University of Trento

*The academic year is divided into two semesters.

• First semester runs from September to January, with the exception of Law students who can arrange to depart before the holidays. Law students must however be flexible in their course selection to be able to switch courses if the professor for a desired course will not grant early exit to finish before the holidays. 
• Second semester runs from February to July.

For the summer program, please see the  Trento summer program page . 

Student accommodation at Trento is guaranteed for exchange students. It is run through Opera Universitaria lodging, which is a provincial institution dedicated to student housing and assisting incoming international students. There are over 1580 beds in student accommodation and numerous apartment types that range in location and price, mixing international with domestic students.

Typical costs start from €250 per month for a 2-person shared bedroom, €310 for a single room (with shared facilities), €345-365 for a studio apartment, and €490 for a full apartment. More info can be found on the accommodation page. Typically a damage deposit of €360 (refundable on departure) and a non-refundable €40 for cleaning and administration will be required. There is also Bike loan program for students living on campus.

For private accommodation, Trento recommends using "Housing Anywhere" and has more information in the "Private accommodation" section of their accommodation page. 

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the U of C, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).

For Italian-taught courses, applicants should have a command of Italian at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) at a minimum, or have completed at least two 300-level or above courses in Italian before departure. Certification of language proficiency may be required. Students do have the opportunity to take Italian language courses during their stay.

For English-taught courses, Italian language competency is not required but basic knowledge is recommended for navigating everyday life in Italy.

Do I have to speak Italian?

No. For studies in Italian, it will be required, but for studies in English we recommend a basic understanding of Italian for functioning in day-to-day life. If you are not able to take a course in Italian during your degree you can also enroll in Continuing Education courses, or use language learning apps or software.  

While many young Italians will be able to speak English, it can be challenging to complete day-to-day tasks without at least a basic understanding of Italian.

Are there opportunities for me to learn Italian?

Yes! The University Language Centre (CLA) provides free languages courses in several languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Chinese) and at different levels.

The language courses take place at the Language Centre (CLA) in Via Verdi 8 in Trento, and in the different University Departments throughout the academic year. Some courses aim at developing general language skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening), while others are more specific.

Language courses are free for foreign students in the frame of international mobility programmes if included in their study plan. Italian language courses are equivalent to 3 ECTS. You can find the courses here. For more detailed information please contact the CLA directly.

For international students CLA provides a few kinds of courses in Italian:

• Evening courses (Corsi estensivi di italiano L2): two 3 hr lessons per week for about two months (mid-Oct to mid-Dec; mid-March to mid-May)
• Intensive courses (Corsi intensivi di italiano L2): five half-day lessons per week for about 2-3 weeks, designed to run as a pre-semester language program (in Sept, Feb, and June).
• Online courses (Corsi online): ICON (Italian Culture on the Net) is an interactive language learning course that costs about 30 euro and is open to registered exchange students (on acceptance). 

What supports and services are available at Trento?

The University Guild, Opera Universitaria, provides support services for students with accessibility needs. Trento recommends that students inform the advisor as soon as possible, but requires that all students that need support note the needed accommodations upon enrollment, before arriving in Trento. This is to ensure proper staffing and aides, as well as accommodations for housing or classroom instruction. More information can be found here. 

For information on accessibility of campuses across Europe, ESN has created "Inclusive Mobility EU" which allows you to check the accessibility of universities and cities across Europe. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.

Additionally, counselling services and cultural mediation services are also available for students suffering from mental health issues abroad such as (but not limited to) depression, homesickness, and anxiety, to interpersonal conflicts, language barriers, etc. 

Trento also offers support to Faculty and students bringing their families with them, as well as for student athletes who wish to continue training abroad. 

See all Services & Facilities here!

Additionally, Trento runs a buddy program, an orientation program, welcome days, and other activities for networking and meeting other local and international students. They also assist with Italian visas and each month offers affordable guided visits to sites around Trento like the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. Students also have free access to the University and Opera Universitaria sports facilities, discounts on town sports centres, swimming pools, ski-lifts, and opportunities to participate in sport competitions and events.