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Italy: Perugia

Perugia

Setting | Courses | Calendar | Language | Costs | Examinations | Applications | Accommodations | Excursions

Setting

Perugia, the "Great Guelph Citadel", is a beautiful medieval city in the Umbrian Region that is rich in art treasures going back to Etruscan times. Located on a hilltop in Central Italy, the city is mid-way between Rome and Florence. Green valleys surround the area and other famous medieval towns such as Assisi, Orvieto, Todi, Spoleto (the city of the Festival of the Two Worlds) and others.

The University for Foreigners of Perugia is the official Italian State Center for Italian Language and Culture. It was founded in 1921 and its functions include instruction and research aimed at spreading the knowledge of Italian language, culture and civilization throughout the world. The faculty consists of distinguished native Italian professors of Italian language, linguistics, literature, history, art history, and economics. Some are known world-wide for their research, studies, and publications.

Courses

The University offers a wide selection of programs and courses for Italian language, culture and civilization. The regular courses Italian Language and Culture --are divided into five levels of language knowledge and these are offered throughout the year. Specialized courses are offered at specific periods during the year.

Italian Language and Culture

The regular language course has five levels:

	Level 1: Elementary, for those without previous knowledge of the language (20 hours/week) Download: (PDF) (Word)
	Level 2: Pre-intermediate, for those with some knowledge of the language (20 hours/week) Download: (PDF) (Word)
	Level 3: Intermediate, for those with a basic knowledge of Italian and is designed to reinforce the language skills acquired during previous studies (22 hours/week) Download: (PDF) (Word)
	Level 4: Advanced, for those who already have an intermediate proficiency of the language and are interested in specific aspects of the language (24 hours/week) Download: (PDF) (Word)
	Level 5: Superior, for those whose language proficiency allows them to approach semantic, structural and formal aspects of text analysis, and study of humanistic and technical disciplines (27 hours/week) Download: (PDF) (Word)

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Italian courses at levels 1 to 4 are three months in length, while Level 5 is a six-month program. Registration is possible in any month of the year, and a course can be attended for just one month. However, exams are only given in the last month of a session. See the section on Certificates.

Descriptions are available for the courses in each level. Look in the course catalogue, by clicking on the level, or Download the Course Catalogue:

Perugia Course Catalogue: (PDF) (Word)

Entry in level 2 and above depends on the results of a placement test to be taken in Perugia:

Intensive Italian includes additional class hours per week and limits enrollment to a smaller number of students. It is offered for all five levels, but only from July through September.

Study of Italian Vocal Music

The course concentrates on the study of Italian opera music scores. Two lessons per week for a month throughout the year, finishing with a concert open to the public.

Free for enrollees in courses of Italian Language and Culture., but reserved for opera singers, orchestra directors, set-designers, film directors and assistant/substitute directors.

Advanced Courses in Humanities (2-week programs in July)

Contemporary Italian Language
	Italian Language and (new) media
History of Art
	The Renaissance in Umbria Etruscan Studies and Italic Studies
Etruscan Studies and Italic Studies
	Trade and commerce fo the Etruscan and Italic peoples

Calendar

Italian Language and Culture

Monthly Sessions (all levels) start each month; students can take one month and then enroll for another month program.

Two-month sessions (all levels) start in February, May, July, August, and November.

Quarterly sessions (Levels 1-4) start in January, April, July, and October.

Six-month sessions (Level 5) start in January, April, July, and October.

Classes start on the first work day of each month, unless it falls on a holidays such as May 1st. In this case, classes start on the next work day except for January when classes start the first work day after the Epiphany, January 6.

Download the Current Academic Calendar to see the specific dates:

Perugia Course Calendar:	( PDF) ( Word)

Advanced Courses in Humanities July 18-29, 2005, for the first two courses, July 4-15, 2005 for Etruscan Studies

Language of classes

All classes are conducted in Italian.

Costs

The cost ranges from $1,350 and depends on the program and the length of stay. The cost includes university tuition, lodging (for one month) in a shared apartment or double/single room rented from an Italian family, Italian health insurance, and EHI fees. To give participants maximum flexibility in their housing options, only one month of rent is included regardless of the length of study. Thus, students have flexibility to extend the housing arrangement or change accommodations.

Length of Study

COST*

One Month

$1,575

Two Months

$1,875

Three Months

$2,300

Four Months

$2,700

Five Months

$3,100

Six Months

$3,600

Nine Months

$4,800

One Month - Intensive - supplement

$100

* Includes initial month of housing for all programs

Examinations and certificates

The University for Foreigners of Perugia gives exams only to studentswho finish in entirety a quarterly or six-month program.

For less than three months and on request, students receive a Certificate of Attendance. There are no grades indicated on this certificate, except for the two-week special advanced courses. For one or two-month courses, the Certificate of Attendance is the only document that can be obtained.

Three-month courses (Levels 1-4) or six-month courses (Level 5) end with an optional examination. This includes written and oral tests at the end of each quarter/six-month period. Students completing the final month (if all prior months have been taken at that time or within a three-year period) may take the exam. Dates for examinations are set before the end of each course.

The University for Foreigners of Perugia, part of the Italian university system, issues the diploma after successful completion of the examination:
" Certificate for Knowledge of Italian Language for levels 1-3, .
" Certificate for Knowledge of Italian Language and Culture for level 4, and
" Italian Language and Culture Diploma for level 5.

Application Information

Persons who wish to apply should complete the application and send by mail or electronically to the European Heritage Institute. See details of the application process.

EHI Standard Application	(PDF)	(Word)

Accommodations

The best available housing for the selected time period is arranged for applicants. Standard housing is in double rooms rented from Italian families and/or in student efficiency apartments modestly furnished and provided with linen and cooking facilities.

Single rooms and independent apartments can be arranged. A single room supplement is generally $150 per month. Single apartments will generally cost more.

For some housing arrangements, students may have to give a small deposit or pay a supplement for heat or electricity in Italy; these fees vary by type of facility and landlord so they can only be determined when specific housing or options are identified for a student.

Activities & Excursions

Visits to historic cities in Umbria and nearby regions are organized on weekends by the University for Foreigners of Perugia at a nominal, very low fee. The University also offers weekend trips to Venice, Rome, and Naples. Trips may also be organized for the Palio in Siena, Ravenna, Cinque Terre. Generally these are one per month during the academic year and up to several each weekend during the summer.

It is also easy to reach the hill towns of Umbria and Florence and Rome by bus or train. There are many train connections to other cities in Italy and other parts of Europe.

Typical Excursions	(PDF)	(Word)