QS Top Grad School: Schools2

-	55	Arts & Humanities	134	Natural Sciences
136	Engineering & IT	90	Social Sciences
World Rankings	137	Life Sciences & Biomedicine

-	47	Arts & Humanities	134	Natural Sciences
156	Engineering & IT	94	Social Sciences
World Rankings	113	Life Sciences & Biomedicine

In conformity to the 1999 reform, Italian undergraduate university studies are organised on a First Cycle: 1st Level Degree Courses / One-Long cycle 2nd Degree Courses.
Undergraduate studies consist in Corsi di Laurea-CL (1st degree courses) aimed at guaranteeing undergraduate students an adequate command of general scientific methods and contents as well as specific professional skills. First degree courses usually last 3 years. The Laurea-L (1st degree) is awarded to undergraduates who have earned 180 credits.
Undergraduate students can also apply for Corsi di Laurea Specialistica a ciclo unico - CLSu (One-long Cycle 2nd Degree Courses): Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Architecture, Building and Architectural Engineering. For these courses it is necessary to obtain 300 credits - 360 in the case of Medicine. These degrees controlled by the European Union regulations are single cycle degrees, in other words there is not a first level, but the teaching activities are spread directly over 5 or 6 years.
Apart from the aforementioned degree courses offered at the University of Bologna within the framework of the Bologna Process, undergraduate students can apply for Summer and Winter Schools which are international courses which last between one and four weeks. They are usually structured as intensive courses on many different subjects designed to match new educational and professional needs. The courses are addressed to undergraduates and young graduates from all over the world and, in some cases, to highly skilled professionals. This educational activity is conceived as an academic meeting point for scholars from all over the world. Here students can enrich their knowledge by attending courses held by lecturers of international repute and, at the same time, share a unique cultural experience simply by mixing with peers from all over the world. In some courses university credits can be earned and grants are available.

During the past academic year (2007/08) the University of Bologna undertook a relevant new planning of all the courses offered, according to the Ministerial Decree 270/04 which will become effective in the next academic year (2008/09).

The main changes made by DM 270/04:

- New names for educational qualifications:

 Laurea (L) ( 1st level Degree)
 Laurea Magistrale (LM) (2nd level Degree)
 Diploma di Specializzazione (DS) (Specialization Diploma)
 Dottorato di Ricerca (DR) (Research Doctorate)

- Separation between Laurea and Laurea Magistrale, by introducing changes in the conditions set to get ammission to the courses;

- Other educational qualifications.

The new Law aims at:

 raising the rate of graduates per year;
 decreasing the number of students which leave university without getting a degree;
 decreasing the time required for getting educational qualification;
 fostering the mobility among students all over the world;
 fostering the internationalization of the University;
 improving the quality, coherence and harmonization of all European University courses to create a European Education Space.

Main claims to international academic or non-academic excellence

The University of Bologna was probably the first University in the western world, since it began to take shape at the end of the eleventh century.
In June 1999 the ministries of higher education from 29 European countries met in Bologna to underwrite an important agreement, known as the Declaration of Bologna, which has put in motion a series of reforms needed to make European Higher Education more compatible and comparable, more competitive and more attractive for European students and the ones from other continents. That meeting initiated an important and presently irreversible process to harmonize the various European systems of higher education, called the Bologna Process. Nowadays the University of Bologna is the most popular sending and receiving institution for Erasmus students in Italy, and the second in Europe.

Main structures of Bologna University:
� a Multicampus structure (campuses of Cesena, Forl�, Ravenna and Rimini) in order to permit the diffusion of educational offering and the activation of a stable research activity
� academic structures: 23 Faculties, 69 Departments, 22 interdepartmental research centres, 3 Complex Units and 1 Institute which constitute, as a whole, the cultural teaching, researching and administrative axis of the University of Bologna
� 6 Advanced Schools which combine high-level scientific research with qualified and specialised teaching training
� Collegio Superiore which is an institution of excellence created with the aim to select particularly motivated youths and to promote educational advanced interdisciplinary training programmes
� Buenos Aires Campus, which is the first campus abroad of the oldest university in the world. It was established with the objective of training a managerial class capable of recognising, foreseeing, interpreting and taking the right decisions in companies, organisations and institutions that operate at an international level and, in particular, in the sector concerning relations between the European Union and Latin America
� University Residential Centre in Bertinoro (half way between the campuses of Forl� and Cesena), founded in 1994 to host a number of summer courses which welcomes more than 20,000 people every year. The Centre can be used to organise residential training courses, seminars, work meetings and conventions, study and research initiatives
� University Residential Centre in Bologna which gives hospitality to students and didactical activities of Collegio Superiore and to Senior and Research Fellows of Institute of Advanced Study
� 2 language centres, one in Bologna (CILTA) and one in Romagna (CLIRO) which offer different ways to improve and develop students� knowledge of foreign languages
� 130 Libraries, 16 Museums, various associations for cultural and sport activities
� 20 service structures at the disposal of students, teaching personnel, and the general public

Some of the on-line services for students:

Agreements and Apprenticeships
The aim of this service is to promote a relationship between the university, students, graduates and companies interested in creating apprenticeships/work placements. The service is managed by the Agreements Office.

Alma digital library
Alma-DL, Alma Digital Library, is the University's digital library and is managed and organised by CIB (Centro Inter-bibliotecario, Interlibrary Centre). CIB is responsible for collecting, preserving and disseminating online versions of digital collections which are useful research and teaching tools.

AlmaLaurea
AlmaLaurea is an innovative service that provides on-line curricula of recently graduated students; it is a meeting point between the University and the business world.

AlmaWelcome!
A simple and fast way to register as a student of the University! But that�s not all! This service is a virtual registry office and through it you can keep track of your payments.

Document and Library Services
Thanks to the services run by the CIB - Inter-Library Centre it is possible to carry out research on national catalogues and those of the University of Bologna. It is also possible to consult the electronic resources of the University and to take advantage of advanced support services.

Exchange Students
The foreign exchange students who have come to the University of Bologna to carry out a period of study within one of the many exchange programmes will find information of great use in these pages.

Medical Assistance for Foreign Students
All useful information needed by foreign students to benefit from free medical assistance.

Staff-student mailing lists
A community service for direct and effective communication between lecturers and students.

Teaching materials: searches
AMS Campus: the online service which allows students to gain access to teaching materials of University professors. It is also possible to subscribe to RSS feed in order to receive notification on the materials which have been uploaded more recently.

The world of Universities
A useful online tool for an easy search of universities, both Italian and otherwise.

Virtual Tour of Bologna
Want to visit Bologna sitting comfortably in your chair? This is possible thanks to the virtual tour which gives you a 360� panoramic of the city.

UniboMaps
This service relies on the tools made available through Google Maps and helps you locate the main offices and structures of the University of Bologna and of Bologna Municipality.

WIFI Wireless Connection
It is possible to have a wireless connection within the University facilities, or in Bologna city centre, thanks to ALMAWIFI and Iperbole Wireless services.

Range of Fees

Max 2.768,00 € - Min 1.877,00 €. The maximum value of the master is 11.900,00 €

Basic TOEFL/IELTS requirements

The University of Bologna does not set this kind of requirement.

Accommodation

SAIS - Student Accommodation and Information Service helps all international exchange students (Erasmus and other institutional exchanges) in finding accommodation in Bologna and gives them practical information concerning their stay in Bologna (i.e. registration, residence permit, how to open a bank account, etc.). The website (http://www.sais.ceur.it/) thoroughly describes the accommodation services offered by SAIS (both in private market and student residences) as well as how to easily search an accommodation.

Accommodation Range

€ 250,00 bed in shared room
€ 300,00 single room

Finance and Scholarships

The Ordinary Financing Fund (FFO) represents the largest share of the Institution�s balance and it is wholly transferred from the State; it is supposed to guarantee the working and the fulfilment of the institutional activities, including covering the expenditure for all of the staff, both full members and contract, for the everyday maintenance of the buildings and for scientific research.
The amount of money allocated every year can undergo some changes in relation to the overall financial availability of the State. In the last few years in the University sector a evaluation model has been adopted to measure performances, albeit on a small scale, which correlated the indicators with the training demand, on the with the results of the training processes and the activity of scientific research. The University of Bologna has always been rewarded by that formula in that it has obtained as an average of the above-said indicators the second place in the national rankings.
The University and the Emilia Romagna Local Government (by means of the public utilty for the right to education �ER-GO�) provide financial support to the able and deserving students who find themselves in underprivileged economic conditions.
ER-GO gives to these students tenders for grants (4,295 for the academic year 2007-08), accommodation (for free or at special prices) in the student halls avaliable in the University�s campuses, total exemption from fee payment and the payment of any surcharges.
The University gives its own students tenders for additional bursaries (especially for international students who come from developing countries), reductions in the rates of fees and other university surcharges (there are 9 bands of reduced contribution), and the chance to do a part time work, for a total of 150 hours, in the university�s libraries, laboratories, offices etc. The part time work is paid for a rate of 6.80 � per hour (for the academic year 2007/2008 2.505 collaboration posts were available). In addition there are benefits for disabled students.
The University�s students can also get a bank loan, guaranteed by the University, reimbursable within a maximum of 17 years starting from the date of graduation. Access to the loan is subject to an assessment of the student�s academic progress.
Students applying for ER-GO or University funding will be subject to the merit criterion based on the number of credits acquired or recognised. The period of reference for such benefits will be solely based on the duration of the new degree course.

Entry Requirements

To register for a first-level degree course you need to have a high school diploma (five-year). For each degree course plan there are qualifications requirements that the student must possess in order to be able to register, or to successfully pursue a course of study. There is the chance that the knowledge requirement may be tested prior to registration. However, test failure does not mean that the student cannot register, but means that the student must follow, in the first year, supplementary courses organised by the University to bridge the student�s basic knowledge shortfall. The obligation to follow additional courses does not affect the number of credits that the student needs to obtain: a student who has to follow additional courses does not start "below zero" nor does he or she receive extra credits once the obligation has been fulfilled. The obligation to follow additional courses exclusively concerns the basic knowledge required to be admitted to a course.

Language Support

The University of Bologna provides language services via two different centres: CILTA, for the faculties and departments in Bologna, and CLIRO for the four centres in Romagna: Forl�, Cesena, Rimini and Ravenna. Together, they serve about 30.000 students every year.
These two Language Centres are members of AICLU, Associazione Italiana dei Centri Linguistici Universitari, which is in its turn a member of Cercles, Conf�d�ration europ�enne des Centres de Langue de L�Enseignement sup�rieur.
The Language Centres run courses in European and non-European languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, and Russian) for students and staff of the University of Bologna, and courses in Italian as a Foreign Language, for international students involved in exchange programs or enrolled at the University of Bologna.
They also provide a computerised language testing service as required by the current University regulations. To help students prepare for these tests, the centres offer a number of free short modules, which complement class-based lessons with on-line self study.
CILTA and CLIRO are the official examination centres for various language certifications such as CELI, DELE, TOEFL, and TORFL.
Constant reflection and experimentation by the teaching staff with innovative linguistic tools and appropriate methodologies form the basis for their long tradition of producing interactive tests, exercises, and on-line courses for different languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Japanese.

Non-English Language Requirements

General requirements - Competence in Italian: before matriculation, non U.E. candidates have to prove their mastery of Italian. They are normally requested to sit for an exam, but may also meet the language requirement by submitting documentary evidence of being already competent in Italian.

Exemptions from the Italian exam by national decision:
Matriculations in Corsi di Laurea-CL (180 ECTS credits) and in Corsi di Laurea Specialistica/Magistrale a ciclo unico-CLSu/CLMu (long 1-block programmes in dentistry, medicine, etc. amounting to 300-360 ECTS credits). The candidates who hold one of the qualifications listed here below are exempted by the Italian language exam and are matriculated out of the reserved quotas (for each specific case please consult http://www.study-in-italy.it):
a) students a 4-/5-year upper secondary diploma awarded by Italian schools located outside Italy, or one of the school leaving qualifications listed under points 6-11 of the section "Specific Qualifications" (please see http://www.study-in-italy.it/studying/info-19.html);
b) students who hold the middle school qualification awarded by Argentina along with complementary certificates confirming that they have attended a secondary programme including the study of the Italian language for 5 years at least (see Law 210/1999 ratifying the bilateral agreement Italy-Argentina of 3.12.1997).
c) students who hold a diploma in the Italian language and culture (Diploma di lingua e cultura Italiana) awarded by the Universitites for Foreigners of Perugia or Siena and the Societ� �Dante Alighieri� on completion of minimum a one-year programme;
d) students holding those diplomas of competence in Italian which, awarded by the Third University of Rome, or the Universitites for Foreigners of Perugia or Siena and the Societ� �Dante Alighieri�, correspond to the levels C1 and C2 of the Council of Europe (such diplomas may be awarded also on the basis of agreements with Italian Cultural Institutes abroad or with other bodies);
e) students who hold statements of attendance (C1/C2 level) issued by other Italian universities which have established their own Italian courses, either autonomously or in cooperation with other educational institutions or with regional/local bodies.

Matriculations in Corsi di Laurea Specialistica/Magistrale-CLS/CLM (those "non a ciclo unico" amounting to 120 ECTS credits)
The candidates who hold one of qualifications quoted under letter c) and d) above are exempted by the Italian language exam and are matriculated out of the reserved quotas.

Matriculations in Corsi di Laurea-CL, Corsi di Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico-CLMu, Corsi di Laurea Magistrale-CLM
The exemption from the Italian exam is also granted to the candidates holding one of the following qualifications but their matriculation takes place within the limits ot the quotas reserved for non-Eu citizens living outside Italy:
- those diplomas of competence in Italian which, awarded by the Third University of Rome, or the Universitites for Foreigners of Perugia and Siena, correspond to the levels B1 and B2 of the Council of Europe (such diplomas may be awarded also on the basis of agreements with Italian Cultural Institutes abroad or with other bodies); as well as students who hold statements of attendance (B1/B2 level) issued by other Italian universities which have established their own Italian courses, either autonomously or in cooperation with other educational institutions or with regional/local bodies.
- statements of adequate knowledge of Italian issued by the Universities for Foreigners of Perugia and Siena or by the Third State University of Rome on completion of their language courses organised in certain foreign countries; in relation to specific local situations, the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs has given instructions to Italian diplomatic authorities in some countries to ask for the mentioned statements as a compulsory condition to issue the indispensable study visa for Italy (candidates are advised to contact the Italian Embassy / Consulate in their place of residence for further information).

Exemptioms from the Italian exam by the University of Bologna:
- incoming Chinese students taking part in the Marco Polo programme
- students whose courses will be entirely taught in English
- Chinese students in possession of certificates of attendance of a triennal Italian language course

Exemptions from the Italian exam by autonomous decision of the institutions:
Matriculations in Corsi di Laurea-CL, Corsi di Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico-CLMu, Corsi di Laurea Magistrale-CLM
The exemption from the Italian exam is also granted to the following candidates but their matriculation takes place within the limits ot the quotas reserved for non-Eu citizens living outside Italy:
- students who hold statements of attendance issued by other Italian universities which have established their own Italian courses, either autonomously or in cooperation with other educational institutions or with regional/local bodies
- students holding statements on the passing of Italian language tests/exams issued by entities other than Italian universities.