Glossary for Studying in Italy

A

• Abbonamento trasporti – Public transport pass
  Monthly or yearly ticket allowing unlimited use of buses, metro, and trains in a city.
• Accesso libero – Open admission
  Programme without limited seats; students can enroll if they meet general requirements.
• Accesso programmato – Restricted admission
  Degree with limited places requiring an entrance test or ranking.
• Accoglienza studenti internazionali – International student welcome services
  University support services helping foreign students settle, including orientation and documents.
• Affitto – Rent
  Monthly payment for housing, often excluding utilities like electricity or gas.
• Agenzia delle Entrate – Italian Revenue Agency
  Government office managing tax codes and financial registrations.
• Alloggio condiviso – Shared accommodation
  Housing shared with other students to reduce living costs.
• Alloggio temporaneo – Temporary accommodation
  Short-term housing used before finding permanent residence.
• Alloggio universitario – University housing
  Dormitories or student residences managed by universities or public institutions.
• Anagrafe – Registry office
  Local office where residents register their official address.
• Anno accademico – Academic year
  Study period, typically from September to July, divided into semesters.
• Appello d’esame – Exam session date
  Specific date when students can take an exam.
• Assicurazione sanitaria – Health insurance
  Coverage required for medical services in Italy.
• Associazione studentesca – Student association
  Student-led organization promoting activities, representation, and support.
• Ateneo – University
  Higher education institution offering degrees and research.
• Aula – Classroom
  Room where lectures and lessons take place.
• Aula magna – Main lecture hall
  Large hall used for major lectures and academic events.
• Aula studio – Study room
  Space dedicated to individual or group study.

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B

• Banca – Bank
  Institution where students open accounts and manage finances.
• Bando di ammissione – Call for applications
  Official document outlining requirements and deadlines for admission.
• Bando di concorso – Public competition notice
  Announcement for scholarships, grants, or academic opportunities.
• Biblioteca – Library
  Study space with books, journals, and digital resources.
• Biblioteca digitale – Digital library
  Online access to academic resources and publications.
• Bonifico bancario – Bank transfer
  Common payment method for tuition fees or rent.
• Bollette – Utility bills
  Payments for electricity, water, gas, or internet.
• Borsa di studio – Scholarship
  Financial aid awarded based on merit or income.

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C

• Campus – Campus
  Area where university buildings and services are located.
• Career service – Career service
  Office helping students find jobs, internships, and career opportunities.
• Carta SIM – SIM card
  Mobile phone card required for communication in Italy.
• Carta dello studente – Student ID card
  Card used to access services, exams, and discounts.
• Certificato di frequenza – Attendance certificate
  Document proving participation in a course.
• Certificato di iscrizione – Enrollment certificate
  Proof that a student is officially enrolled.
• Certificato di laurea – Degree certificate
  Official document confirming graduation.
• Classe di laurea – Degree class
  Category grouping similar academic programmes.
• Codice fiscale – Tax code
  Personal ID required for administrative and legal purposes.
• Colloquio di ammissione – Admission interview
  Interview used to assess a candidate’s suitability.
• Conto corrente – Bank account
  Account used for managing money in Italy.
• Contratto di affitto – Rental contract
  Legal agreement between tenant and landlord.
• Convalida esami – Credit recognition
  Process of validating exams taken elsewhere.
• Corso a numero chiuso – Limited enrolment course
  Programme with restricted seats.
• Corso di laurea – Degree programme
  Academic path leading to a qualification.
• Corso di laurea magistrale – Master’s degree programme
  Second-cycle academic programme after a bachelor’s degree.
• Corso serale – Evening course
  Programme held in the evening for working students.
• Corso singolo – Single course
  Individual course taken without full enrollment.
• Crediti formativi universitari (CFU) – ECTS credits
  Units measuring student workload.

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D

• Decadenza dagli studi – Withdrawal due to inactivity
  Loss of student status after long inactivity.
• Dipartimento – Department
  Academic unit managing teaching and research.
• Documento di identità – Identity document
  Official ID such as passport or ID card.
• Domicilio – Domicile address
  Temporary address where a student lives.
• Domanda di ammissione – Application form
  Request submitted to apply for admission.
• Domanda di iscrizione – Enrollment application
  Request to officially enroll after admission.
• Doppia laurea – Double degree
  Programme awarding two degrees from different institutions.
• Dottorato di ricerca – PhD
  Highest academic degree focused on research.

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E

• E-learning – Online learning
  Courses delivered via digital platforms.
• Erasmus – Erasmus programme
  EU mobility programme for studying abroad.
• Erasmus+ – Erasmus+ programme
  Extended EU programme for study, training, and mobility.
• Esame orale – Oral exam
  Spoken test assessing knowledge.
• Esame scritto – Written exam
  Test based on written answers.
• Esame universitario – University exam
  Assessment required to pass a course.
• Esito esame – Exam result
  Outcome or grade obtained in an exam.

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F

• Facoltà – Faculty
  Academic division grouping related disciplines.
• Farmacia – Pharmacy
  Place where medicines are purchased.
• Frequenza obbligatoria – Mandatory attendance
  Requirement to attend classes regularly.
• Fuori corso – Out-of-course student
  Student who exceeds the normal study duration.

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G

• Graduatoria – Ranking list
  List of admitted students based on results.
• Guida dello studente – Student guide
  Document explaining rules and academic procedures.

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I

• Immatricolazione – Enrollment
  Official registration at university.
• Insegnamento – Course unit
  Individual subject within a programme.
• Iscrizione – Registration
  Administrative process to attend university.
• Iscrizione al SSN – National Health Service registration
  Access to public healthcare in Italy.
• Iscrizione online – Online registration
  Digital enrollment procedure.
• ISEE universitario – Income-based indicator
  Economic index used to calculate tuition fees.

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L

• Laboratorio didattico – Teaching laboratory
  Practical learning space where students apply theoretical knowledge through experiments or projects.
• Laurea magistrale – Master’s degree
  Second-cycle academic degree (2 years, 120 ECTS) required for advanced studies and many professions.
• Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico – Single-cycle master’s degree
  Long degree programme (5–6 years) combining bachelor’s and master’s levels, common in fields like medicine or law.
• Laurea triennale – Bachelor’s degree
  First-cycle degree lasting 3 years (180 ECTS credits).
• Lezione frontale – Lecture
  Traditional class where a professor teaches to a group of students.
• Libretto universitario – Academic record
  Official record (often digital) showing exams passed and grades.
• Lavoro part-time – Part-time job
  Work activity often done by students alongside their studies.

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M

• MUR (MIUR) – Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca – Ministry of University and Research
  Italian authority responsible for higher education policies and regulations.
• Master (Italia) = Professional course, (different to Master’s Degree)
  Professional postgraduate course focused on practical skills and career specialization. It is not equivalent to an international Master’s degree and does not correspond to a second-cycle academic qualification.
• Master di primo livello – First-level postgraduate master
  Professional course accessible after a bachelor’s degree.

• Master di secondo livello – Second-level postgraduate master
  Advanced professional course accessible after a master’s degree.
• Master universitario – Postgraduate professional course
  Specialized programme focused on practical skills, not equivalent to a Master’s degree.
• Medico di base – General practitioner (GP)
  Doctor assigned to provide primary healthcare services.
• Mensa universitaria – University cafeteria
  Affordable dining service for students.
• Mobilità internazionale – International mobility
  Opportunities to study or train abroad during university.
• Mezzi pubblici – Public transport
  Buses, metro, and trains used for daily commuting.

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N

• Numero di matricola – Student ID number
  Unique number assigned to each student for administrative purposes.

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O

• Offerta formativa – Course catalogue
  List of all programmes and courses offered by a university.
• Orientamento in entrata – Incoming orientation
  Support services helping students choose and start their studies.
• Orientamento in uscita – Career guidance
  Services helping students transition from university to the job market.
• Orario delle lezioni – Class schedule
  Timetable of lectures and academic activities.

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P

• Permesso di soggiorno – Residence permit
  Mandatory document for non-EU students staying in Italy long-term.
• Permesso di soggiorno elettronico – Electronic residence permit
  Digital version of the residence permit issued as a card.
• Permesso di soggiorno per studio – Student residence permit
  Specific permit allowing non-EU students to live in Italy for study purposes.
• Piano di studi – Study plan
  List of courses a student must complete to graduate.
• Polizza sanitaria – Health insurance policy
  Insurance covering medical expenses.
• Poste italiane – Italian postal service
  Used for sending documents and applying for residence permits.
• Posto alloggio – Accommodation place
  Assigned housing spot in a student residence.
• Pre-iscrizione – Pre-enrollment
  Initial application phase, especially for international students.
• Prenotazione esami – Exam booking
  Process of registering for an exam session.
• Prova di ammissione – Entrance test
  Test required for admission to certain programmes.
• Prova finale – Final exam / thesis
  Final assessment required to graduate.

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Q

• Questura – Police headquarters (immigration office)
  Authority managing residence permits and immigration procedures.

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R

• Residenza – Official residence
  Registered address where a person officially lives.
• Rettore – Rector
  Head of a university.
• Riconoscimento titoli – Recognition of qualifications
  Process of validating foreign academic degrees.
• Rinuncia agli studi – Withdrawal from studies
  Formal process of leaving university.
• Rappresentante degli studenti – Student representative
  Elected student representing peers in academic bodies.

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S

• Segreteria studenti – Student office
  Administrative office handling enrollment, certificates, and records.
• Servizi agli studenti – Student services
  Support services including housing, counseling, and assistance.
• Servizio disabilità e DSA – Disability support services
  Services supporting students with disabilities or learning difficulties.
• Servizio tutorato – Tutoring service
  Academic support provided by tutors.
• Sessione d’esame – Exam session
  Period when exams are held.
• Sistema Sanitario Nazionale – National Health Service
  Public healthcare system in Italy.
• Sistema universitario – University system
  Structure of higher education in Italy.
• Sport universitario – University sports services
  Sports facilities and activities for students.
• Stage – Internship
  Practical work experience during studies.
• Tirocinio – Internship / traineeship
  Training period in a company or institution.

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T

• Tasse universitarie – Tuition fees
  Fees paid to attend university.
• Tessera sanitaria – Health card
  Card used to access healthcare services.
• Test di ammissione – Entrance exam
  Exam required for access to limited programmes.
• Titolo di studio – Academic qualification
  Degree or diploma obtained after completing studies.
• TOLC – Online admission test
  Standardized online test used by many universities.
• Trasporti pubblici – Public transportation
  System of buses, trains, and metro.
• Tutor universitario – Academic tutor
  Person supporting students in their studies.
• Tutorato – Tutoring
  Academic assistance provided to students.

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U

• Università – University
  Institution offering higher education and research.
• Universitaly – Universitaly portal
  Official platform for international students applying to Italian universities.
• Ufficio internazionale – International office
  Office supporting international students and mobility programmes.
• Ufficio orientamento – Orientation office
  Office helping students choose courses and paths.
• Ufficio placement – Placement office
  Office supporting students’ transition to employment.

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V

• Visto per studio – Student visa
  Visa required for non-EU students entering Italy.
• Vita universitaria – Student life
  Overall experience including study, social life, and services.
• Voto d’esame – Exam grade
  Score received in an exam.
• Voto di laurea – Final degree grade
  Final score at graduation, usually out of 110.