Italian language courses for international learners

Please consult this page to find out who can attend our courses, which courses we offer, what the dates are for enrolment as well as to find out if the courses are free and whether they are worth study credits.

You can attend if your native language is not Italian, if you study or work at the University of Bologna, or thanks to specific institutional agreements.

Italian language courses are open to everyone who studies or works at the University of Bologna:

Students on international exchanges at the University of Bologna and on programmes such as Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus, Overseas and so on.
International students at the University of Bologna who attend first and second-cycle degree programmes, single cycle degrees, PhDs, specialisation school courses, Professional Master’s, and Post-graduate vocational training programmes as well as individual course units.
Personnel involved in teaching, research or administration at the University of Bologna.
People who can participate thanks to institutional arrangements (conventions with specific bodies, refugee programmes etc)

It’s possible to attend more than one course at the same time and in the same semester: one in Italian language for international learners and/or in Academic Italian and/or in Specialised Communication – if running.

The Language Centre offers intensive courses and semester courses in Italian (levels A2, B1 and B2).

In Bologna the Language Centre offers intensive courses in the first as well as in the second semester (two weeks in September and in January). These courses are onsite for levels A2, B1 and B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference. They last 50 hours and take place over 10 days (40 hours in the classroom and 10 hours of guided self-study).
In Bologna and Romagna the Language Centre offers semester courses twice a year (October-December and February-May). These courses are either onsite or online for learners at A2, B1 or B2- level, and they are further divided into sub-levels at the Language Centre in Bologna, while in Romagna there are courses for the macrolevels A2 and B1. The courses last 50 hours and take place over approximately 13 weeks (40 hours in the classroom and 10 hours of guided self-study, or 50 hours in the classroom).

Among the semester courses there are also courses in Specialised Communication (level B1) and Academic Italian courses (levels B2-C2).
It’s possible to attend two courses at the same time and in the same semester: one in Italian language and one in either Academic Italian or Specialised Communication.

First of all, you need to decide if you want to attend an intensive course in Bologna or a semester course in either Bologna or Romagna in the first or second semester.

To enrol in an Italian course you need to:

Have your UNIBO credentials (name.surname@studio.unibo.it or name.surname@unibo.it)
Apply online: a) complete the initial questionnaire b) take the written entrance test c) book an oral test
Take the oral test
Sign up online and - if applicable - pay the course enrolment fee. The level of the course depends on your results in the two entry tests (written and oral).

It’s important to apply as soon as the procedure starts because places on courses are limited.

NB: For information on courses on the Ravenna campus you can contact the Ravenna Student Office.

Calendar of deadlines

Intensive courses in January 2025 in Bologna
Semester courses from February-May 2025 in Bologna
Semester courses from February-May 2025 in Romagna

Italian courses can be either free of charge or with enrolment fees

Typically, the first semester is free of charge while for subsequent semesters there will be an enrolment fee. Enrolment fees vary depending on what kind of participant you are.

For the first course there is no enrolment fee (€ 0,00):

for students on international exchanges at the University of Bologna (study programmes such as Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus, Overseas, etc.)
for students who are not native Italian speakers at the University of Bologna on first and second-cycle degree programmes, single cycle degrees, PhDs, specialisation school courses, and Post-graduate vocational training programmes as well as individual course units.

Courses with an enrolment fee of € 210,00:

from the first course for students on Professional Master’s Programmes or Post-graduate vocational training programmes at the University of Bologna
from the first course for participants from affiliated institutions (Conservatory etc)
from the first course for people who work at the University of Bologna (teaching staff, research fellows, tutors, IT specialists, administrative staff and visiting fellows etc)
from the second course for students on international exchanges at the University of Bologna on study programmes like Erasmus+, Erasmus Mundus, Overseas etc.
from the second course for students at the University of Bologna on first and second-cycle degree programmes, single cycle degrees, PhDs, specialisation school courses, and individual course units.

Courses with an enrolment fee of € 150,00:

from the third course (if taken in the same academic year) for everyone who works and studies at the University of Bologna either permanently or temporarily with no exceptions.
from the second course for students who are fully exempt from University fees due to ISEE
from the second course (if taken in the same academic year) for students on Professional Master’s or Post-graduate vocational training programmes at the University of Bologna
from the second course for participants from affiliated institutions (Conservatory etc.)
from the second course (if taken in the same academic year) for people who work at the University of Bologna (teaching staff, research fellows, tutors, IT specialists, visiting fellows etc).

You can only ask for the enrolment fee to be refunded for matters connected to the Language Centre administration (for example, the cancellation of a course).

NB: If you can no longer attend a course, you must write to your teacher immediately. Failure to do so will result in your next course being considered your second course.

If you complete a course, you will receive a certificate. Students on exchange programmes are eligible for 5 ECTS Credits. Typically, anyone who studies or works at UNIBO cannot receive CFU credits.

Anyone on international exchange programmes can receive the 5 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. The final course evaluation is "idonea/o" (pass) o "non idonea/o" (fail): there are no grades.

In order to receive the 5 ECTS credits you must have the minimum attendance (70% of the lessons) as well as pass the final test(s). You can receive another 5 ECTS credits for a second or third course if the course is at a higher level (for example, 5 ECTS credits for an A2 course and 5 ECTS credits for a B1 course) or for a different type of course (Academic Italian or Specialised Communication)

Typically, people enrolled at the University of Bologna cannot receive CFU (Crediti Formativi Universitari) credits. To check if CFU are recognised, you should contact the Student Office for your degree course and ask if it’s possible to recognise free credits for the course.

In Bologna the Student Office directly uploads the Italian course and its related code onto your Study Plan.
In order to obtain the ECTS credits in Romagna (Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini) you must insert the code for the course you attended on StudentiOnline:

Italiano A2 - Codice corso: 38655
Italiano B1 - Codice corso: 38656

After the final exam in both Bologna and Romagna the Student Office will record your 'idoneità’ directly on your Study Plan.

At the end of the course you can download a certificate from StudentiOnline.

Italian language courses for international learners

Learners

Intensive courses and semester courses

How and when to enrol

Free courses and courses with enrolment fees

Credits and Certification

Courses currently running

Links and attachments

Contacts