Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Italy is a country in Southern Europe known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. It is famous for its ancient ruins, such as the Colosseum and Pompeii, as well as its Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo's David and the iconic city of Florence. Italy is also renowned for its delicious cuisine, including pizza, pasta, gelato, and fine wines. From the romantic canals of Venice to the picturesque Amalfi Coast and the cultural hub of Rome, Italy offers a diverse array of experiences for visitors to explore.

Bolzano is a charming city located in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy. Nestled in the stunning Dolomite Mountains, Bolzano offers a unique blend of Italian and Austrian cultures due to its historical and geographical position. The city is famous for its picturesque setting, with towering peaks, vineyards, and orchards dotting the landscape. Bolzano's historic center is characterized by its medieval architecture, narrow streets, and vibrant piazzas. With its captivating beauty and diverse cultural heritage, Bolzano is an ideal destination for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and food lovers alike.

Bolzano tends to have very hot summers and very cold winters. A wind known as the Föhn often blows from the northern Alps in the fall and spring. The coldest month of the year is January (min -15.1°C, max 5.0°C, average 0.0°C), the warmest is July (min -6.2°C, max 29.4°C, average 22.0°C). The annual average is 11.6°C.

The Free University of Bozen–Bolzano was founded on the 31st of October 1997 as a free, state-recognized university. It aims to offer students a multilingual, practice-oriented education. Lectures and seminars are held in German, Italian and English. The emphasis of teaching is to provide theoretically sound and practice-orientated training. A large proportion of educational activities take place as seminars, lectures given by guest-speakers, practical training and workshops. There are about 4,000 students enrolled at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.

Courses in English

To view Unibz's course catalogue click here and select a program. Courses are marked "EN" for English, "IT" for Italian, and "DE" for German.

Language Courses

• There are optional pre-semester intensive German and Italian language courses offered in February, July, and September.
• Unibz also offers German and Italian language courses throughout the semester.
• To learn more about language courses, click here.

• Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences
• Design and Art
• Economics and Management
• Education
• Engineering

The European academic structure varies from the North American system. Courses completed at a European exchange partner will not be transferred back to the U of L on a course-for-course basis. Rather, students will be required to successfully complete a certain number of ECTS (European Transfer Credit System) credits to earn U of L credit equivalency. Typically, a full course load is 30 ECTS, and 6 ECTS = 3 U of L credits.

The Transcript of Records is issued at the end of your exchange period in Italian, German and English. It contains your personal data, your arrival and departure dates, the list of exams and internships you have done, with the date of the exam, the credits (CFU and ECTS) and the grades obtained. The grades are expressed in the Italian scale out of thirty and are converted into the ECTS scale. The Transcript also explains the Italian grading system and provides the “ECTS grading tables”

You are eligible for this exchange if you are:

• A full-time U of L student
• In at least the 2nd year of your program
• In good academic standing, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher

Students must apply for a study visa — Schengen Visa Type D — prior to leaving. You must book an in-person interview at the Italian Consulate in Vancouver using the online booking system. The system releases interview slots on a 120-day rolling basis at 4 p.m. and interviews are generally booked as soon as they appear. Therefore, you may need to begin trying to book an interview well in advance of being accepted to unibz. Please let us know if you are considering Italy as a destination as early as possible so we can provide guidance for booking an interview. The administrative fee for processing the visa is € 50 (2023). Processing time can vary from 8 to 25 working days.

This information was updated in January of 2024. Visa procedures may have changed, so please ensure you email outgoing@uleth.ca and visit the Consulate's website for current information.

Once you arrive in Italy, you must report to the police station within 8 days of arrival to obtain a residence permit. Unibz's Welcome Guide contains a step-by-step guide for obtaining a residence permit. The permit costs approximately € 150-175 (2023) to obtain.

For detailed information about vaccination recommendations when visiting Italy, please visit the Government of Canada's website.

Campus Residences

• Cost (2023): single bedroom - €300, double room - €230
• Students can apply for campus housing through the link sent to all applicants by the International Relations Office at the beginning of July (for first-semester or whole-year applicants) and at the beginning of December (for second semester applicants)
• Contracts last for 5 or 10 months

Private Housing

• Cost (2023): varies from €350-500/month
• Due to limited spaces in campus residences, students may wish to look for private accommodation
• Advertisements for rooms are posted on the following platforms:
  • Unibz Blogspot
  • Yost
  • Facebook Group

Youth Hostels

• If students need accommodations for a short time upon arrival, they may choose to stay in one of South Tyrol's Youth Hostels
• Youth Hostel Bozen-Bolzano

Arrival Information

South Tyrol's only airport is located in the southern outskirts of Bozen-Bolzano. Beyond South Tyrol, the nearest international airports are in Innsbruck in the north and Verona in the south.

If you arrive at an airport outside of Bozen-Bolzano, the train is the best means of transport to get to Bozen-Bolzano. The train station is only 5 minutes away from the city centre and the university. You can book your ticket online at www.trenitalia.com and www.bahn.com.

In Bolzano

A daily bus ticket in Balzano is €3 (2023), which allows for unlimited travel around the entire city. A Prepaid Card, which charges €0.12/km (2023) can also be purchased, and gives access to the entire train and bus system in South Tyrol. The best option is to purchase a prepaid pass that costs €150 (2023) and allows you to use all public transport services in South Tyrol (excluding EC and high-speed trains) for one year from the date of purchase.

In Europe

For those planning a lot of travel throughout Europe, it is recommended to buy a Eurail pass. The pass must be purchased before going to Italy.

Students going on an exchange pay regular U of L tuition and fees. For up-to-date tuition information, visit the U of L's Financial Services website.

It is MANDATORY to obtain health insurance valid in Italy for your entire period of stay. Ensure the insurance is issued in your name. The insurance policy must undergo an approval procedure by the Embassy, and proof of approval is required when applying for a Residence Permit. Ensure the Embassy provides a stamp of approval when you obtain your visa.

A few private health insurance providers unibz suggests are:

• Expat: www.expatinsurance.eu
• Global Assistance Allianz: www.allianz-assistance.it
• Europassistance: www.europassistance.it

For more information about health insurance and the possibility of obtaining a family doctor for the duration of your stay, view unibz's Welcome Guide.

Unibz estimates students will need €600-700/month (2023) for living expenses.