The University of Bologna

I use the word "university" rather loosely in this case. First, however, let me clarify a few things.

Some American universities have programs in Italy where, although you're in Italy, your classes are in English and usually with other Americans sans a possible Italian class.

Other programs, such as the the BCSP, put you directly into the host university. If you really want to learn Italian and meet Italians, this is the way to go.

This article focuses on the latter. Let me start by saying this: an Italian university is not like an American one. You'll most likely get confused, frustrated, and at times extremely angry with its disorganization and archaic structure (or lack thereof).

But... after befriending some Italians in your classes and learning how they survive you'll realize that if you've already conquered studying in the US, the Italian system isn't difficult. Just different.

The structure...and I use that term loosely

First of all there's the main university which is made up of individual facoltà: there's the facoltà of political science, the facoltà of medicine, etc. Basically a facoltà is like a department within a university.

Students apply to a single facoltà and take classes exclusively through that single facoltà. Plus each facoltà is autonomous to an extent, each having its own academic calendar. Which means that you, as a foreign student able to take classes in various departments, will have to check not only the times but also start, end, and vacation dates for your classes as there's no central university calendar. As I said this is because Italians only enroll in one department and thus there's no need to coordinate classes within multiple departments.

The 3/2 plan

As of 1999 this 3/2 system has been in effect.

Under this system it takes 3 years to do una laurea triennale, the equivalent of an undergraduate degree. After the laurea it takes another 2 years to do una laurea specialistica, our equivalent of a masters degree.

However, Italians in general don't seem to be in much of a rush to graduate; in fact deadlines for requirements don't really exist. Not only can you redo exams, you could take, during your third year, an exam from a class that you did during your first year! How is this possible?

The Italian System!

You Anglo-Saxons with your structure and organization! Welcome to Italy! There's no homework; if there is it's extremely rare. Classes are lecture format and attendance is not required. In fact, there are often separate syllabi for frequentanti (those who attend class) and non-frequentanti (those who don't).

Going to class is not required! I'm serious. There is usually no homework and your entire grade is based on an oral exam at the end of the course. "Wait... the entire grade is based on one oral exam?" Yep. But don't worry, if you don't like your grade, you can refute it...

The Oral Exam

In the Italian university it's all about demonstrating verbal clarity. Italian students cringe in fear when the words "written exam" are even mentioned. To them a written exam is something foreign while to us Americans it's the norm.

As I said the oral exam is the standard in Italy. Once in a while there may be a written midterm and some professors may do only written exams (it also depends on what subject you study). For us foreign students the idea of taking an oral exam at the end of a course and having an entire grade rest on its outcome is, needless to say, a bit intimidating. Intimidating, that is, until you realize that you can refute the grade. If the prof gives you a 27 (the Italian scale is 0-30) you can simply refute the grade and return to redo the exam again at the next appello (exam date). And this can be done indefinitely. That's why I have Italian friends who although are in their third year of study still have to take exams from their first year!

The professors

Italian professors generally consider themselves to be far superior and more important that you. While this is not true for all, it is definitely the norm.

In the US professors are without a doubt treated with the utmost respect, but at the same time there exists a type of intellectual community in which both professors and students take part. Professors make sure to be available for students and often attempt to clarify issues and material for students, facilitating their learning. In other words, students respect the professors, who in turn respect them, and the two see each other as having diverse but often complementary roles in the academic university setting.

In Italy it's not so. Example: I once went to an Italian professor's office hours, a block of two hours that was stated as being from 9:30 am until 11:30 am. I arrived at 9:50 am and encountered in the street outside the faculty building the professor who was just now about to arrive at his office hours. Not only that, but he seemed irritated and annoyed to talk to me outside the building as though it was rude for me to ask him a question at that place and time. What?

The antiquated system of immaculate professors and lowly students still exists in Italy to some extent. Just make sure you use Lei when addressing your prof... even if he is an old, uninspiring hack whom in the US couldn't even qualify for a TA-ship.

Just kidding! I've actually had some great professors here in Italy. But I must say that the general quality of American schools, in my opinion, is much better.

If you've studied in the US don't sweat over Italian classes

So classes aren't really that demanding. And you wonder why your Italian friends are always bitching about their classes and workload when in reality they don't have to do jack. (I wish my roommates knew what a semester was like in the US!)

But if you're studying abroad for a semester or a year you will learn things outside of the classroom that will serve you for the rest of your life and in the long run will be much more useful to you than just another university course.

So take advantage of your study abroad and all it has to offer. Try to keep up with your classes but realize that the Italian system isn't nearly as demanding as the American one... which will undoubtedly give you time to experience all of the great things that Italy and Europe have to offer.