Student Corner
Academic Calendar & Term dates
Key Dates | 2024/2025 academic year |
|---|---|
Semester 1 | 23 September - 12 January (PDF Schedule) |
Christmas vacation | 23 December - 6 January |
Semester 1 examinations | 13 January - 23 February |
Semester 2 | March - SeptemberTUHH Semester2 starts with some preliminary activities run in L'Aquila in March, then continues in Hamburg as of April 1. |
Holidays (Italy) | 1 November, 8 December, 6 April, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 10 June, 15 August |
UAQ Schedule of Lectures
Visa information
Applying for an Italian study visa
Non-EU students selected to study at the University of L'Aquila will need to apply for a student visa at the nearest Italian Embassy/Consulate. The visa application requirements and processing time can be lengthy, taking anywhere from a few weeks up to several months. It is very important that you contact the nearest Italian Embassy for information as early as possible.
Please notice that, before joining our programmes, you will only need to apply for one visa only at an Italian Embassy/Consulate, as Italy is the location for your first semester/year. Afterwards, while you're spending your semester(s) in Italy, you will have the chance to apply for another visa or residence permit, e.g. a German one if you're spending your Semester 2 in Hamburg, at the German Consulate based in Rome.
Web-based visa application on Universitaly.it
The visa application procedure is completely web-based. All non-EU students not living in Italy are requested to pre-enrol using the online platform called UNIVERSITALY. Once your pre-enrolment request on Universitaly.it has been approved by the University of L'Aquila, you will receive a confirmation email. After that, you will have to get in contact with the local Italian Diplomatic-consular mission for the visa request process. Please note that the university confirmation email does not automatically imply the issue of a study visa for you, which is all up to the Diplomatic mission you're in contact with, instead.
Documents required
Please get in contact with the local embassy/consulate to learn more about the specific requirements they might have in that region.
Recognition of Qualifications
To complete your visa application first and finalize your enrolment after reaching L'Aquila, you'll have to submit verification of your previous university qualifications
Residence Permit
If you need a visa to stay in Italy, remember that you will also have to apply for an Italian residence permit within 8 days of arriving in our country.
Italian Residence Permit
The InterMaths team will assist you with preparing all the required documentation, which includes a couple of forms to be filled in and, among others:
A full copy of your passport (every single page, cover included)
A copy of your health insurance card
Accommodation proof
Financial proof
Enrolment certificate
All you need to do is visit an Italian post office and withdraw the required form known as "kit permesso di soggiorno" ("soggiorno" sounds like "sojjorno"). Then, bring it to campus and we'll fill it in together!
After that, put all the required documents (including blank forms) back in the envelope, visit an Italian post office once again and complete the submission process (including payment of the required fees) with the post office clerks. After that, your application will be submitted to the L'Aquila police station ("questura" in Italian, which sounds like "kuestura") via the post office itself. Note that you may withdraw and drop your application form at any Italian post office, not necessarily the ones in L'Aquila, but the envelope must be addressed to the L'Aquila Questura, as it's the one in charge of the place where you're going to live and study.
At the end of the submission process, the clerk at the post office will hand you out three receipts, which will be considered as your temporary residence permit (always carry a copy with you whenever you're around and drop one to our Registrar's Office to confirm your enrolment).
On such receipts you'll also find the date and time of the appointment fixed for you at the L'Aquila police station (Questura) to complete the rest of the required procedures, which includes an interview for fingerprints (carry with you passport & ID-size photos). Eventually, you'll be summoned for another appointment to collect your final (plastic) permit card - the one you can see on this page.
The whole process will be complete in approximately 2 months (but it might even take longer) and will cost you around 120 euros.
Enrolment procedure
After getting to L'Aquila, you'll have to complete your enrolment at the University of L'Aquila, which is the coordinating institution of your MSc programme.
The enrolment process involves a preliminary online phase to be performed on our university info system "Segreteria Virtuale", which is usually taken care of by the InterMaths consortium.
The process consists of:
Account registration
Online pre-enrolment (it has nothing to do with the Pre-Enrolment on Universitaly.it to get a study visa)
Fee payment.
Afterwards, to finalize your online enrolment, you'll have to submit:
Qualifications (i.e., transcript and degree certificate) from your university of origin in their original format.
Verification of your previous university qualifications. To do so, you'll have to submit ONE of the following certificates:
CIMEA Statements of comparability
CIMEA (ENIC/NARIC network) has implemented a service of certification and comparison of Italian and foreign qualifications - note that you'll only need to request a statement of comparability.
Apply here
Declaration of Value (DoV)
The DoV is a document providing an official description of your academic certificates, duly legalized by the Consular office of the Italian Embassy in the country where such a degree was gained.
Diploma Supplement
Direct Verification via UAQ
Starting this year (2024 edition) you may entitle the University of L'Aquila to contact the institution where you obtained your previous degree and verify the genuine nature of your qualifications. Further information about this procedure will be emailed to you by our staff.
Note that some local Diplomatic-consular missions might still require you to obtain a Declaration of Value (DoV) or a CIMEA statement before they issue your study visa, even though they know that our university accepts other types of verification (any of the 4 listed above).
If that is the case, you will have to go through the DoV/CIMEA request process, otherwise, you will never obtain any visa from that specific embassy. Please check in good time in advance the particular requirements in force at the Diplomatic-consular you're about to visit for your visa.
For further information on this topic, check out the related webpage on the UAQ site: www.univaq.it/international
Insurance
All our students (either non-EU or EU) must hold valid insurance covering risks related to health, accidents, death, permanent invalidity, and civil responsibility (including travel assistance) while they are outside their home country.
An insurance card will also be necessary to apply for a residence permit.
↘ Erasmus Mundus (EMJMD) InterMaths students (either scholarship holders or not)
Before their arrival, they will receive free of charge an insurance card covering risks related to health, accidents, death, permanent invalidity, and civil responsibility, as per the minimum requirements set out by EACEA
↘ Other students (enrolled in the RealMaths or MathMods programs).
Non-European students must ensure they hold valid insurance to obtain a visa, a residence permit, and enrolment at university. Requirements may vary a lot from country to country even within the Schengen area. Generally speaking, such insurance must offer coverage of medical costs for min. 30,000 EUR, as well as risks related to health, accidents, permanent invalidity, urgent health attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or even death, including possible repatriation for medical reasons.
EU students, on the other hand, won't need to purchase any additional private insurance if they don't think they need one, as long as they hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Though you may get an Italian residence permit even by providing cheap insurance, we encourage everybody to ensure that the insurance coverage you are about to purchase is as comprehensive as possible.
Note that some of the options listed below, though officially valid throughout the Schengen area, may not be sufficient to obtain a visa/permit when you are going to spend a semester in another country, in Germany or Austria for instance. Please double-check before completing your purchase for a whole year or more, and contact the related staff at our partners in advance, because in other countries than Italy, they might require that you purchase a more comprehensive one and/or even public health insurance to obtain a visa/permit and even to seek enrolment at their university.
All the below-listed companies offer insurance that complies with the minimum requirements to obtain an Italian residence permit. Once again, though they are all officially valid within the Schengen area, they might not be enough to obtain a visa/residence/enrolment in other countries.
AON
[AON 24/7 emergency assistance: # +31 (0)10 44 88 260]Protrip-World by DrWalter
Waitaly This is the cheapest option (direct link). However, note that it is not EACEA compliant (thus, not valid for Erasmus Mundus programs), but it is still valid to obtain an Italian residence permit to attend other programmes, like RealMaths for instance.
[Waitaly 24/7 emergency assistance via Europ Assistance 800046421 (toll free from Italian phones only) or +39 0258286966]
Find the nearest open pharmacy
Doctor-on-call (Guardia medica)
Out-of-hours (on call) doctor.
Address: Ex ONPI, via Capo Croce 1 ("Torrione" neighbourhood).
Available Mon-Fri from 8pm till 8 am, and from 10 am on Sat till 8 am on the following Mon.
Psychological support
Below you can find some information about finding a place to stay in L'Aquila, which is going to be your first destination in your study programme. For details about housing in the other partner universities, just browse the related section from the top menu (e.g. Consortium > Vienna).
Housing options in L'Aquila
Student's halls of residence
In Italy, students' halls of residence (including other facilities for students like cafeterias, gyms etc) are not managed by universities. The public body in charge of them is, in our case, the Abruzzo Regional Agency for Education, aka A.D.S.U. (Azienda per il Diritto agli Studi Universitari - L'Aquila).
If you wish to find a place in the dorms and shared flats managed by A.D.S.U., (this year, the student's flats are the ones in the block called "Il Moro" at a 20-minute walk from our campus, see Google Maps) you will have to apply typically in the second half of August. But note that:
Places are limited and usually reserved for students from low-income families.
Ranking lists might be published even in late October, which means you will be spending a lot for a temporary place to stay (e.g. bed and breakfast) in your first weeks in L'Aquila while you are waiting for the lists to be out.
Private halls
Lately, a new student hall has opened up in town - it's known as Camplus. It is a private one, with no relation whatsoever with our university, but it is ideally located in the heart of the city centre, it can be booked online in advance and their fares include Wi-Fi, cleaning, maintenance etc. Check out their website to submit your application and find out more.
Private shared flats
As L'Aquila is undergoing huge reconstruction after the 2009 earthquake, we strongly suggest you opt for renting a flat from private owners. The cost per person ranges from 200 to 350 euros per month depending on several factors, e.g. shared or private rooms, utility bills included or not, and neighbourhood. By the way, living near the campus (the area is in a suburb in west L'Aquila known as Coppito) can be cheaper, but this means living away from the city life (events, nightlife, restaurants...).
Please make contact with Aquilasmus - ESN L'Aquila to receive support from a buddy with finding a place to stay in L'Aquila. Note that support is provided free of charge by volunteers and only starts after your arrival in L'Aquila (weekends not included).
Camplus is a newly-established hall of residence located right in L'Aquila city centre. It includes single and double ensuites, maintenance, wifi, cleaning, utilities etc. Check out the current selection announcement for more details and the applicaion form.
Accommodation options in L'Aquila
Your Aquilasmus buddy will typically meet you within a few days (excluding weekends) after your arrival to help you find a place to stay (note that they can't offer any kind of support before you get to L'Aquila). For your first days in L'Aquila you may refer to the links below
ADSU Hall of Residence
ADSU (Abruzzo regional agency for education)
Adverts on Univaq.it
Idealista.it
FB group
"Cerco/Affitto Casa a L'Aquila!"
Bed & Breakfast in L'Aquila
Vacation rentals in L'Aquila
Periscopio
ADs listing on L'Aquila local newspaper
Below you can find some information about how to get to L'Aquila, which is going to be your first destination in your study programme. For details about reaching the other partner universities, just browse the related section from the top menu (e.g. Consortium > Nice).
How to get to L'Aquila
Rome Fiumicino
Rome Ciampino
Additional coach services (operated by T.U.A., aka as A.R.P.A. and Itabus) are available from the "Tiburtina train station" (Stazione Tiburtina) located in East Rome. But that means you'll have to first get on a train/bus/undeground from the airport to get to the "Tiburtina train station", which will take you one hour or so, at least. So, we strongly suggest you use the other option above, as those coaches will be departing right from inside the aiport parking area.
Lastly, be informed that a bunch of European cities are also connected to the Abruzzo Airport in Pescara, located at about 100 km to the east of L'Aquila.
Getting to campus
The University of L'Aquila is made up of several campuses spread over the whole city, each of which with its own focus and identity. To get an overview, check out this interactive map.
Our programmes are coordinated and hosted by D.I.S.I.M. (Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics) located on the Coppito campus in via Vetoio - West L'Aquila. The Coppito campus also hosts other faculties: biology, chemistry, physics and, most importantly, the main city hospital ("ospedale" in Italian). Keep that in mind whenever you'll be asking for directions, as everybody knows where the main hospital (ospedale) is.
Transfers within the city of L'Aquila are operated by A.M.A. From the links below you may get bus schedules and routes
The webpage is in Italian, but all you need to do is enter the word "ospedale" or "Università - Polo Coppito" in the right search box (indirizzo di arrivo).
Number 1 or 2U buses are very likely the ones you'll need most, as they connect our campus to the bus station at the My Suites Hotel (aka Hotel Amiternum), the "L'Aquilone" shopping centre, as well as the main bus station (known as Collemaggio or Terminal) in the old city centre.
As AMA routes are not available on Google Maps yet, we recommend
Travel Links
About L'Aquila
The City of L'Aquila in brief
- Reasonable cost of living
- A town of artistic interest
- Safe and quiet but also a lively university town
- Direct buses to Rome in little more than 1 hour
- Three popular ski resorts nearby as well as three national parks
- Sandy beaches at a short distance
L'Aquila is an Italian city with about 70,000 inhabitants and around 20,000 university students. It is the capital of the Abruzzo region and it is conveniently located 100 km (62 miles) east of Rome. The city is on a hill at 720 m (2365 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by mountains, most notably to the north by the Gran Sasso range, which includes the highest peaks (up to 2,900 m) of the Apennines, with several small lakes, trails and mountain climbing routes as well as deep caves. Within the province of L’Aquila there are also two national parks (Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso Monti della Laga and Parco Nazionale della Majella).
The city itself is full of history, traditions, beautiful buildings (like the Spanish Fortress) and churches (most notably, the Collemaggio Basilica). There are also a lot of good restaurants, pubs and places where students get together at night (most remarkably, on Thursdays and Saturdays). The city is also the home of L'Aquila Rugby - this team won the Italian championship five times.
For more practical and historical information about L'Aquila, click here.
Living costs
A student will spend approximately 600 euros a month:
Around 300 EUR on average for accommodation in a single room (in a twin room you may save ~50 EUR or more); note that such an amount does not usually include utilities (heating, electricity, water, Internet).
About 300 EUR to cover:
Meals (reduced fares for international students available for ~3 EUR or even free meals at the canteens in L'Aquila if you're awarded a Regional Grant).
Public transportation (a monthly bus pass in L'Aquila costs around 30 euros)
The costs for books, sports centres and other personal expenses.
Canteen at the Math Department (Coppito campus)
Location: between the "Coppito 1" and "Coppito 0" buildings, next to the University cafè.
Opening time: 12.30 pm - 2.30 pm Mon-Fri
Main university canteen
Open for lunch and dinner even at weekends
New location: via Dell'Arcivescovado 8, right in the old city centre, next to the main square Piazza Duomo
University canteens and cafeterias are managed by ADSU. You will need to register by ADSU to get a digital canteen card. This will entitle you to eat at reduced fares (~3 EUR) or even get a free meal if you're awarded a Regional Grant by ADSU.
Free Time
Aquilasmus
Aquilasmus is an official student association, part of ESN (Erasmus Student Network). Aquilasmus offers several services to Erasmus students, like organizing parties, trips, international dinners, cine forums and more. Take a look at their website, join their Facebook group and check out their Instagram page to get to know other international students and be involved in their activities.
Bars, restaurants, pubs & clubs, discos
Although several buildings in the old city are still to be reconstructed after the 2009 earthquake, dozens of bars and clubs have proudly reopened their doors. You will find lots of students hanging out mostly on Thursday nights (knonw as university night) and Saturday nights. Just ask the taxi/bus driver to drop you at "Fontana Luminosa" (the big fountain near the castle) and walk into the main road "Corso Federico II". You'll see that most people gather in a small square a few steps ahead near "via Garibaldi".
Cinemas
Movieplex, Via Leonardo Da Vinci, Pettino, L'Aquila (25 mins walk from the Math Dept.)
Theatres
TSA Teatro Stabile dell'Aquila
Auditorium del Parco (near the Spanish fortress/castle)
Music
Excursions
Being L'Aquila ideally located in central Italy, you'll have lots of opportunities to visit Italy's top destinations: Rome, Naples, Pompei, Sicily, Florence, Venice, Verona, Milan, Turin, to mention just a few. The easiest and most convenient way to reach any of these destinations is from the bus/train stations in Rome, where you can get to by TUA/ARPA coach or Flixbus from L'Aquila (either from the bus station "Collemaggio" or from the Hotel Amiternum). Some destinations (Bologna, Venice, Verona to the North or the whole beautiful Apulia region in Southern Italy - most notably the Salento Peninsula) are more easily accessible from Pescara train station, where you can get to by TUA/ARPA coach from L'Aquila bus station or even by train (you'll have to change trains in Sulmona). Recently, most popular Italian cities have also been connected to L'Aquila by direct coaches (Flixbus).
And, if you're into art, don't miss out on the opportunity to visit Rome museums for free on the first Sunday of every month!
Short excursions around L'Aquila
Amiternum archeological site
On the way to Pizzoli (west L'Aquila) you may stop by and visit the stunning archaeological site of Amiternum, an ancient Italic town founded by the Sabines and conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century B.C.!
The site features an amphitheatre, a theatre, public baths as well as an aqueduct.
For more information and opening times, visit this link.
Gran Sasso and other ski resorts
Gran Sasso is Italy's second highest mountain (2,912 m asl). From the bus station in L'Aquila you can catch a number M6 bus (free shuttle buses at weekends!) bound for Assergi/Fonte Cerreto (1150 m above sea level), which is the base of the cableway that will take you to Campo Imperatore (around 2100 m asl). Campo Imperatore is a ski resort where you'll also find an astronomic observatory, a hotel (where Italian dictator Mussolini was held captive), an alpine garden, lakes and several breathtaking trails. The cableway may not be available all year round (it's usually closed in summer). Anyway, if it's closed, you may still decide to get to Fonte Cerreto to go on a hiking trip: there are several amazing hiking paths starting there!
If you are into skiing, there are another 2 popular ski resorts at a short distance from L'Aquila, with better facilities than Campo Imperatore:
- Campo Felice: see here
- Ovindoli: see here