Advice for students

Information on student welfare services at Italian universities and higher education institutions

Universities, other higher education institutions, the regional EDISU offices ( ), and the Autonomous Provinces supply a series of services and facilities for higher education students to remove economic and social obstacles which limit access to higher education.
(EDISU= Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario. There is such an agency in each Italian region; it has the task to set up and run the necessary student welfare services in conformity to the current legal provisions).
The services offered are divided into two categories:
-Services for all students: canteens, access to libraries, reduction of ticket prices for public transportation, access to the University Sports Centres (C.U.S.);
-Services ad personam: grants, accommodation, facilities for the disabled, part-time activities. These benefits are attributed sometimes by competition, sometimes on student’s request.

Grants
Some facilities and financial support are offered to those who otherwise would be without the necessary means. Candidates must give proof of possessing adequate merit.
The benefits consist in:
grants, both ordinary and special;
grants for research work towards dissertations and final degree projects;
grants to encourage post-graduate studies.

International Relations Office
The International Relations Office of the various institutions:
promotes and manages the institutional participation in European exchange and co-operation programmes, such as Socrates and Erasmus;
draws up bilateral conventions for partnerships with foreign higher education institutions;
gives information on programmes, grants and co-operation schemes at an international level.

Assistance and support for students with disabilities
Most higher education institutions promote initiatives to favour integration of disabled studentsas: e.g. service of accompanying persons to help them reach and move within the respective institutions, other forms of general support. Students with disabilities can contact the Counselling and Tutoring Service of their individual institutions for information on opportunities already in place, and to learn how to make the most of the benefits available at each study site.

Housing
To enable students coming from outside the chosen study site to attend their study courses regularly, the local EDISU supplies places in hostels or flats. Should the number of students with a right to housing be greater than the number of places available, then places are allocated according to a priority list or according to the chronological order of the applications submitted.

Medical care
Medical and pharmaceutical assistance for foreigners in Italy is regulated by international agreements and treaties. To benefit of such assistance, foreign students, are required a specific documentation.
Normally EU students must have a certificate (E111 or E128 model) issued by their National Health Authority that will cover first-aid and medical assistance in Italy. When they arrive in Italy this certificate must be validated by the local health agencies (ASL).
Non-EU students must have a health insurance policy; this may be made either at their arrival in Italy with a private Italian insurance company, or before their departure with an insurance company of their respective countries; in this second case, students had better contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their home countries for further information on existing agreements on medical assistance.

Language centre
The Language Centre of each institution develops and co-ordinates language facilities. It provides language courses for the students enrolled at the institution concerned, for those on international exchange programmes, and for the institutional. The Language Centre provides a fundamental support service by facilitating learning processes and encouraging students to keep on improving their language competences.