa application form (available from most embassy websites), four passport-size photographs, proof of residency, and complete documentation on the course or program in which you are participating. If you are under the age of 18, you will also need an affidavit of financial support from parents, and your parents’ most recent bank statement. All non-EU citizens are also required to register with the Ufficio degli Stranieri (Foreigners’ Bureau) at the questura (local police headquarters) to receive a permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay) within eight days of arrival. The kit required to complete the permesso di soggiorno can be obtained and submitted at most major ufficio postali (post offices). The same documentation is necessary for the permesso di soggiorno as for the visa; additionally, applicants must have the required permesso di soggiorno form and a Marco da Bollo, which costs €15 and is available at most Italian tabaccherie. EU citizens must apply for a permesso di soggiorno within three months, but they do not need a visa to study in Italy. Once you find a place to live, bring your permesso di soggiorno (it must have at least one year’s validity) to a records office. This certificate will both confirm your registered address and expedite travel into and out of Italy.

Universities

Most university-level study-abroad programs are conducted in Italian, but many programs offer classes in English as well as lower-level language courses. Savvy linguists may find it cheaper to enroll ...more

Italian Schools: Special Interest

Aegean Center for the Fine Arts, Paros 84400, Cyclades, Greece (☎ +30 22 84 02 32 87; www.aegeancenter.org). Italian branch located in Pistoia. Instruction in arts, literature, creative writing, voice ...more