1. Home
  2. Study
  3. Need Our Help
  4. Foreign Languages

Italian Language Courses for foreign students

The University of Bergamo has been organizing Italian Language and Culture Courses for foreign students since 1978. During the academic year, CIS (Italian courses for foreigners) section will organize the following courses:

 
Semester Courses

  • Generic 
    5 levels (Beginner to Advanced A1-C1), of 60 hours, in both academic semesters  (October to January, February to May)

  • Special
    Writing, cultural and business language Courses, for students from level B1 upwards. These are 30 hour courses, in both academic semesters (October to January, February to May)

  • Individual lessons and Courses by request

Semester courses are open to exchange students, foreign students enrolled in the University of Bergamo and also to foreigners not enrolled in the University.
Courses include an entry test and a final verification test, the results of which can be certified by students’ request. All students will receive an attendance certificate at the end of the course.

 
Intensive Courses

September

  • General language courses (2 weeks, 40 hours, levels A1+ / B1)

  • Italian in University: the language of human sciences (1 week, 15 hours, level ≥ B1 / B2)

  • Italian in University: economic and juridical language (1 week, 15 hours, level ≥ B1 / B2)

February 

  • General language course (1 week, 30 hours, level A1+ / B1)

Please refer to the Documents section for all dates and times. Intensive summer course (July): 5 levels (Beginner to Advanced, A1 / C1), 100 hours, 4 weeks, with general culture lessons and recreational activities. 2 to 3 week courses are also available.

 
Intensive summer course

This is an international intensive summer course, existing since July 1978. It can be attended for 2, 3 or 4 weeks. Beyond the language lessons, the course offers many cultural and recreational activities.

  • Minimum age required: 18 
  • Duration: 4, 3, 2 weeks
  • Weekly hours: 25 (5 a day, 3 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon)
  • Enrolment deadline: Friday in the second week of June (beyond this date, subject to availability)
  • Levels: 5 - beginner (A1), elementary (A2), pre-intermediate (B1), upper-intermediate (B2), advanced (C1) based on entry test results:
  • Final examination will be held in the third week for three-week courses, or in the fourth week with exam preparation
  • For students coming from Universities with such an agreement, there can be also a CFU (Course Credit) benefit, if they require it and take the final test. CFUs will be 6 for 3 week attendance, and 8 for 4 week attendance

For intermediate to advanced levels (B2-C1) one or two afternoons a week are dedicated to contemporary Italian culture (i.e. literature, art, cinema, sociology, linguistics)

Recreational Activities:

  • One afternoon per week, can be chosen from singing, theatre, editing of a magazine, Italian traditional dances, fashion atelier and cooking
  • A literary competition
  • Farewell party
  • Excursions: guided tours of Bergamo Alta; one optional excursion (with fee) to an historical/artistic town in Northern Italy (i.e. Verona, Como, Garda lake)
  •