University of Bologna in the Middle Ages. University of Bologna: how the oldest university in Europe works. The emergence of the law school

Julia, hello! You have been studying at the University of Bologna in Italy for the third year already. Please tell us how and why did you get the idea to study in Europe, why Italy and why this particular university?

Hi Sasha. I worked as a model and my contract was changed every three months. At that time, I was so tired of moving that I wanted something stable. And quite by accident one evening my friend wrote to me on Facebook. I complained about moving and suitcases, and he told me that he was studying in Italy and just sent me a link.

Over the next two days, I re-read a ton of information and realized that I wanted to try. The Bologna University is very famous all over the world, Nicolaus Copernicus studied there and it is considered one of the oldest universities. But the decisive thing was that foreign students can get a scholarship. At that time I already spoke German and English. I never learned Italian, but 8 months seemed like enough time to try it!

How did the admission process take place? What documents were needed, how did you submit them, in person or remotely, what were the difficulties?

I learned about the entire admission process on the forums. The guys talked about the past years of admission, I wrote down the sequence of the procedure. Difficulties arose with our Ukrainian embassy, ​​which does not provide information online, and answers very briefly to the questions posed. Very often I had to travel to Kiev. Translation and apostillization of all documents is also time-consuming and expensive. But, in general, these are not huge sums, it is very feasible. You just need to start the process as early as possible, and keep your finger on the pulse everywhere. Communicate with those who are already studying, look for forums, people on social networks.

I submitted all the documents personally through the embassy in Kiev, so I met guys like me. I took their phones from them and asked about many things. No need to be shy, we are all in the same boat. By the way, I did many translations and apostilles remotely, since such services are now also provided.

Tell us what your specialty is, does it meet your expectations, what interesting subjects / lectures do you remember the most?

My specialty is called "Management, Innovation and Organization of Culture and Art". I should be given a diploma just for the fact that I pronounce it all in Italian every time! I have a master's degree completely on English language... The group includes all students from all over the world, and this is the most amazing part of the course. There are many points, I will write separately.

Negative sides:

• The course is quite new, because some subjects seem to me to be a silly theory, inserted only because Italians should have a certain number of subjects per year.
• There are Italian professors who don't speak English very well, and their accent is so strong that you just can't concentrate.

Positive sides:

• International group. In ours, we constantly held dinners, where everyone brought their traditional dishes. Constant communication with children from many countries expands my horizons. You get wholesale friends all over the world.
• Many visiting professors and lecturers. For example, there was one professor who taught the film industry. And they sent him straight out of the Hollywood film advertising department. He looked accordingly: a tall handsome man with a killer smile. There has never been such attendance on our course. He taught very well too.
• Since my faculty is economics, practical tasks were given to us by example Harvard University... We were divided into groups and given us a case, we had to discuss it in the group, find a solution and present it.
• All these presentations are very coaching. As a result, there is no fear of speaking in public and the ability to make slides (10 or more) on any topic appears. Even the stupidest one.
• Teamwork. It is very tempering, there are always those who slow down the work, but you need to work on deadlines.

Tell us about the financial side of your studies at the University of Bologna? How much does the training cost, is housing provided, are there any opportunities to compensate for the costs? Well, for example, scholarships, awards, budget places or something else?

Tuition costs approximately 3,000 euros per year. But, great news, if you search everything thoroughly on the sites in advance, that is, there are a lot of options.

First, there are special Erasmus and Erasmus + scholarships for students to study in English. It is necessary to pass the English-language SAT test, according to its results a competition is held. There are programs where you just apply and you are offered 900 euros a month in scholarships.

Secondly, by making documents on income and family composition, you can also receive a reduction in pay, which will amount to 600 euros per month, or a hostel, or meals in a cafeteria for 500 euros, or a scholarship of 5,000 euros per year. That's how lucky you are. Maybe they'll get it all together, or maybe a croissant with poppy seeds, if you screw up the documents.

Students can also apply for a job in the structure of the university. For example, work in libraries or computer labs. And also to be selected for a job as a tutor. This is such a kind of curator for newcomers, freshmen, foreigners.

And in general, if we talk about the general impressions of education at the University of Bologna, how do you like it? Do you like / dislike it, do you regret / do not regret it, would you recommend this university to your friends or not, and so on?

To be honest, there are pluses and minuses everywhere. I like that travel is very broadening of horizons, brings a lot of new experiences and new acquaintances. At the University of Bologna, everything has been different for a long time, they write an email to the teacher for a meeting or ask questions in an online chat. Access to information is also easier, everything is downloaded on special online platforms. Here lectures are much more interactive, with films, slides, real life examples.

But, as always, there are old school professors, and you still have to listen to three-hour first-person lectures, fidgeting impatiently in their chairs. Sometimes the bureaucratic system also fails a little. For example, they give marks at the wrong time, or to change the subject in curriculum you have to go around a dozen offices. It all depends on expectations and motivation. I am sure that it is necessary to go. At any stage of our life, we need to take advantage of the opportunities provided.

Now let's move on from studying to Italy. Italian cuisine is famous all over the world. Tell me, what is your relationship with her? And are the Italian dishes served in cafes and restaurants, say, in your native Kiev different from the same dishes in Italy?

At the very beginning, my relationship with her did not work out. "I don't like pasta" - she said to her Italian flatmate, and he grabbed his heart and said with a sigh: "Madonna!"

It is completely unacceptable not to drink wine or eat pasta in Italy. When the same acquaintance in the first week of my stay watched me catch ravioli out of boiling water and put them on a plate, and then eat it right there (well, like dumplings, I thought, I caught it - ate it), he generally just went with the text, as in the TV series : "Santa Maria madre di Dio ..." And about 10 more words, which in short meant: "Who is so over the ravioli, the food of the Gods, scoffs."

He walked to the refrigerator, took out the cream, poured it over my ravioli, then cut the arugula on top of me with scissors, sprinkled it with Parmesan and, exhaling, said that now you can eat. Therefore, we can say that I got used to a lot for a long time. Besides, their breakfast is only sweet. No porridge or cheese sandwiches. Only biscuits, croissants, sweet cereals, but if you follow your figure, then sweet cereals with soy milk.

And then I met an Italian, we began to meet, spend a lot of time together, and I was finally convinced that Italians are food fascists. Their kitchen is very simple and it's great! When properly combined, the simplest ingredients make amazing dishes that do not require three approaches to the stove or the well-known: "B iskvit rises in silence", or: "You are not a hostess if you do not know how to cook borscht."

Here a summer lunch can be a melon cut into cubes with boiled shrimp, well, very tasty! Or arugula salad with parmesan and pear. The fish is baked in the oven with olives, capers and rosemary. By the way, in Italian cuisine cheese and fish are not combined, they frown at the same time as looking at foreigners with pizza and cappuccino. Cappuccino is drunk only in the morning and only with something sweet. And, in general, now I can also talk long and tediously about Italian cuisine, I really like it and it suits, even the way Italians are scrupulous about food. Here, in any home, you are always an invited guest for lunch or dinner, for them food is a social gathering, and the more people, the better. Therefore, everywhere in Italy there are lunch breaks. They close the door, take out the tablecloth on the table, all-all sit together and eat, chatting. Having learned that there are usually no lunch breaks in Ukraine, and workers take turns eating, my boyfriend looked at me very sadly (the whole world is sad in his eyes) and said so sympathetically: “But it’s so sad to eat alone.”

The Italians taught me one rule that in every corner of the world you only need to eat what is special and what they know how to cook best. In Bologna, you need to try pasta with stews, in Pesaro, fish and seafood, in Vicenza, ravioli with pumpkin, and in Florence, a huge steak. The same applies to my visits home, at home I eat only Ukrainian cuisine. I will never go to an Italian restaurant, just like I will not go either in Russia, or in Germany, or in France. Not only because it’s wrong, or not, but because for me Italian cuisine is a lot of people at the same table covered with a tablecloth, with some kind of quick-cooked lunch, cross-talk and jokes, as well as a discussion of what the tomatoes brought straight from Sicily, and my uncle brought the salad and he only came from the garden, and basil was added to the olive oil and ground in a blender ... And, of course, "Che gusto!" (so tasty). Everything is like ours, only in Italian.

Do you have any personal life hacks, or maybe not personal ones, but widely known ones - how to make a choice among the variety of cafes and restaurants in Italy? Suppose I came to Bologna for a couple of days, or to any other city, how can I decide where to go for delicious Italian food?

The difference between French and Italian cuisine is that in France you can only eat deliciously and gourmet if it is expensive. But in Italy and a piece of pizza for the euro will just lick your fingers. There is no such pizza anywhere in Italy. I mean the ingredients: here you can find pizza with potatoes, and with an egg and with mayonnaise.

But the main life hack came to me from friends, a folk Italian proverb: "You can see a delicious restaurant in turn." Well, that's simple and tasteful. Italians are very fond of eating out, so a lot of people (listen to what they say in Italian, not tourists) is an indicator of quality. I advise you to move away from the central squares - here they are usually for tourists, and go into the small streets nearby. And into the crowd, guys, into the crowd. Now, if there are a lot of tables, and it is cramped so that you can "touch your sleeves" with the neighbors, the waiter runs like a deranged person, but still smiles, you hear the laughter of the company behind, the menu is printed simply on A4 paper, or is generally written by hand, then you are in the right place at the right time. We ask “spechialita” (a special dish of this evening), relax and order wine.

From what city or place would you advise those who have never been there to begin their acquaintance with Italy? Is it banal from Rome or do you have any ideas of your own on this matter? Can you suggest, say, a 10-day route for a beginner?

Italy, of course, is very diverse. If you were planning a route from north to south, then I would visit the town of Como near Milan, there is a beautiful lake. In Milan, perhaps only "check in" under the central church. Apart from shops and fairs, there is little that is interesting there.

Then go to Verona (the city of Romeo and Juliet, of course), here is a wall of desires, there are small streets, wonderful concerts and even a statue of a bull. They say that if you leave a request for children there, then God will. From Verona, for 2 or 3 euros, you can move to the towns near Lake Garda and take a walk there.

Then Florence. She is breathtaking with grandeur and beauty. There are markets, a beautiful old bridge, many street artists and Chinese tourists. And, in general, Italian originated from the ancient Florentine language, and therefore this city is a cultural capital.

Then Venice. Not because they are mainstream, and not because gondoliers are so sexy. But because it takes your breath away here. I promise you that you will get lost, even with GPS and a map, but you will no longer recognize such happiness from being lost. She is the only one in the whole world, completely unique. Near Venice, there are very beautiful islands of Burano and Murano, if possible, they are also on the must-have list.

Then Bologna. Literally a day is enough here, but it is worth stopping by for gastronomic tourism - old, traditional osteria. Ham, cheeses, wines, hand-made pasta, Italian courses, delicious gelato and streams of young people and students.

So, then you can in the Cinque Terre - this is a very photographed place in Italy with many colored houses by the sea. Already here your Instagram will start to stutter, but we will still finish it off.

Of course, Rome. Be sure to eat the carbonara paste and go to the Bridge of Angels. I would have lived on this bridge, I do not know why, but I am directly in love with it. To walk in Rome is not to be, and who is nimble and as cool as possible, then as the last place I advise Naples. Don't keep money in one place, a small handbag closer to your heart. Remember grandmother's advice about "money in panties." But this is truly a city of contrasts. This is where the Neapolitan pizza started, so eat pizza right here! And wander along the embankment, they say that in the evening they show a stunning sunset ...

And what about the English language in Italy? Will you be able to explain yourself on it in non-touristy places, or will you have to improvise with facial expressions, gestures and a few words in Italian from the cinema?

You know, few people here speak English. At the airport and train station, you can handle it. But on the street - far from always, it is very hard for them. And it’s very surprising, because Italian is very difficult, it’s all poetry, not language.

What is the best time to visit Italy, in your opinion? If we take into account the weather conditions, and the flow of tourists, and some other factors that may be known only to those living there? And what time, on the contrary, is the least successful in your opinion?

I think there are always a lot of tourists, but in my opinion the best time in Italy is spring. They have it very long, and I noticed that the coolness lasts until the beginning of May. Now, if you come in April, that's perfect. Here hydrangeas and magnolias bloom everywhere, flower shops are finally putting vases of flowers on the streets. Tables grow on the streets near cafes and bars, and coffee is no longer so ordinary from the fact that you drink it under the spring sun. There are not as many tourists as in summer. Most of the love for Italy is still summer, but as for me, in spring it is simply magical, even if you go between cities and stare at the fields.

You said that besides Italy, you have lived in the USA under the Au Pair program for a whole year. Please tell us what this program is, what are the requirements, how did you get there and how do you assess this experience? I personally don't know anything about it, I just heard the name.

Immediately after graduating from my university in Ukraine, I realized that I wanted more experiments. Americans, for example, have a so-called gap year, when they can travel and do whatever they want for a whole year. So I decided that I want to go to America, but how? And I found this program. It assumes that you have basic English and experience working with children, you go through surveys, interviews and then you are offered a family in which you will live for a whole year. The bottom line is that you work as a nanny for them, they pay you about $ 1,000 a month for this, and at the same time you still have the right to attend courses at the university and have paid leave. That's how I left. In my case, the choice of a family went very quickly, I left literally a month and a half after my application was sent.

And what kind of family it was, in what city, how difficult it was at all to "join" there and what is this story with a vegetarian in the "house of burgers and sausages" ?

So, now a little about the vegetarian at the burger house. The first family I got into was purely American. And their freezer of frozen burgers was much larger than the refrigerator compartment. In terms of food, I didn't feel very comfortable. In terms of educational methods too. Therefore, after a month in their family, we just decided to leave. It's called a rematch, and I was sent to interview another family. After a month from the Americans, I got an Indian vegetarian family, where the children brought me books to read on the very first day. At the very first meeting, their mother hugged me and talked to me very openly, I immediately felt very warm and cozy next to them. I agreed and never regretted my choice. They were amazing people and very loving parents.!

And finally, please share your travel plans for the future. Maybe not even plans, but dreams. Work in the USA, study in Italy, what's next? What places are you attracted to from those where you haven't visited yet and why?

My love of travel is endless. This summer, my friends even gave me a map in which I have to coin erase the countries I have visited. And to be honest, when I did it, I realized how little I saw. I have already had a chance not only to be a tourist, but to live a little in some countries, and this unrealistically changes the mental turn.

From what I would like ... Hmm, to be honest, I really want to go to the citadel of Buddhism. Moreover, for about a month. So, to see how they bring up children, what are their beliefs. I would like to know more about this belief, for some reason at this stage of my life it attracts me very much. And then, some trip to Peru. Also very exciting. Here's a plan so far! ;)

(Dante Alighieri) - true honor. And today Italy remains a country in which receiving higher education has its undeniable and attractive sides for students from all over the world.

Undoubtedly, by popularity among foreign students Italy is inferior to other European countries, and the Italian language is far from the status of "a means of international communication." But this amazing country strong in many ways:

• higher education in Italy is, first of all, good educational traditions, cultural and spiritual growth;
• it was Italian design and fashion that won international domination and, as a result, Italy is the number 1 country in the world for obtaining a diploma in this area;
• the affordability of education from an economic point of view varies from the choice of the university and your income; the cost of studying at a state university varies from 600 to 3000 euros per year, private universities set prices from 6000 to 20,000 euros per year;
• training is possible both in Italian and in English;
• the principle of the education system is “academic freedom”: students do not take the compulsory sessions every semester with compulsory attendance of classes, but listen to a course of lectures and take an exam when it is convenient;
• another important point is that you are not only for the period of study, but also for at least another year after graduation in order to find a good job.

The higher education system in Italy consists mainly of universities, but there are other types of educational institutions - academies of fine arts, conservatories and two Pisa institutes. The vast majority of students study at Italian universities. There are 47 public universities in Italy and 9 independent ones with a state license. The higher education system can be conditionally divided into 3 stages:

1. Step. Corsi di Laurea - Identical to the Bachelor's degree, lasting 3 years.
2. Step. Corsi di Laurea Specialistica - specialist training programs, lasting from 2 to 3 years, Corsi di Specializziazione di 1 ° livello - specialization programs and Corsi di Master Universitario di 1 ° livello - first-level master's programs.
3. Step. Dottorto di ricerca - programs for the preparation of doctors of science, specialization and master's degree of the second level.

The Universities of Italy have a “credit system” (CFU). A university “credit” usually corresponds to 25 hours of study. Typically, a student “earns” 60 credits annually. For the entire academic period, the student needs to study about 20 disciplines, including compulsory and optional.

The academic year at the university begins in October-November and ends in May-June. During the year there are 4 sessions (January-February, April, June-July, September), during this period the classes are suspended.

Each student decides for himself when and what exams to take, since students are entitled to their individual curriculum.

Exams are written and oral, but with an important difference from our system in the absence of examination tickets. Thus, each exam requires an enormous self-preparation, because the lectures give only a small portion of what you need to know. Not everyone cope with the exams: only three out of ten applicants make it to the diploma.

Requirements and procedure for admission to universities in Italy

Anyone can enter the University of Italy if he meets all the conditions for admission. It is definitely worth submitting documents to universities in Italy in advance.

Slow Italians consider documents for a long time, but you still need to have time to prepare the documents and get a visa.

Applications for admission are submitted through the Italian embassy in their country, there you need to send your documents and application forms there by the end of February.

Step-by-step instructions for admission to a citizen of Belarus

1. General rules apply for admission to the University of Italy for Belarusians (12 years of education). School system in the Republic of Belarus means 11 years of schooling, respectively, you must complete at least 1 year of college, technical school, university or other educational institution.
2. We take a certificate and an academic transcript from the university (or other educational institution). But here's the catch: an academic certificate is given only in case of expulsion. But some Universities give the so-called “transcript”, which is equal to the same academic transcript. THE DOCUMENT MUST BE ON THE OFFICIAL FORM OF THE UNIVERSITY WITH THE COAT SEAL (or on a copy of this official letterhead) AND SIGNED BY THE RECTOR or any of the Vice-Rectors. Otherwise, the document will not be apostilled!
3. We bring these 2 documents to the Ministry of Education in Minsk for apostille. Cost of one apostille: 35,000 Belarusian rubles (2010). We serve from 9 to 11 am on Sovetskaya str., 9. Apostille production time: 24 hours. When submitting, you will be given a piece of paper, be sure to keep it to receive the documents.
4. We take all these documents to accredited translators (Alekseeva Nina Kirillovna Tel. 204-72-46, mob. 8-029-708-06-77 Minsk, Skryganova st., 7/2 - 24 metro Molodezhnaya; Gavrilovich Larisa Nikolaevna Tel. 233-63-55, mob. 8-029-773-63-55
5. Minsk, st. Kakhovskaya, 27-16 metro station Yakub Kolas Square; Svetlana Golovko Tel. 284-85-06, mob. 8-029-684-85-06 Minsk, Independence Avenue, 53-102 metro station Yakub Kolas Square; Sergey Pavlovich Kizenkov Tel./fax 247-68-86, mob. 8-029-337-07-07 Minsk, Rokossovsky avenue, 76-178 Office: Komsomolskaya st., 34-1 metro station Oktyabrskaya) ATTENTION! We have the right to submit for translation only to them and no other translation agencies !!! Translation cost: 30,000 rubles for 2000 characters. The term of production is 1-3 days. On average, a certificate costs 30 thousand rubles. Certificate for 1 year - 30 thousand rubles.
6. We submit documents for legalization to the embassy. Legalization takes 1 day. Reception Mon, Wed, Fri from 9 am to 11.30 am (through the main entrance, into a special window). Let me remind you that the embassy is located at the address: Minsk, Rakovskaya str. 16b. More detailed information about the embassy can be found in the article “VISA TO ITALY FOR BELARUSIANS. HOW TO OPEN IN MINSK YOURSELF? " or on the embassy website: www.ambminsk.esteri.it/Ambasciata_Minsk
7. We are waiting for the MIUR calendar. We arrive at the embassy on time and fill out the modello (the consul helps and dictates).
8. We are waiting for an invitation from the university, which usually comes in July - early August. An invitation with an appointment for a visa comes to your e-mail.
9. In August we apply for a visa (until August 15).
10. Upon arrival in Italy, you need to go to the police station to register and apply for a residence permit (you must have a document about your financial capabilities with you).

Documents required to obtain a student visa

1. Passport valid for at least three months after the expiry of the requested visa;
2. Invitation from the University;
3. Visa application form;
4. Photo of the appropriate format;
5. Documentation related to their own economic situation, or parents, if they are dependent:
   a) documents from a school or university, or from a place of work;
   b) documents confirming the employment of the parents, while being dependent on them;
   c) documents confirming ownership of real estate or rent ownership, lifetime payments or other sources of income;
   d) statements from bank accounts or credit cards;
   e) declarations of income or documents on the payment of taxes, balance sheets of the enterprise
6. Financial means necessary for living, for the entire period of stay in Italy. At least 417.30 euros for each month of the academic year;
7. One-way ticket or booking, you can read about the modes of travel “”;
8. Documents confirming the availability of housing in Italy;
9. Medical insurance policy valid in all countries of the European Union.

How to choose a university in Italy

In my personal example, the choice of the university was not so relevant, since there was little information on this issue. But thanks to the advice of the consul, having entered State University Milan - Bicocca, I was very pleased with both the university and the cost of training.

Università degli studi di Milano - Bicocca

- Bicocca founded in 1998. In total, there are 17 buildings on the territory of the university, which offer students 195 classrooms, 46 linguistic and computer centers, 3 large libraries, 2 hostels. The university also offers 226 laboratories, and all of them are included in a cultural network that is closely related to the economic and social life cities. Research centers cooperate with a system of exhibitions and seminars, with social and state program aimed at the development and protection of various branches of knowledge, but especially at the developed business community, which in general ensures the competitiveness and constant development of the University of Milan - Bicocca.

More than 32,000 students study at the university, and education is conducted in eight faculties. Main areas of study: tourism economics, business organization and management, economics and law, statistics, health care, media and journalism, social and human sciences, natural sciences, psychology and pedagogy.

The territory of the university is a whole area of ​​the city called Bicocca, located in the north. On the territory of Bicocca you can find everything: shops, bars, restaurants, entertainment centers, cinemas, gyms, swimming pools, canteens, theater, libraries and much more. Bicocca is a kind of small town within the city.

The above university turned out to be my choice without a choice, but I want to offer you the most popular universities among Italian students for your consideration.

www.unimib.it

Università di Roma "La Sapienza"- is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second largest university in Europe. It was founded in 1303. The University of Rome offers students over 300 undergraduate programs, over 250 professional programs magistracy, 119 postgraduate and over 150 doctoral programs, 6 of which confer international doctorate degrees.

Today 170 thousand people are studying in it, including foreign students. 4200 people teach at 14 faculties of the temple of knowledge, among them the best professors in Italy.

There are 69 specialized schools and 1604 advanced training courses at the university. Status - state, language of instruction - Italian, English. At this university, you can study Ludovico Quaroni architecture, Valle Giulia architecture, economics, humanities and philosophy, law, mechanical engineering, mathematics, physical and natural sciences, medicine and surgery, psychology, statistics, political science, humanities, sociology, pharmacology and more. The University of Rome is the first in Italy to teach technical sciences.

Official website of the University of Rome: www.uniroma1.it

L'Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi

L'Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi- a private higher education institution in Milan, graduating specialists in the field of economics, law and management sciences.

The university is recognized as one of the world's leading schools of business administration, and the teaching itself is conducted in English, along with traditional curricula in Italian.

• University official website: www.unibocconi.it

Università degli studi di Milano

Università degli studi di Milano- founded in 1924, and originally consisted of 4 faculties: law, literature and philosophy, medicine and surgery, natural, mathematical and physical sciences.

Today it offers 9 Faculties, 137 courses (bachelor's and master's), 20 Doctoral Schools and 74 Schools of Specialization. 2,500 faculty members represent the highest concentration of scientific expertise in the region, and research is ranked highest among universities in Italy and Europe.

The university departments are housed in important historic buildings in the center of Milan and in modern buildings in the area known as the Campus. Research works, publications of the University of Milan are of scientific value, as well as numerous research centers (77 in total).

• University official website: www.unimi.it

Universita degli Studi di Siena, UNISI- located in, Tuscany is one of the oldest and first publicly funded universities in Italy. Originally named Studium Senese, the University of Siena was founded in 1240. Siena is a city of students. The University of Siena accepts students from all over the world!

The University has approximately 20,000 students, almost half of the total population of Siena. Today, the University of Siena is renowned for its School of Law and Medicine.

The University consists of eight Schools:

1. Economy
2. Engineering
3. Humanities and Philosophy
4. Jurisprudence
5. Mathematical Physical and Natural Sciences
6. Medicine and Surgery
7. Pharmaceuticals
8. Political Science.

The universities have an excellent organization of services for students: a hostel, a canteen.

• University official website: www.unisi.it

Politecnico di Milano

Politecnico di Milano Is the largest technical university in the country and is the oldest in Milan. It was founded on November 29, 1863. In 2009, Italian researchers recognized it as the best in Italy in terms of scientific production and attractiveness to foreign students.

Today, the Polytechnic University of Milan teaches more than 42,000 students in the fields of technical sciences, architecture and industrial design, consists of 17 faculties and 9 schools.

On the territory of the university, with a total area of ​​350,000 square meters, there are 355 modern laboratories and 42 libraries. The university itself is located on 7 main campuses in the regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. The university pays special attention to international projects for foreign students. So, 2 bachelor's courses, 10 master's courses and 12 master's programs are taught exclusively in English.

The faculty includes 1200 full-time professors and researchers and about 1300 contract professors. Interestingly, many scientists working at the Polytechnic University are award-winning and recognized by the scientific community.

• Official website of the Technical University: www.polimi.it

Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan - at the same time provides art education in Italy and is the cultural center of the northern part of the country. Being private educational institution, Milan's Academy of Fine Arts teaches bachelors in English in design, fashion design, graphic design and art direction.

In addition, the private university runs summer education programs in in-demand specialties such as fashion marketing, fashion design, fashion photography and interior design.

• Academy official website: www.naba.it

When choosing a university, also take into account your level of knowledge of the language, since in one institution you will have to take a test, in which case your knowledge should be at the advanced level, and in another university you will only be interviewed to make sure that you understand the language. In this case, basic knowledge of the language will be sufficient.

If there are any doubts about admission, I will be glad to answer in the comments or in my group to

Vitaly Mikhailyuk told Samokatus how difficult it is to enter an Italian university, how to get a grant for education, where classes are held, and why it is imperative to get into local libraries similar to Hogwarts.

I am studying for the second year at the Faculty of Economics at the oldest university in Europe - the University of Bologna. In 2017, I graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University, and I thought for a long time what to do next. Even then, I knew Italian at the C1 level and worked with Italians for a whole year - this is how the idea of ​​entering one of the Italian universities was born.

Every year the Italian research center Censis publishes a ranking top universities... In the year when I entered, the most powerful were the economics faculties of Trento, Padua and Bologna. I dismissed the first one, because Trento is a very small city (118 thousand inhabitants), and after Moscow I would definitely get bored there. I didn’t make it to Padua, because the entrance exams began there earlier - I risked not being in time and, instead of the exam, dig trenches at the military training camp. Only Bologna remained: the oldest university in Europe with a long history and a real student spirit.

It was possible to choose a master's degree only in my specialty, but I wanted to go into economics - I had to enter a second higher education. The entrance exam included a test in mathematics, logic and the ability to understand a scientific text. I managed to prepare in a couple of months, including five weeks, while I was at the training camp from the military department: in the intervals between assembling and disassembling the Kalash, I solved examples in algebra for the 11th grade.

At the beginning of September, I passed the exam with 26 out of 36 points and entered the first year of the Bachelor's degree, or, as they say here, laurea triennale.

University of Bologna

Alma Mater Studiorum, as it is called in Italy, originated in 1088 and was created by students for students. Those wishing to study gathered in groups, threw off and hired professors. The unification of such unions gave rise to the university. Initially, they studied mainly law, but from the 14th century in Bologna they began to teach medicine, philosophy, arithmetic, astronomy, logic and grammar. The university students were Francesco Petrarca, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Nicolaus Copernicus, Albrecht Durer.

Today, more than 80 thousand students study at the University of Bologna, of which 7% are foreigners (for comparison: there are 38 thousand students at Moscow State University, every tenth is a citizen of another country). In addition to Bologna, classes are held in four other Italian cities - Ravenna, Rimini, Cesena and Forlì, as well as in a branch in Buenos Aires. In total, the university offers 215 educational programs, of which 45 are in English.

Education system

At first glance, the difference is small, only the pasta in the local student cafeteria is noticeably tastier. Study lasts from autumn to June-July, the year is divided into two semesters, or, as it is in my faculty, into four modules - a system that some Russian universities have been practicing for a long time.

But there are things that you still have to get used to.

- You don't have to study a bunch of subjects that are not very related to the specialty. My MSU diploma has 54 positions, although it does not include all the subjects that I studied. At the Faculty of Journalism, a session could consist of five exams and five credits, so I sometimes memorized a list of all the subjects of the semester only by the beginning of the credit week. In Italy, there is a law that states that for three years of study for a bachelor's degree (yes, here instead of four years - three), a student cannot study more than twenty subjects. This equates to three exams per semester.

- You will not be expelled for debts. Italy is a procrastinator's paradise. Most universities don't have a tail. You can pass all exams at least one month before graduation. Moreover, even if you have a certain amount of debt left, you can be listed as a student for another five years, but no longer attend classes and try to pass the missing exams. Of course it is convenient and not so destructive nervous system, but, on the other hand, I know a lot of people who passed only one or two credits by the third year of study.

- Either study or work. Already in my first year at Moscow State University, I worked in my specialty. It was in the order of things to combine study and career. It's different with Italians. My classmates either do not work anywhere at all, or deliver pizza or earn extra money as waiters. Local employers are reluctant to hire students, even when it comes to internships. For this reason, I have been working as a freelancer for Russian companies for the second year already, although now I am actively trying to find a job here. Unsuccessful so far.

- Cost of living and study. The decisive factor for me was the relatively low cost of training. In public universities in Italy, you pay 1500-2000 euros for a year of undergraduate studies, but if you collect certificates about the financial condition of the family, the cost can drop to an entrance fee of 157 euros. In Italy, no one will check your documents, so it is more than possible to get a discount. Last year I missed the moment of submitting the application, but this time I managed to secure all the necessary (and real) certificates, but I will only find out the result in January.

In addition to the discount, there is an opportunity to receive a scholarship. To do this, you need to pass a certain number of exams (the grade is not important here), and your family's income should be even lower than that provided for receiving the discount. My neighbor is not poor, but thanks to cleverly designed family documents, he receives a grant of 5,000 euros every year. However, there is one caveat. You get paid at the beginning of the year, and you must prove your right to it at the end. If a student does not pass the required number of exams, then he becomes a debtor to the state. Private universities have a different order of prices: from 2 to 12 thousand euros. But there are also discounts and grants.

As for the cost of living, on average it takes me about 800 euros per month: 350-450 euros for renting a room in an apartment, 150-200 euros for groceries. Other examples of expenses: 1.5 euros for a bus ticket, 50-60 euros for a dinner in a restaurant for two with a bottle of wine, 10 euros for a haircut in the Arab Farid's barbershop, 5 euros for watching a new film in Sorrentino.

Where do classes take place?

Many believe that the University of Bologna is a group of united buildings. In fact, educational buildings are scattered throughout the city. Yes, there is a university quarter, which is half of faculty buildings and the other half of cheap bars, so if you want you can get a diploma and never go outside these few streets.

One of them houses the Faculty of Economics, where I study. The building is fairly new, without centuries-old tables and framed antique portraits. But unlike the old buildings, where time seemed to have stood still, there is always a selection of fresh economic press, including foreign ones, and you can easily find a normal computer.

Children from other faculties sometimes have classes in the cinema or in one of the university museums. The most curious is Palazzo Poggi, the main university building. This is a kind of mix from the Polytechnic Museum, the Darwin Museum and the Cabinet of Curiosities. Here you can find a camera obscura, a narwhal's horn, and a cross-sectional model of a person.

Libraries

Another opportunity to feel like in a school of magic and wizardry is to get into university libraries. It is here that you begin to understand that your university is more years old than Moscow. It is not surprising that they are always overcrowded: for example, the library of the Faculty of Economics is five floors of reading rooms, but already at nine in the morning there is no free space there. It's funny that in Bologna there are many libraries that are open until midnight. And this is in a country where even large supermarkets and pharmacies close until nine in the evening.

Anyone can enter the libraries, it is enough not to forget the passport. Here are some tips for where to go:

Archiginnasio (Archiginnasio)

Until the 16th century, the university did not have its own buildings where classes would take place. The professors lectured in the premises that the city distinguished, in churches and even at their homes. The Archimnasium, the oldest building of the university, in 1561 united all the faculties that existed at that time under its roof.

Today, there is both a museum part, in which you can see the historical anatomical theater of the university, and one of the most interesting libraries in the city. It is worth coming here for the sake of sitting at these ancient tables, looking at the antique tomes and examining the coats of arms on the walls, which belong to both noble professors and students.

University Library (Biblioteca universitaria di Bologna)

The library was opened in the middle of the 18th century. Today it houses the main archives of the university, so there is a small branch of Hogwarts inside. The library's main hall, Aula Magna, was perfect for filming, with centuries-old walnut cabinets full of manuscripts and ancient books.

Some parts of the library are only accessible for visiting with a guided tour: at the entrance you need to call a local employee who will lead you through the ancient halls. It is available to everyone, even if you do not belong to the university in any way and do not speak Italian.

Salaborsa Library

Salaborsa does not formally belong to the university, although it is full of students at any time of the day. This library is located in the city hall directly above the excavations of the ancient Roman forum, which is visible through the glass floor. It has everything from the latest press to different languages(including our "Arguments and Facts") to audiobooks in Persian. The library constantly hosts free exhibitions, lectures and Italian language courses.

Salaborsa tries to keep up with the times: for example, to take a book, it is enough to use an automatic machine, similar to a self-checkout counter in a supermarket. Another machine that resembles an ATM will take the literature you read from you.

Of course, there are plenty of problems here as well. Couples are sometimes canceled, there are not enough audiences, and individual professors do not know how to clearly explain the material. Despite the centuries-old traditions, I do not feel any special student atmosphere here - perhaps this will come with time. However, this does not prevent me from enjoying my studies. Perhaps the main plus of studying at the University of Bologna is that I understand why I am learning this, and how it will be useful to me in later life.

The university in Bologna began to emerge at the end of the 21st century, when teachers of logic, rhetoric, and grammar turned to law. The year 1088 is considered the beginning of independent and church-free teaching in Bologna. During this period, Irnerius became a significant figure. His work in the systematization of legal Roman materials crossed the boundaries of the city.

At first, university tuition in Italy was paid for by students. They raised money in order to compensate teachers for their work. The collection was carried out on a voluntary basis, because the science given by God could not be sold. Gradually, the university in Bologna turned into a center of science, and teachers began to receive real salaries.

Features of occurrence

The emergence of the university in the Italian city of Bologna was facilitated by the intense and serious "struggle for investiture", which was waged between the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. At that time, the sovereigns of Christian countries appointed priests and bishops at will, and Pope Gregory VII decided to proclaim the supremacy of the church over secular power, and he looked for evidence to justify his decision in the history of Christianity. By that time, Bologna already had a “liberal arts” school, which was popular in the 10th and 11th centuries. Pupils studied Roman law and rhetoric in it as additional classes. In the writings of the 13th century Bologna lawyer, Godefroy, there is historical information about the opening of a special law school at the personal request of Countess Matilda, who was the ruler of Tuscany and Lombardy, a supporter of the Pope.

Struggle for influence

The 11-12 centuries saw a turning point in European politics. It was then that the relationship between church and state was established. In the struggle, the basis was made up of legal issues, therefore, the study of Justinian's law became the basis for the self-awareness of the Empire.

In 1158 Martino, Bulgaro, Ugo, Jacopo invited Federico I Barbarossa to his meeting. The experts had to demonstrate the observance of political freedoms in the empire. Three of them (besides Martino) supported the Empire, expressed their recognition of the Roman law. Federico I Barbarossa passed a law according to which the school became a society of students, headed by a teacher. The empire promised such institutions, the teacher, protection from political claims.

The University of Bologna has become a place that is absolutely free from the influence of the authorities. This educational institution has outlived its protector. On the part of the Commune, there were attempts to control this educational institution, but the students, in order to resist such pressure, united into one team.

The thirteenth century was a time of contrasts. The University of Bologna has managed to overcome thousands of difficulties, it has always fought for autonomy, resisted the political power, which viewed it as a symbol of prestige. At that time, there were about two thousand students in Bologna.

In the 14th century, philosophy, medicine, arithmetic, astronomy, logic, grammar, rhetoric, and theology began to be studied within its walls.

Talented students and teachers

The first university in Bologna is proud of the fact that such famous personalities as Francesco Petrarca, Chino Pistoia, Dante Alighieri, Cecco d'Ascoli, Enzo, Guido Guinizelli, Colluccio Salutati, Salimbene Parmsky, and others came out of its walls.

Since the fifteenth century, teaching has been in Hebrew and Greek, and a century later in Bologna, students are engaged in experimental sciences. The laws of nature were taught by the philosopher Pietro Pomponazzi.

The philosopher taught the laws of nature, despite his beliefs in theology and philosophy. A significant contribution to the pharmacopoeia was made by Ulysses Aldrovandi, who studies fossils. It was he who created their detailed classification.

In the 16th century, Gaspare Tagliacozzi was the first to study plastic surgery. He owns serious research in this area, which became the basis for the development of medicine.

The University of Bologna gradually developed. Even in the Middle Ages, Italy was proud of such eminent personalities as Paracelsus, Thomas Beckett, Albrecht Durer, Raimund de Peñafort, Carlo Borromeo, Carlo Goldoni, Torquato Tasso. It was here that Leon Baptiste Alberti and Pico Mirandola studied canon law. Nicolaus Copernicus learned papal law in Bologna even before he began his basic research in the field of astronomy. During the industrial revolution, the university has a beneficial effect on the development of technology and science. During this period, the works of Luigi Galvani appeared, who, along with Alexander Volt, Henry Cavendish, Benjamin Franklin, became the founder of modern electrochemistry.

The era of the rise

During the creation of the Italian state, the University of Bologna was actively developing. Italy acquires such important figures as Giovanni Pascoli, Giacomo Chamician, Giovanni Capellini, Augusto Murri, Augusto Rigi, Federigo Henriquez, Giosue Carducci. At the end of the nineteenth century, the university retains its importance on the world cultural scene. He holds this position until the interval between the two wars, and is rightfully included in the oldest universities in Italy. Time has no power over this Italian “forge of talents”.

Modernity

In 1988, the University of Bologna celebrated its 900th anniversary. On this occasion, the faculties received 430 rectors from different parts of our planet. Alma mater of all universities and is currently considered the main scientific center of international scale, retains the primacy in the implementation of research projects.

According to the classification compiled by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Bologna is ranked 182 in the world. Such a position of an educational institution in the ranking indicates a high level of teaching. Bologna is a city in Italy that is rightfully proud of this temple of science.

University structure

At the moment, the University of Bologna has about 85,000 students. This educational institution has an unusual structure - "multicampus", which includes five institutions in cities:

• Bologna;
• Forli;
• Cesene;
• Ravenna;
• Rimini.

What else is Bologna proud of? The Italian region became the first in the country to open a branch of the university outside the country - postgraduate courses were taught in Buenos Aires, contributing to the deepening of various aspects of the relationship between the European Union and Latin America.

The educational programs of this higher educational institution are related to research in various fields of knowledge. The courses are structured in such a way that they fully meet all the demands of the labor market. The University of Bologna pays special attention to international relations.

The activities of laboratories and research centers, the high level of results obtained allow this educational institution to take an active part in prestigious scientific competitions and conferences every year.

Applicants who enter the University of Bologna can count on scholarships and contracts that involve living and studying abroad.

University faculties

Currently, this prestigious educational institution in Italy includes several faculties in the structure:

• architectural;
• agrarian;
• economic (in Bologna, Forlì, Rimini);
• industrial chemical;
• Faculty of Preservation of Cultural Heritage;
• legal;
• pharmaceutical;
• engineering (Bologna, Cesena);
• veterinary;
• foreign languages and literature;
• psychological;
• veterinary;
• medical and surgical;
• communications;
• physical culture;
• natural science and mathematics;
• political sciences;
• graduate School modern languages;
• statistical sciences.

Contacts and addresses

This educational institution is located in Bologna on Giamboni Street, along which thousands of students pass every day. In this area, there are many places that are associated with the university: stands, cafes, auditoriums. Visiting this street allows you to understand the historical value of the city.

Number 13 has a central building, which houses the administration. It is located opposite the Poggi Palace. There is an auditorium in this building dedicated to Carducci, who once listened here to lectures on Italian literature.

The building of the First University rises on Galvani Square. The library of the Commune has been located in the palace since 1838, but the main treasure is located in. Today it is the main proof of the university tradition in Bologna.

University specifics

Due to the fact that this institution of higher education was founded in the twelfth century, it is rightfully called one of the oldest in Europe. The University of Bologna is characterized by two distinctive features:

• it was not an association of a professor to whom students who came to lectures were supposed to obey;
• the listeners' association had the right to choose the leaders to whom the professors were subordinate.

Bologna students were divided into two groups:

• "Ultramontans" who arrived in Italy from other countries;
• "Citramontans" who were residents of Italy.

Each group elected on an annual basis a rector and a board of representatives of different nationalities who were in charge of the university jurisdiction.

Professors were chosen by students for a certain period, they received a certain fee, taught only in Bologna.

According to their status, they were free only in classes with students. During lectures and seminars, professors could demonstrate their pedagogical talent and personal qualities.

Another feature of the University of Bologna was that it became a law school. In addition to Roman and canon law, medicine and the free arts were taught within the walls of this Italian educational institution.

Conclusion

During the period of its existence, the Bologna school managed to exert a significant influence not only on Italy, but also on the whole of Western Europe.

The positive reputation of the professors of Bologna made it possible to consider this educational institution as a place of concentration of Roman law.

Currently, the University of Bologna is considered the oldest educational institution in the world, whose history has not been interrupted from the period of its foundation to the present. Every year, thousands of students from different parts of the world strive to Bologna in the hope of becoming students of this elite educational institution.

(Università di Bologna) , Bologna (province of Bologna) - the oldest university in Europe, founded back in 1088... At first, the university functioned as a legal educational institution, and in the 14th century, medical, theological faculties and the faculty of philosophy were also created on its basis. Today, at the university, students have the opportunity to study at 33 faculties.

According to the international rating organization QS World University Rankings, in 2014 the university took 182 place overall the list of the best universities in the world . The rating of the university has an upward trend: in the last 2 years alone, the university has risen by 12 positions. In addition, it is the only higher education institution in Italy entered in 2014 in 200 the best universities the world. According to another world ranking, which is published annually by The Times, in 2014 the university was ranked 276 place .

During the existence of Università di Bologna many of its graduates have become famous figures in various fields of science and art... Among them, for example, the famous Italian poet, writer and politician Dante Alighieri, poet and chronicler Francesco Petrarca, famous Polish mathematician, physicist, physician, astronomer, diplomat and economist Nicolaus Copernicus, founder of electrophysiology Luigi Galvani.

Today, representatives of the University of Bologna conduct research and apply innovative approaches in many areas: reorganization of the higher education system, international perspectives, research, curricula, information areas. The university does not stand still, but is constantly and continuously developing. This is confirmed by the following figures about him:

• developed about 11 thousand research products, received 200 patents, spent 350 funded scientific research, has 7 interdepartmental centers for technical research and 6 national technology groups of the Italian Ministry of Education;
• 33 faculties, 11 schools, 9 research and training centers, 5 campuses in Italy, 1-in Argentina;
• 207 training programs: 92 bachelor's degree programs, 103 master's degree programs and 12 single cycle programs *; 52 international programs, of which 27 are conducted in English; 48 doctoral degree programs;
• more than 2 thousand foreign students enrolled in exchange programs(not counting foreign students who entered and study on general terms), and the same number of students of the University of Bologna studying at partner educational institutions abroad;
• 273 agreements with foreign companies on internships for university students;
• number of employees - about 6 thousand;
• the library provides students with access to 155 thousand. e-books, 45 thousand online magazines and more than 600 databases;
• 603.7 million euros - university budget in 2014;
• over 136 projects working on the internationalization of training activities.

* Single cycle program - a curriculum that is not divided into bachelor's and master's degrees, but leads directly to the master's degree.

The University of Bologna offers students training in more than 300 programs to receive bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees... Among all the faculties of the university, the legal one is considered the strongest. It is also the oldest faculty of the institution. According to the QS World University Rankings, in 2014 the university was ranked 78th place in the list the best universities exactly in the legal field... This rating also includes the Faculty of Psychology - 75th in the list of the best in the world; chemistry - 83rd place, and mathematics - 87th place in the ranking of the best in the world.

Faculties of the University of Bologna:

• Faculty of Architecture (Dipartimento di Architettura);
• Faculty of Cultural Heritage (Dipartimento di Beni culturali);
• Faculty of Chemistry named after Giacomo Chamichan (Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician");
• Faculty of Chemistry named after Toso Montanari "(Dipartimento di Chimica industriale" Toso Montanari ");
• Faculty of Arts (Dipartimento di Delle Arti);
• Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie);
• Faculty of Classical Philology and Italian Studies (Dipartimento di Filologia classica e Italianistica);
• Faculty of Philosophy and Communication (Dipartimento di Filosofia e Comunicazione);
• Faculty of Physics and Astronomy (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia);
• Faculty of Informatics - Science and Engineering (Dipartimento di Informatica - Scienza e Ingegneria);
• Faculty of Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Ecology and Materials (Dipartimento di Ingegneria civile, chimica, ambientale e dei Materiali);
• Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics named after Guglielmo Marconi (Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell "Energia elettrica e dell" Informazione "Guglielmo Marconi");
• Faculty of Industrial Engineering (Dipartimento di Ingegneria industriale);
• Faculty of Interpretation and Translation (Dipartimento di Interpretazione e Traduzione);
• Faculty of Language, Literature and Contemporary Culture (Dipartimento di Lingue, Letterature e Culture moderne);
• Faculty of Mathematics (Dipartimento di Matematica);
• Faculty of Specialized Medicine, Diagnostics and Testing (Dipartimento di Medicina specialistica, diagnostica e sperimentale);
• Faculty of Psychology (Dipartimento di Psicologia);
• Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze agrarie);
• Faculty of Business Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze aziendali);
• Faculty of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze biologiche, geologiche e ambientali);
• Faculty of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze biomediche e neuromotorie);
• Faculty of Educational Sciences named after Giovanni Maria Bertin (Dipartimento di Scienze dell "Educazione" Giovanni Maria Bertin ");
• Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Agribusiness (Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie agro-alimentari);
• Faculty economic sciences(Dipartimento di Scienze economiche);
• Faculty of Legal Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze giuridiche);
• Faculty of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze mediche e chirurgiche);
• Faculty of Sciences of Veterinary Medicine (Dipartimento di Scienze mediche veterinarie);
• Faculty of Life Quality Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita);
• Faculty of Political and Social Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze politiche e sociali);
• Faculty of Statistical Sciences named after Paolo Fortunati (Dipartimento di Scienze statistiche "Paolo Fortunati");
• Faculty of Sociology and Economic Law (Dipartimento di Sociologia e Diritto dell "Economia);
• Faculty of History of Culture of Civilization (Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà).

For admission to the university bachelor's program Ukrainian applicants must complete one year of university at home after school (since the Italian higher education system requires prospective students to have at least 12 years of secondary education) and pass the entrance exam. For admission to the master's program the applicant must have a bachelor's degree and pass the entrance exam.

Tuition fees in 2015-2016 academic year for foreign students is, depending on the faculty and the chosen specialty, from 1.5 thousand euros per year for a bachelor's degree program and from 2 thousand euros for a master's program.

The University of Bologna has six campuses, five of which are located in different cities in Italy: Bologna, Cesena, Rimini, Forlì and Ravenna, and the sixth in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most of the faculties are located on the main campus in Bologna. The material base of the university also includes a university museum, a library and even a farm. The latter was created for research by the Faculties of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

The University of Bologna also has a separate Language centre which was created in the early 1970s. This center was the first of its kind at a university in Italy. Only university students and exchange students can study Italian in language centers. The first year of study in Italian courses for students of the University of Bologna is free.