Glossary

GLOSSARY OF THE MOST USEFUL ACADEMIC WORDS:

Appello d’esame / Examination registration
This is the date when an exam can be taken. The list of scheduled dates, times and places (called examination calendar) can be found on the Study Course Notice-board.
Associazione studentesca / Student Association
This is a group of students (not less than 50) with Articles of Association
Ateneo /Athenaeum
This is a synonym for ‘University’
Avviso di Ammissione / Admission Bulletin Board
Students wishing to apply for courses which require an entrance examination or assessment test should consult the avviso di ammissione.  This gives the number of available places, deadline dates and pre-enrolment application requisites, dates and examination subject-matter.

Classi di studio/ Study Sectors
These group  the various bachelor and specialist course degrees that share common features.  They define the educational aims of degree courses common to all universities. Universities are free to decide the name of their degree courses and courses of study in the syllabuses for each sector.
Corsi ad accesso libero / Courses with unrestricted number of places
Degree courses not requiring students to sit an entrance examination.
Corsi ad accesso programmato/ Courses with limited number of places
Some degree courses have a limited number of places and require pre-enrolment. To enrol, students must sit an entrance examination.
Corso di specializzazione /Course of Specialization
This is a post-bachelor or post-specialization degree course providing the practical tools for specific professions. The course length is at least two years. At the end of the course the student attains a Diploma di Specializzazione
Crediti formativi /Credits
Credits are a measure of the amount of work required to pass an exam. Credits are not a substitute for the exam mark. They represent the quantity of knowledge contained in the subject matter of the course taught. As a rule, one credit corresponds to 25 hours of ‘work’ (attendance at lectures, individual study, exercises, laboratories). Each instruction activity corresponds to a number of credits calculated on the basis of the time required to prepare for (and pass) the exam on that subject matter.

Diploma Supplement 
The Diploma Supplements is issued along with your higher education diploma. It follows a format that makes it easier to compare your diploma internationally. The Diploma Supplement gives information on the nature, level, context, content and status of your academic qualifications.
Diritto allo studio / Study Facility Rights
This states the student’s right to use the university’s facilities and services. Services include: study rooms, scholarships based on Merit and Income, exemption from fees, opportunities for part-time work (150 hours), training and introduction courses for the job market.
Domanda di valutazione curriculum e riconoscimento crediti/ Application for curriculum evaluation and for recognition of credits
Students wishing to re-enrol at the university and students wishing to resume their studies after a break can apply to the Student Registry to have examinations already taken converted into credits.
Dottorato di ricerca (DR) / Doctoral Degree
The Doctor of Philosophy course represents the highest level of tertiary education. It lasts 3 to 4 years and is open only to those who have completed the Mster  degree. The Courses have a limited number of places and admission is by exam.

ECTS CREDITS
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is a method of measuring your study programme as academic currency. ECTS is used all over Europe and enables you to easily compare study programmes and transfer your academic qualifications from one educational institution to another.
The use of ECTS points is compulsory in higher education in Europe. All Italian  higher education programmes are described according to ECTS as a system for both credit transfer and academic credit accumulation towards the final degree.
ERASMUS Mobility/ERASMUS Students’ Mobility
This programme allows students to spend a period of study (from 3 to 12 months) at European Universities that have signed a bilateral agreement with this University, guaranteeing the student the opportunity of following courses, using university facilities and having exams passed successfully recognized by appropriate credits (ECTS system).
ERDIS Ente Regionale per il diritto allo studio universitario / ERDIS Regional Agency for the Right to Higher Education
This agency principally offers scholarships, lodging in university halls and catering service in university canteens
www.erdis.it
Esame / Examination
This is the (written or oral) test held at the completion of a study course.

Immatricolazione / First year Enrolment
Immatricolazione (enrolment) means the Registration for the first year of a degree course. Each student is assigned a student number (numero di matricola), a student record book, a magnetic swipe card for accessing university canteens and other facilities, plus a personal email address.
Indicatore ISEEU / ISEEU  indicator
The ISEEU (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator ) is a tool that measures the economic status of families in Italy. It takes into account income, assets and characteristics of a household.

Laurea magistrale (LM) / 2nd Cycle Degree (Master Degree)
This is attained at the end of a course of two years  and requires a final thesis. It is open to those already in the possession of a first Level Degree. This course prepares the student for specific professions which require a higher level of training.
Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico / One-tier master degree
With the introduction of the combined degrees system, the traditional four or five year degrees are disappearing. Exceptions are degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies – and, recently, Law- as regulated by the European Union. Students can enroll directly after the school diploma, without first getting a Bachelor Degree. These are 5 or 6 years courses. There is a final thesis.
Laurea / 1st Cycle Degree (Bachelor Degree)
This is the first degree offered by the university and it is attained after a three year course (180 credits). It is made up of a defined number of teaching subjects and of other educational activities including training, workshops and so on. The Bachelor Degree course provides a basic theoretical understanding of the subject matter and is designed for an easy entry into the job market.
Libretto universitario / Student record book
This booklet is held by the student for the duration of the University course. The booklet records the student number (see below), enrolment year, and the exams that have been passed together with the mark.

Master post-laurea / Post-graduate Master
These are specialist courses that can be taken by those in possession of a Bachelor degree (first level Degree) or of a Specialist Degree (second level Degree).
They provide training for the professions and are also open to practicing professionals
Matricola/ First year student (Freshman)
This expression refers to students who are enrolled for the first time at University.
 

Numero di matricola /Student Identity Number
This is a personal identity number that each student receives at first enrolment

Piano di studio / Study plan
This is the course design you choose to follow to attain the Bachelor Degree or Specialization Degree. It includes compulsory and elective examinable material together with language training and computer skills.
Pre-immatricolazione / Pre-enrolment
Students wishing to sit for entrance examinations to a degree course must to apply for pre-enrolment and pay a pre-enrolment fee.Test di ammissione / Assessment Test
Student wishing to enrol in a degree course where the number of places is limited must pass an entrance examination. This assesses the level of preparation of each student.

Ricevimento studenti/ Student consultation hours
Each university teacher sets aside at least two hours per week for meeting students to discuss all the subject matter important in understanding and for making successful progress in the course.

Segreterie Studenti / Student Registry
This provides services and information regarding enrolment, certificates, fees, transfer applications from the faculties, applications for course-changes, study plans and graduation.
Semestre / Semester
The academic year is divided into two semesters, i.e. two teaching periods. Courses are conducted during the First Semester (from October to January with final exams in February-March), and during the Second Semester (from March to May with final exams in June-July).
Sessione d’esame / Examination session
The academic year is sub-divided into periods during which examinations may be taken. Each period is called a sessione. During each sessione, students may chose the date for sitting the examination (appello).

Tutor
Tutors are certain people there give advice and teaching support to students.

Voto/Mark
Note that  'Credit' does not represent the exam mark. While credits that are acquired by the passing of an exam represent a ‘sufficient’ level of knowledge of the subject matter, The mark (expressed out of thirty) indicates by how much the student has exceeded the ‘sufficient’ level. 18/30 indicates a ‘pass’ while 30/30 indicates ‘perfect preparation’.