There are many ways international students can attend degree programs at the University of Bologna. If you are an international student, then here are some helpful tips and facts you should know. But don’t worry, it’s nothing complicated.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE ARRIVING

Step 1

Applicants must make sure that their home University has forwarded their personal details to the University of Bologna. This is an absolutely necessary step to begin the online application procedure.
Please note that the online application is compulsory and must be completed before your arrival in Italy.

Italian immigration rules

It is extremely important to inform students on Italian immigration rules before they leave for Italy. The International Relations Office can provide students with information on requirements and procedures.

Step 2 The learning agreement and the choice of Course Units

The Learning Agreement is a document showing the study plan students intend to carry out abroad. It is a list of course units that students will attend at the host university and of the corresponding course units at their home university. This document must be evaluated and signed by both professors who are in charge of the exchange (exchange coordinators). Usually this happens before students arrival. If not, students have to meet their Italian coordinator and submit their learning agreement.

Check the courses catalogue of the University of Bologna

Most of the course units are taught in Italian, but course units taught in English are also available. The language of instruction is showed in the courses catalogue, for each course unit. The academic calendars, exams and lessons timetables are different in each Faculty. Classes usually start in September/October and end in May. First semester exams take place in January, February and March; second semester exams take place in June and July.
Check your Faculty website, (Studenti > Calendario didattico or Studenti > Orario delle lezioni) to know the exact dates and schedules. Information on semesters of course units are also shown in the Course structure diagram of each degree program.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Step 3 Arrival Registration

As soon as you arrive at the University of Bologna you should go to the International Office of your city-campus (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini) to register. Your grant will start according to the date of the registration. The official arrival or departure date that will appear on your documents can only be the date you show up at the office.
Bring with you two passport size photos and a photocopy of your passport.

You will get documents stating your arrival and a Welcome Kit with all you need to start your university life. If you need stamps on specific documents from your home university, bring them with you.

After registering at the University's International Relations Office, you should contact your Italian coordinator (the professor responsible of your exchange) and Erasmus Offices located in your specific Faculty building to get the information you need about your Faculty.

You can refer to your coordinator and to Erasmus Offices if you need advice for your study plan and the course units. You may also need your coordinator if you want to change your learning agreement.

It is absolutely important that you check the courses you have chosen prior to adding them to your learning agreement. Course units may not be available in the semester you are spending at Bologna University; you may not be admitted to certain course units due to restrictions regarding the number of students; undergraduate students may not be admitted to graduate course units. You can chack at the Faculty's websites for details.

You can choose course units in all Faculties, but always check the specific rules and restrictions applied by each Faculty, in order to make sure that you can actually sit the final exams.

If  the course units you have chosen are not available or do not meet your needs and expectations, you can contact your coordinator and change your learning agreement. The modified learning agreement must be approved by both the Italian and your home university coordinators.

You do not have to register for lectures. Attendance can be either compulsory or elective, but it is always highly recommended. Please let the Professor know that you are attending classes as an exchange student.

Step 4 Recording the Exams

In order to obtain a transcript, all the exams you have passed must be officially recorded. Recording of an exam consists of an official statement that a student has sat an exam and obtained a grade and a number of ECTS on a specific date, which must be issued and signed by the professor. The record is an official document, with a legal value. It can be either electronic (through AlmaEsami) or on paper.

Exams must also be transcribed on your record book (libretto). Be aware that your libretto is not an official record of your exams.

All these steps are necessary to issue your transcript and transmit it to your home university, for the recognition of the ECTS acquired in your exchange period.

If a record is missing, check if you have correctly submitted your online study plan, then contact the professor(s) and ask for the missing record. At the end of your exchange period, when you bring your libretto to the International Relations Office, to register your departure, all the exams must be officially recorded. Please check that your exams have been regularly recorded some time before your departure.

If you carry out activities which are not included in the courses catalogue and you cannot insert them in your online study plan, you need to ask the professor for a specific certification. These activities will not be included in your transcript.

If you sit exams without passing them, but you need to have them reported in your transcript. Ask the professor to both officially record (either electronically or on paper) and write in your libretto "respinto" or "ritirato".

If you do not sit the exam but you need a certification of attendance, you have to ask for it from the professor. This certification will not be included in your transcript. Please note, that in order to gain credits, you have to pass exams; attendance is not enough.

At the end of your stay in Italy, bring your libretto and a copy of all these certifications to the International Relations Office of your city-campus.
If all records are done, your transcript will be issued and transmitted to your home university after a short period of time.

Step 5 Back to your home University

At the end of your exchange period you have to go to the same International Relation Office, where you registered your arrival, to register you departure.

Take your libretto and a copy of it. Check through AlmaEsami that all the exams you have taken have been recorded. If not, please contact your professor(s) and ask for the record(s). Bring a copy of the certifications of all the different activities you have done in your exchange period that are not subjected to recording through AlmaEsami.

The International Relation Office will issue a certificate stating your exchange period spent at University of Bologna. If you need stamps on specific documents from your home university, bring them with you.
Your transcript of record will be sent by mail to your home university.