Italian courses for foreigners
Italian courses for international students
Italian language courses are offered to international students starting in their first semester, allowing them to become familiar with the Italian language and culture right from the start of their studies at Luiss.
Italian language courses are structured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and are divided into a series of level-based modules.
Groups are formed based on language proficiency levels, which are determined through a language assessment test. The test takes place during the first lesson, and details about the test (date, time, and classroom) will be sent out closer to the start of the course. Those with no prior knowledge of the language do not need to take the test. After completing the tests, you will receive an email with details about your assigned group.
The Italian courses are designed for the following groups. However, to register for the course, you must have duly received and completed the designated online form by the specified deadline:
- international students enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or single-cycle Master's degree program, or in a single course
- international students enrolled in a Double Degree program
- other international students at Luiss (PhD students, Business School, School of Government, School of Law, School of European Political Economy)
- international faculty
The courses are divided into:
Midweek courses reserved for students enrolled in Bachelor's or Master's degree programs, as well as those enrolled in a Double Degree program that requires the study of Italian.
Saturday courses are reserved for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's, or single-cycle Master's programs, as well as those in a Double Degree program with optional Italian language study. These courses are also reserved for doctoral students, students enrolled in a Master's program, students enrolled in a single course, students enrolled in a Double Degree program that does not require the study of Italian, and international faculty.
Here are some frequently asked questions
Yes, if you’ve never studied Italian, you’ll be placed in a beginner group and won’t need to take the language assessment test.
You will receive all the course details (group, time, and classroom) via email well in advance of the first lesson.
The Italian course will be included in your study plan and will allow you to earn credits only if you select it as a required or optional language when completing your study plan (for more information on the rules for completing your study plan, please refer to the page). Until then, the course will remain optional and you won't earn any credits.
Yes, if you choose another language, you can still attend the Italian course for personal interest (without credits), as it won’t be included in your study plan. However, if your attendance falls below 50%, your enrollment in the course will automatically be cancelled.
Group changes are allowed only for educational reasons, or when the teacher deems it necessary to move a student to a group at a level more suited to their skills. However, transfers cannot be made due to scheduling reasons or based on the student's personal preferences.
If you've selected the course as a required or optional part of your curriculum, attendance is strongly recommended, as it forms an integral part of the final assessment.
If you have attended or are attending the course out of personal interest (without earning credits), you must attend at least 50% of the semester's lectures. Otherwise, your enrollment will lapse, and you won't be able to attend the course the following semester.
Generally, it's advisable not to exceed three absences per semester. However, students enrolled in Digital degree programs can access lecture materials through the Luiss Learn or Canvas platform.
The course duration depends on your degree program’s curriculum (see the page for more information). If you have taken or are currently taking the Italian course and choose to select the language as either mandatory or optional when completing your study plan, then, provided you attend at least 50% of the classes, the semesters you have attended will count toward the completion of the course, and you will be able to earn credits ahead of the schedule outlined in the course description. However, if your attendance falls below 50%, the course will resume following the schedule outlined in the curriculum for each degree program.
If you are taking the course for personal interest, you will be allowed to continue attending for up to three semesters.
If the course is part of your study plan, you can request a certificate indicating your intermediate or final level by following the procedure on the page.
If you have attended or are attending the course without credits for personal interest, you can request a certificate of participation from the Language Institute, indicating the level you have reached. In that case, you can request the document by emailing cla@luiss.it .
Yes, if you’ve never studied Italian, you’ll be placed in a beginner group and won’t need to take the language assessment test.
You will receive all the course details (group, time, and classroom) via email well in advance of the first lesson.
The Italian course will be included in your study plan and will allow you to earn credits only if you select it as a required or optional language when completing your study plan (for more information on the rules for completing your study plan, please refer to the page). Until then, the course will remain optional and you won't earn any credits.
Yes, if you choose another language, you can still attend the Italian course for personal interest (without credits), as it won’t be included in your study plan. However, if your attendance falls below 50%, your enrollment in the course will automatically be cancelled.
Group changes are allowed only for educational reasons, or when the teacher deems it necessary to move a student to a group at a level more suited to their skills. However, transfers cannot be made due to scheduling reasons or based on the student's personal preferences.
If you've selected the course as a required or optional part of your curriculum, attendance is strongly recommended, as it forms an integral part of the final assessment.
If you have attended or are attending the course out of personal interest (without earning credits), you must attend at least 50% of the semester's lectures. Otherwise, your enrollment will lapse, and you won't be able to attend the course the following semester.
Generally, it's advisable not to exceed three absences per semester. However, students enrolled in Digital degree programs can access lecture materials through the Luiss Learn or Canvas platform.
The course duration depends on your degree program’s curriculum (for more information, please visit the page). If you have taken or are currently taking the Italian course and choose to select the language as either mandatory or optional when completing your study plan, then, provided you attend at least 50% of the classes, the semesters you have attended will count toward the completion of the course. This means you can earn credits ahead of the schedule outlined in the program's curriculum. However, if your attendance falls below 50%, the course will resume following the schedule outlined in the curriculum for each degree program.
If you are taking the course for personal interest, you will be allowed to continue attending for up to three semesters.
If the course is part of your study plan, you can request a certificate indicating your intermediate or final level by following the procedure on the page.
If you have attended or are attending the course without credits for personal interest, you can request a certificate of participation from the Language Institute, indicating the level you have reached. In that case, you can request the document by emailing cla@luiss.it .
University Language Center
Viale Romania, 32
T: 06 85225680/5915
cla@luiss.it