Incoming Mobility | Students Opportunities
Incoming Mobility Students Opportunities
Incoming Exchange Students: study mobility at UNISA | Students Opportunities
Welcome to the University of Salerno! We are delighted to have you join our international community. Below you will find essential information to help you prepare for your study period at our university. For a quick overview of the University and campus life, please visit the following links:
NOMINATION (by the home University)
Exchange students must be officially nominated by their home university through a dedicated online platform. This process is managed by the International Relations Office of your home institution.
Nomination Deadlines:
- 1st/Fall Semester or Full Academic Year: April 1st – June 15th
- 2nd/Spring Semester: September 1st – November 15th
Once your nomination is received, the UNISA Internationalization Office will verify your eligibility based on existing bilateral agreements. If accepted, you will be contacted via email with further instructions for the online application process.
APPLICATION (by the student)
Completing the application is mandatory. It is crucial to complete it within the established deadlines.
During the application process, you must upload a valid copy of your ID card or passport.
Application Deadlines:
- 1st/Fall Semester or Full Academic Year: April 15th – June 30th
- 2nd/Spring Semester: October 15th – November 30th
As an exchange student, you are free to select study units from different Departments at the University of Salerno. However, please ensure that you consult with your home university, as it will need to recognize the credits earned at UNISA.
All study units and exams are conducted in person, and mobility must be carried out on-site.
LEARNING AGREEMENT
The Learning Agreement outlines your study plan at UNISA and must be agreed upon with your home university and the University of Salerno. It ensures that your exams and credits will be recognized once back to your home University.
For Erasmus+ students, the University of Salerno can receive your Online Learning Agreement (OLA) via Erasmus Without Paper (EWP). To submit your OLA, you must receive the relevant information from your home university.
If your university does not participate in the EWP network, please request a paper version of the Learning Agreement from your home university. Once it is correctly filled in, approved and signed by all parties involved, please upload it in your Esse3 Personal Area in the "Career Attachments" section.
If you have submitted an OLA, there is no need to upload it separately.
Important: Learning Agreements submitted by email or those that are incomplete or inaccurate will not be accepted.
STUDY UNITS SELECTION
When selecting courses, ensure the following:
- Refer to the UNISA Course Catalogue for course details (updated annually in June). Remember to filter the information selecting the academic year during which your mobility is taking place.
- Include the correct study unit codes (it is a ten-digit number that identifies the study unit, ex: 4312200017 - LETTERATURA ITALIANA)
- Credit values:1 CFU = 1 ECTS. Study units cannot be split in modules. Only medicine students can select modules of a single study unit.
- Ensure the courses you choose align with your study period (e.g. don’t choose annual courses if you are staying for one term).
- Check the evaluation criteria, as some courses may be graded with "VOTO" (from 18 to 30) or "GIUDIZIO" (Pass/Fail). See the paragraph Italian grading system for further info.
Note: Note that Courses from Degrees in Tecniche per l’edilizia e il territorio, Electrical Engineering for Digital Energy, Sicurezza Informatica e Tecnologie Cloud take place in Avellino University Center
Study unit codes, number of CFU and all other above-mentioned details must match the Course Catalogue information. Incomplete, inaccurate or incorrect OLA/LA will not be accepted.
For any modifications to your Learning Agreement, you can make changes at the start of each semester, with approval from both your home university and UNISA.
Please refer to your home University for instructions about how to change your OLA/ LA.
Deadlines for changes to the OLA/LA:
- 1st Semester/Full Academic Year: By October 31st
- 2nd Semester: By March 31st
The Italian grading system is based on a scale of 30, with 18 being the minimum passing grade. An excellent grade may be awarded as 30 cum laude. Failed exams are not indicated in the student's final Transcript of Records, unless you specifically ask the lecturer to register this result.
However, some study units may use a “PASSED/ NOT PASSED” system instead of numerical grades. Please consult the Course Catalogue for further details on evaluation criteria as the evaluation could be:
“VOTO” = grade from 18 to 30
“GIUDIZIO” = passed/ not passed
Lessons generally start in mid-September. Timetables are published on each department's webpage starting in early September. You can also check timetables via the UNISA Easycourse platform.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Language certifications are not required, unless the existing bilateral agreement with your home university specifically mentions it.
However, to make the most of the lectures and your studies, you are strongly recommended to have acquired the following language levels before starting your mobility:
- Italian-taught courses: a minimum of CEFR A2 in Italian.
- English-taught courses (Bachelor’s level): a minimum of CEFR B1 in English.
- English-taught courses (Master’s level): a minimum of CEFR B2 in English.
ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSE
The University of Salerno offers Italian language courses for incoming students. The course consists of 50 hours (5 credits). To earn credits, you must attend at least 70% of the classes and pass the final test.
Further information will be published soon.
EU citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can access the Italian National Health Service (SSN) without paying any subscription. You can register with the local health authority (ASL) in Salerno to choose a general practitioner: Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Salerno 2 - Distretto Sanitario 66, Via Vernieri 14.
Non-EU citizens need to be covered by health insurance to study in Italy.
There are three options available for obtaining health coverage:
1. Purchase a private health insurance in your home country before departure. It is recommended to have the insurance policy validated by the Italian embassy and translated into Italian or English.
2. Upon arrival in Italy, you can register with the Italian National Service (SSN) for health coverage. This insurance is valid for one calendar year (from 1st January to 31st December) and costs approximately €700,00.
Required documents:
- European Health Insurance Card or other documents that prove that students have health coverage in Italy.
- Copy of ID-card or passport.
- Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale). Students who have not received thier fiscal codes from the Italian Embassy in their country of residence, may obtain their personal Codice Fiscale at the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia dell'Entrate) located in Via degli Uffici Finanziari, 7, 84131, Salerno.
3. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase a private health insurance after arriving in Italy. We strongly advise to thoroughly research and understand the coverage provided by each insurance option before making a purchase.
Emergency care is available at the Fisciano Campus health center free of charge for all incoming exchange students.
(additional info is included in the section During your stay)
STUDENTS WITH EU CITIZENSHIP
Exchange students (Erasmus+ or other programmes) who plan to stay in Italy temporarily, for longer than three months, can stay in Italy without any formalities. All they need is a valid identity document for international travel.
STUDENTS WITH NON-EU CITIZENSHIP
Find out more about the Italian regulations to enter Italy at the following website https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en, selecting "Study – Exchange and Mobility Programme" as reason of stay.
According to the new procedure implemented by the Italian Ministry of University, non-EU exchange students who need to apply for a visa must do it through an online platform called UNIVERSITALY.
Students need to register on UNIVERSITALY (step 6), select the Erasmus+ or other kind of study or traineeship program in the Kind of Application field, specify the Italian representative (Embassy/Consulate) in their country where they will apply for a visa, and fill in the online form.
The University of Salerno will only accept and validate applications from students who have completed the application procedure on the UNISA platform (Esse3). The UNIVERSITALY platform will then automatically generate a letter to be delivered by the candidates to the Italian representative abroad. The Embassy/Consulate will start the visa procedure only for candidates already accepted by the University.
It is recommended to apply well in advance for the visa, as the visa process can take several months.
If you are a non-EU student, but you fall into the following situation:
- you are enrolled at a university in the European Union (Schengen Area) and
- you have a residence permit for study purposes issued in a member country of the European Union (Schengen Area) which covers the entire mobility period and which is renewable in the country where it was issued and
- you participate in a European mobility programme or you carry out a mobility under an international agreement of the University of Salerno
you must find out if you need a visa or not at the Visa Office of the Italian Embassy in the nation where you now live and study.
It is strongly recommended to ask for the issuance of an official Italian Tax Code (codice fiscale) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. The “codice fiscale” (or Italian tax code) is required to carry out a wide range of activities in Italy, such as opening a bank account, signing a tenancy agreement, registering with the Italian National Health Service, and receiving payments or reimbursements from the University of Salerno (additional info is included in “During your stay” section).
All the above-mentioned documents, along with other papers detailed in the Permit of Stay section, will enable students to apply for a residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno), which is compulsory and must be completed within eight working days of their arrival in Italy. The fee for the permit of stay is approximately €147.00 (including revenue stamp and operating costs).
The University of Salerno organizes a Welcome Day at the beginning of each semester to help incoming students settle in. During this session, you will receive important information regarding your stay at UNISA. Keep an eye on your email and our website for updates on the next Welcome Day.
About UNISA
Information about how to reach the University of Salerno and all the Campus facilities is in the Campus Life section.
Your Start Day
The start date of the Erasmus period coincides with the Orientation Day which occurs at the beginning of each term. During the meeting will be asked to register and to hand in your certificate of arrival . In case you are not able to attend the Orientation Day, upon arrival, you have to register at the International Office and get your certificate of arrival signed.
Enrolment at the International Office
Upon their arrival, incoming students have to be registered at the International Office (Fisciano Campus- Building A1, ground floor).
The International Office is, through the orientation meetings organized, their first and permanent contact point.
During their mobility period, students are always welcome whenever they have academic, personal or practical difficulties.
Check opening hours and useful contacts here
Residence permit
No EU students with a visa for study purpose lasting the whole lenght of the mobility do not need to apply for residence permit. The residence permit is necessary when students enter Italy without a visa or with a short term visa.
The residence permit application documents (KIT) are available at the Post Office.
Assistance in finding accommodation
Private rented rooms
For accommodation, students can be assisted in finding suitable private rented rooms through the International Students’ Associations “AEGEE-Salerno” and “Erasmus Students Network (ESN-Salerno)”.
UNISA Halls of Residence
Incoming students may also apply for a room in the on-campus and off-campus Halls of residence.
UNISA Halls of Residence are not managed by the University of Salerno but by a regional public body called Azienda per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario della Regione Campania (ADISURC).
A limited number of rooms are available for incoming students and accommodation cannot be guaranteed for all applicants.
Applications for paid accommodations can only be submitted by October 31st each year, for mobility in both the first and second semesters, by sending an email to residenzecra2@adisurcampania.it.
Accommodation fees range from € 215 to € 274 per month per person, including utility bills, depending on the different available options.
For detailed information and availability, please contact residenzecra2@adisurcampania.it.
UNISA Catering service (select english)
Health assistance
Students with EU nationalities
Students with EU nationalities who have a European Health Insurance Card can directly access the Italian National Health Service (SSN) without paying any subscription. They may visit the local health authority office, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Salerno 2 - Distretto Sanitario 66, located in Salerno at Via Vernieri 14, to choose a general practitioner.
Non-EU students need to be covered by health insurance to study in Italy. You can enroll in the Italian National Health Service at the cost of 700 euros/calendar year - valid from January until December regardless of the month you pay.
Required documents:
- European Health Insurance Card or other documents that prove that students have health coverage in Italy.
- Copy of ID-card or passport.
- Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale). Students who have not received thier fiscal codes from the Italian Embassy in their country of residence, may obtain their personal Codice Fiscale at the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia dell'Entrate) located in Via degli Uffici Finanziari, 7, 84131, Salerno.
Also, students may go to the general health centre located at Fisciano Campus for first aid care. This service is free of charge for all incoming students.
The Basic Psychology Service (SPdB), set up in agreement with the Salerno Local Health Authority and dedicated to all students at the University, is now active.
The Service offers the opportunity to take advantage - free of charge - of basic psychological support (eight meetings) with one of the dedicated psychologists. For additional information visit the following page https://web.unisa.it/en/campus-life/services/health-care
Departmental Coordinators for international mobility
After registering with the International Office, incoming students are strongly advised to contact their departmental coordinator for international mobility for any academic issues. A list of coordinators can be found in the "documentation" section at the bottom of the page.
Exams
Exams can be taken at the end of each course during the established period through a written or oral test. It is mandatory for students to register online through the Virtual Campus ESSE3 at least ten days before the established exam dates.
Procedure to register for exams:
- log in to your Personal Area with your username and password
- select "Exam sessions (Appelli)" from the left menu
- Follow the instructions
If you encounter any problems while booking the exam (such as a matricola pari/dispari, resto 0/1/2), you can use the TICKET service by clicking on https://hd.unisa.it (using your Esse3 credentials) within the established deadline. Select the correct department where the subject is taught and include the following information:
- UNISA enrollment number (i.e. ERASMSIN0XXX)
- Component code of the exam (i.e. 02127XXXX)
- Name of the exam (i.e. Matematica)
- Date of the exam: (i.e. 12/02/2022)
- Name of the professor (i.e. Prof. XXX)
Please note that booking the exam and accepting the grade is your responsibility. The grade of the exam MUST be accepted soon after the exam. If you don’t want to accept the grade you must ask the professor to give you an F grade if you need that exam to appear in your transcript of records!
If you have any doubts or difficulties, please contact the International Office..
Grading System
The results of passed exams are given a grade based on the national system, where the top grade is 30 and the passing grade is 18. University credits (CFU) are equivalent to European credits (ECTS): 1 CFU = 1 ECTS. Course unit grade conversion from the Italian education system to the international education system will be carried out individually for each course unit and will be stated in the Transcript of Records issued to the student's home institution.
Italian language course
The University of Salerno offers Italian language courses (L2) for incoming students. Each course lasts 50 hours and is worth 5 credits. To receive credits, students must attend at least 70% of the lessons and pass the final exam.
If students require credits for the course to be included in their Transcript of Records, they must include it in their Learning Agreement within the established period. If they do not require credits, they may still participate in the course and receive a final certificate upon passing the exam.
Please note that students are only allowed to enroll in one free Italian language course. If they wish to further improve their skills, they may enroll in other more advanced courses for a fee.
For non-EU students it is compulsory to hold a health insurance (or a health insurance payment receipt) in order to apply for the residence permit. They can choose among three alternatives to obtain a health coverage:
- Purchase aprivate health insurancein their own country before departure. It is always advisable that the insurance policy is validated by the Italian embassy and translated into Italian or English.
- Register with the Italian National Service (SSN).This insurance is validone calendar year (1st January - 31st December) and costs about € 150,00.
- Purchase a private health insurance upon arrival in Italy.
We strongly advice students to get proper information about what covers every insurance before purchasing it.
Also, students may go to the general health centre located at Fisciano Campus for first aid care. This service is free of charge for all incoming students.
Permit of stay (Only for non-EU students)
Within eight working days upon arrival, non-EU students must apply for a Permit of stay (Permesso di soggiorno) through the Post Office located on Fisciano Campus.
The student association AEGEE-Salerno will assist non-EU students in filling in the application form (the so-called "Kit")
Obtaining the Permit of stay is compulsory and it costs about € 147,00 (including revenue stamp and operating costs).
Required documents:
- Copy of all pages of the passport or identity card;
- Copy of the Visa issued by the Embassy or Consulate;
- Copy of the insurance policy covering the student from health and accidents problems for the whole period of his/her stay;
- 4 ID-card/passport size pictures;
- Lease contract or statement of current residence of the student;
- Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale). Students may obtain their personal Codice Fiscale at the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia dell'Entrate) located in Via degli Uffici Finanziari, 7, 84131, Salerno.
- Ambulance service: 118
- Police: 113
- Carabinieri: 112
- Fire brigade: 115
Courses are usually organised in two semesters. Semester dates:
1st semester:
- Starts in September/ October
- Ends in December/ January
- Examinations: January/ February/ March (resit examinations)
2nd semester:
- Starts in February/ March
- Ends in May/ June
- Examinations: June/ July/ September (resit examinations)
Most courses last one semester, but there are also courses that last for the whole academic year.
The beginning of each semester may vary depending on each Department. Updated information will be published on their websites.
Holidays:
- 21st September: Patron Saint of Salerno (San Matteo)
- 23rd December – 6th January: Christmas break
- 25th April: Italian Liberation Day
- 1st May: Labour Day
- 2nd June: Italian Republic Holiday
For students with special needs, the "Diritto allo Studio" office provides support. Their services include:
- Assistance with administrative formalities;
- Preparation of teaching materials for students who cannot use printed materials;
- Computer aids and study support;
- Dedicated equipment and furnishings for classes.
In addition, each department has a coordinator who deals with disabled students. More information can be found on the university's website.
At the end of their stay, incoming students are asked to visit the International Office to obtain their final certificate of stay. Before checking out make sure that all examinations have been recorded. Credits acquired (ECTS), grades obtained and any other activities carried out at the University of Salerno are recorded on the Transcript of Records. The Transcript of Records (with a scanned copy of the certificate of stay) will be sent directly to the International Relations Office of Partner Universities by email, putting the student in cc.
It is strongly recommended that students do not book their flight back home on the day after their last exam, as exam dates may change.
