Contacts & FAQs
CONTACTS
Who can I contact to find out more about the Foundation Year? For further information, please write to: foundationyear@unipr.it
Who can I contact to find out more about the Music Programme? As regards enrolment on the courses on offer at Conservatorio, you may also contact tutor@conservatorio.pr.it .
FOUNDATION YEAR (ANNO ACCADEMICO 2022/2023)
What is the Foundation Year?
It is an eleven-month, full immersion preparatory programme offered by the University of Parma to guarantee prospective international students the opportunity to approach the Italian academic world, improve their communicative and cultural competence and fill educational or linguistic gaps, in view of their enrolment on degree courses at the University of Parma or application to other Italian universities. The Foundation Year prepares students as to allow them to meet the minimum requirements requested by the Italian higher education system. It is offered by the University of Parma in collaboration with Conservatorio A. Boito in Parma. Who is the Foundation Year designed for?
The Foundation Year is also aimed at developing other educational and cultural competences needed to better integrate in an academic context in Italy, regardless of the number of years of schooling students have. What are the main objectives of the Foundation Year?
Thanks to this programme, international students will have the opportunity to improve their language competence in Italian, their intercultural communicative skills and cultural knowledge of Italy and the Italian way of life. They will also be introduced to the Italian academic world in order to acquire essential skills as regards methodological issues and successful interaction with university life. By the end of the course, students who have reached a B2 level in Italian will be able to sit for a language exam to obtain an international certificate in Italian. Such a certificate will allow them to enroll on a degree course at any Italian university. As an alternative, students who wish to enroll on a degree course at the University of Parma will be allowed to acquire a language certificate called Italstudio Università issued by the University of Parma which suits the purpose. What are the admission requirements?
At least 11 years of schooling from primary education to graduation from high school. Secondary school leaving qualification with a full transcript of records, accompanied by a translation in Italian language officially legalized by the competent Italian Consulate in the country of residence, together with a corresponding Declaration of Value issued by the Italian authorities in the country, the educational system of the student’s school refers to. Which is the language competence level required from a student willing to enroll on the Foundation Year?
Which language competence will a student reach at the end of the Foundation Year?
Will a student be able to enroll on an Italian university after finishing the Foundation Year?
Students who do not have 12 years of schooling must obtain 60 credits as awarded by the Foundation Year’s General Study Programme to fulfill that requirement and hold a language certificate. At the University of Parma students have two possibilities:
Moreover, students enrolled on the music curriculum will be able to acquire credits and develop competences in different music areas. What will a student who completes the Foundation Year be able to study?
With a certified B2 level of Italian a student can apply to any Italian university. At the University of Parma, the areas to select from are:
Some of the degree courses accept a limited number of students, others have no limitations.
The tutoring service of Conservatorio will previously assess students’ competences in order to better guide them. Students who wish to continue studying in the music area will be able to do so in the Italian music academy system, provided they pass the admission test.
How is the Foundation Year organised?
Students can choose between two study programmes:
General programme: 310 hours of classroom lessons, 150 hours of blended lessons e 1040 hours of self-study and tutoring, 1500 hours total (38 credits). Music programme: 240 hours of classroom lessons, 100 hours of blended lessons e 610 hours of self-study and tutoring, 950 hours total (60 credits). The course is divided into two semesters (September-January; February-July) with the possibility to start in mid- September 2021 (“Early bird” course), at the beginning of October 2021 (“Regular” course), or later for “Dante” and “Music study” programme.
Are there exams at the end of the courses?
Will I receive a final diploma?
At the end of the Foundation Year students who have concluded the General Study Programme will obtain a certificate of attendance which qualifies them to enroll at an Italian university even with less than 12 years of schooling. Some university programmes in Italy require prospective students to take an admission test. Students who have concluded the Music Study Programme in collaboration with Conservatorio may also obtain a certificate of attendance which qualifies them to enroll at an Italian university or at a music academy with less than 12 years of schooling. In the latter case, students will also have to take an admission test Students with 12 or more years of schooling can access higher education in Italy provided they have the language level certified as required (B2).
How much does the Foundation Year cost?
There is a fee of € 4.000 for students enrolling on the General Study Programme. A 20% discount is given to students enrolling at the Music Study Programme, for a total of € 3.200. The Music courses offered by the Conservatorio A. Boito have a separate fee (€ 1.000). Students enrolled on the PIFY Programme offered by the Dante Alighieri Society and the University of Parma are entitled to a 20% fee reduction. Tuition fees for the General Programme is €3.200, while tuition fees for the Music Programme is €2.560.
What is the registration procedure and deadline?
* It is not mandatory to produce the Declaration of Value at this stage; applicants can produce it after having applied on the Universitaly portal. Nonetheless, this document is necessary in order to complete the enrolment process.
The remaining 20% of total tuition fees is due by:
What does the tuition fee include?
The fee includes teaching activities as described in the tables above, an insurance policy covering injuries and accidents occurred while studying on the premises of the University of Parma, handouts and teaching materials and tutoring, access to facilities and services of the University of Parma. The fee does not include housing, meals, health insurance policy, books, dictionaries and other published materials, personal expenses, the Plida certificate fees.
Which are the dates to keep in mind?
The Foundation Year starts in September 2022 and ends in July 2023. Previous to that:
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