Each year around 30,000 international students study abroad in Italy. It’s not surprising that thousands flock to Italy as it’s a country with rich culture and history. Not only that but Italy has one of the most developed economies and strong industries that international students can learn a lot from.
Today, we will be discuss the different considerations you will have to take in studying abroad in Italy. We will also look into how you will need Italian translation services for your requirements.
Let’s get started!
Why You Should Consider Studying Abroad in Italy
Often one of the most common questions we get asked by us: “Is Italy expensive for international students?” Italy is considered one of the best countries to study in because it’s education is high quality but a low cost compared to other European countries. So if you were having doubts about studying abroad in Italy because you worried about it being expensive, at least you now know you can afford to live and study there.
Other reasons why you should study in Italy, it’s because of the many international programs it offers across different industries like arts and culture, business and trade, science and technology, law, and technology. Italy houses the best universities and oldest institutions in the world.
Also, studying abroad can give you an edge in the workforce. This is because studying abroad builds character as you need an open mind, good social skills, and have adaptability. Living and studying abroad allows you a more inside perspective of a market, making you an appealing employee for companies looking to expand internationally.
Everything You Need to Know About Italian Student Visa
Foreign nationals that will be studying in Italy for more than 90 days are required to apply for an Italian Student Visa, which is classified as D-visa. But those coming from the following countries are exempted from needing an Italian Student Visa:
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Your country is a member of the European Union.
Even though they’re exempted, students coming from these countries are still required to apply for an Italian residence permit.
The Italian Embassies or the Consulate-General offices from your home country will be the ones to issue student visas. All students that don’t come from the mentioned countries are required to have their Italian student visas already before entering Italy.
You will have to do an interview with the Consulate-General. If you missed your scheduled interview, you can check with them to have it canceled and try to reschedule it on another date. It takes around three weeks for the application and before you can have your interview with the Italian Consulate.
You will need to submit both the original official documents alongside translated documents and photocopies. Once you met all the requirements and your application has been accepted, when you arrive in Italy, start applying for an Italian residence permit so that things run along smoothly.
List of Requirements that Need Certified Italian Translations
Now that we’ve discussed how you can apply for a student visa to study in Italy. We should talk about the other most common question asked: “Do I need to translate documents for an Italian visa?”
When applying for a visa to the Italian consulate, you will be required to have all of them translated by a sworn Italian translator or traduttore giurato, and has to be authenticated by a government official at an Italian court. Back then, you would have to physically go to a sworn translator to get your documents translated. But now, with the internet, it has become simpler to seek out certified Italian translation services for your official documents translated into Italian accredited by the Italian government and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that will be accepted by public and private institutions worldwide.
For this reason, we discourage you from translating your documents yourself because, other than lacking the skill and training to do it, the document would not be accepted by officials as the documents need to follow specific formats and guidelines.
We have listed below the Italian student visa requirements that need Italian translations:
- Travel document
- Receipt of your paid visa
- Previous Visa documents
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
- Proof of enrollment in an Italian University program
- Proof of accommodation (like student housing or apartment)
- Proof of sufficient financial resources
- Italian health insurance
- Documents of your educational background (like school records and transcripts)
As for your residence permit application or permesso di soggiorno, you will need copies of the following documents:
- Passport (particularly, the bio-data page)
- Visa pages
- Proof of Italian health insurance
- Acceptance letter of your university
After a couple of weeks, the local Italian post office will send you a receipt confirming your request for a residence permit. You must submit your residence permit to the Italian Questura or police headquarters.
When applying for an Italian-based scholarship for international students, we advise that you should have your application letter and requirements translated from English to Italian translation services. That’s because those reviewing it are native Italian speakers, so it will be more convenient for them to read your application in Italian. Also, most often, Italian-based scholarship providers will require international students to submit official documents in the Italian language.
Different International Scholarships You Can Apply
Several international scholarships are available for students studying abroad in Italy. We have listed below five scholarships that you can apply for:
- Italian Government-based Scholarships
Benefits: Full Tuition Fee Grant with a Monthly Stipend of 1,000 USD
Description: This scholarship is offered to those planning to study to get an AFAM, Master’s degree, or Ph.D. degree. The Italian government scholarship is one of the best scholarships and is perfect for those financially struggling. Its purpose of it is to boost global cooperation in fields such as culture, science, and technology. It’s eligible for anyone studying at one of Italy’s universities.
- Merit and Bocconi International Awards
Benefits: 50% off on Your Tuition Fee or Full Tuition Fee Grant
Description: This scholarship is eligible for those planning to take up Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The acceptance rate for this particular scholarship is low due to the huge amount of funds awarded because scholars can receive from 14,000 USD to around 15,000 USD.
- Padua International Excellence Scholarship Program
Benefits: Tuition Fee Waiver with an Annual Stipend of 9,000 USD
Description: It is only offered to those who are planning to take up Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. This scholarship is only applicable to the University of Padua, one of the top Italian universities. For bachelor’s degree students, the scholarship is only up to 3 years; meanwhile, Master’s degree holders get two years.
- Scuola Normale Superiore Ph.D Scholarship Program
Benefits: Tuition Fee Waiver with Eligibility to Research Stipends
Description: Scuola Normale Superiore is one of the most prestigious state-owned universities in Italy. The beneficiaries have free boarding and meals alongside their full grant scholarship.
- University of Bologna Study Grant Programs
Benefits: 13,000 USD Grant or Tuition Fee Waivers
Description: This program is offered to students taking up Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Bologna. It financially aids students who are struggling to keep living and studying in Italy. The challenge though for scholarship applicants is that they must be able to fulfill their academic qualifications.
5 Tips for Living and Studying in Italy
Since we have already discussed the more technical parts of studying abroad in Italy, we decided to write some tips and advice you need to know.
You might be rolling your eyes because this is obviously a given. But the problem with many first-time international students is that they only do surface-level research on the country. Besides researching what tourist spot to visit or which restaurant to eat at, familiarize yourself with the locations on your map before you arrive in Italy.
Learn about Italy’s different customs and practices, the laws and restrictions, and the common mistakes foreigners have made while living in Italy. It might save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Many people think that speaking only in English will be enough to get you by while living in another country. However, we advise that before you arrive at your destination, you’ve already mastered some basic phrases in the Italian language. It’s so you can better adjust to your environment quickly.
Over time, you’ll be able to master the language while living in Italy. It will also be another skill that will be handy in your career, as companies are always on the lookout for those who have skills in English to Italian translation.
Despite being swamped with schoolwork, now and then, we feel a bit homesick. When that happens, we advise that you do fun and self-care activities to keep you from feeling down. Studying abroad can be hard, especially if it’s your first time being far away from home.
Our tip is that you should remind yourself to give yourself a break. Not feeling in the mood to study right now. If you don’t have any upcoming quizzes or tests, use this time to do some simple self-care activities and reflection.
Can you study and work in Italy? As an Italian student visa holder, you can be a working student. However, you can only work a maximum of 20 hours a week.
Working part-time can help you better adjust to your new surroundings and socialize with locals. If you’re looking to find a part-time job but want to work from home, you can apply as a freelance translator, as there are a lot of job opportunities in Italian translation services.
Joining Student Societies and Organizations can help you better adjust to living in Italy and is a great way to make friends. Depending on the organization, it can help you develop your skills and talents through exposure and would make a great addition to your resume.
By participating in events and activities by these organizations, you can network with fellow students and personnel in your college. It can also assist in overcoming homesickness because you get to be a part of a community.
