- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Pricing and Dates
- Application Instructions
- Additional Information
The University of Bologna (Università di Bologna), founded in 1088, was is both the oldest university in the world as well as the first place of study to use the term universitas (university). The University has about 85,500 students in its 11 schools. It has campuses in Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini. With a population of 84,744 students, the University of Bologna is the most popular university in Italy. This program is university-wide, meaning any undergraduate Pitt student regardless of major may participate.
Click here to download. (574.46 KB)As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:
- the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
- non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
- a global network of peer in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Italy.
Bologna
Exchange Students Desk
Palazzina della Viola, Via Filippo Re, 4 - 40126 Bologna
+39 051 2088101
Bologna is located in Northern Italy and is the seventh most populous city in Italy. Famous for its towers and lengthy porticoes, Bologna has a well-preserved historical centre due to careful restoration and conservation policy which began at the end of the 1970s. Bologna is home to numerous prestigious cultural, economic and political institutions as well as one of the most impressive trade fair districts in Europe. In 2000 it was declared European capital of culture and in 2006, a UNESCO "city of music."
Bologna offers options for university-affiliated housing or private accommodations. Although Pitt students are not guaranteed spots within university-affiliated housing, Bologna will provide instructions on when and how to apply for housing. However, Pitt students are advised to begin searching as soon as they are accepted by Bologna. See Bologna’s general housing website.
At Bologna, courses are taught in Italian and in English, which a majority in Italian. Therefore, Pitt students are strongly advised to have at least a basic knowledge of the Italian language or A2 level.
Credits taken at Bologna are evaluated on an ECTS scale and will transfer to Pitt according to a 2:1 ratio. For example, 10 ECTS credits will transfer as 5 Pitt credits. All credits taken at Bologna require approval by both your academic advisor(s) and study abroad program manager. Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.
Courses taken at Bologna will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
As a part of the cultural experience, Bologna offers Italian Language Courses specifically designed for visiting students. These may be considered for credit or not for credit. Verify with the study abroad program manager regarding their transferability. Students should be careful about the registration dates, both for the online test and for the oral test.
For more information about Bologna's academic culture, see their website.
Like Pitt, Bologna’s grading scale follows the practice of assigning letter grades, such as A, B, C, D and E. For more information on their scale, see their explanation. For Pitt transfer credit, in order to earn a grade of “S,” (satisfactory) at Pitt, you must make an equivalent to a grade of “C” or higher. An equivalent to a “C-” or lower will result in a grade of “NC” (no credit) at Pitt. Pitt students may utilize the following online resource to understand the grading scale within this host country.
Bologna will provide hardcopy (or electronic transcripts) to the University of Pittsburgh’s Study Abroad Office. Make sure to follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of the grades is received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: 3959 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Electronic copies should be sent to the designated exchange program manager under “SAO Staff.”
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
Items Billed by Pitt |
||
|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
| Tuition* | $9,314 | $16,328 |
| Mandatory Fees | $545 | $545 |
| Study Abroad Fee | $400 | $400 |
| Total Billed by Pitt* | $10,259 | $17,273 |
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit | $2,000 | |
| Room & Board | $3,000 - 5.000 | |
| Personal Expenses | $1,000 - 5.000 | |
Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the exchange university you will attend requires purchase of a specific health insurance coverage per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.
Pitt students enroll at Bologna for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). Bologna's academic calendars may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, Bologna’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. Because Bologna’s academic calendar varies significantly from Pitt’s, exchanging for only the fall semester is not possible. However, if a single semester at Bologna is desired, then the Spring (or second) semester is the only option. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.
Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to Bologna. In addition to applying to the Pitt Study Abroad application above, be sure to review Bologna's website regarding their application requirements for incoming exchange students. A formal nomination from Pitt Study Abroad is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Bologna. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt Study Abroad steps in addition to Bologna's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Study Abroad does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.
The exchange university may require the following to be submitted through an online application. Requirements may include but are not limited to the following:
- Application Form
- Copy of Valid Passport
- Official Pitt Transcript
- Official Pitt Verification of Enrollment
- Statement of Intent or Purpose
- Resume or CV
- Official Language Evaluation
- Up to 2 instructor letters of recommendations
- Up to 2 passport photos
Language Requirements: In order to take courses in Italian at Bologna, Pitt students will be advised to submit evidence of A2 level of Italian proficiency. Please check with Bologna regarding this requirement.
Students studying abroad through Pitt Study Abroad are automatically provided health insurance coverage during the official program dates. However, Italy requires Pitt students to purchase additional coverage through their national health plans. See the details here.
In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival.
For those without EU/EEA nationalities, students must obtain a student visa to study in Italy. For an overview regarding the visa process, please review Bologna's website. Also, check the Italian Embassy or consulate closest to you for additional information. Bologna will provide general direction after formal admission on for how to apply for either the visa and/or residency permit. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website. In general visa and/or permit application requirements include but are not limited to the following requirements:
- Visa application
- Valid Passport
- Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
- Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
- Passport photos
- Application fee
- Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)
