You must register in one of our partner universities (see 5 below) and follow a given number of courses/modules of your choice, completing all the required assignments and exams, in order to accumulate a minimum of 45 credits.

The grades you obtain while in Italy do not count towards your final GPA. The year as a whole is recognized, however, and if you have successfully completed it accumulating the required 45 credits, your BA degree will be redenominated BA International.

In order to apply, you must be a full-time student, registered in the UCD BA programme, who has successfully completed Stage 1 and has accumulated at least 50 Stage 2 credits (including all your core subject credits).

If you are registered for the BA International in Modern Languages (BAIML) you must spend your third (Erasmus) year abroad. The rules do not allow you to spend that year in more than one country, so you will have to choose between Italy and the country of your other main language.

Other BA students may also apply, whether they are a doing a Major or Minor in Italian, or indeed are just taking Italian as an Elective (in which case they must have successfully completed both ITAL 20010 and ITAL 20080).

Priority will be given to BAIML, Major, Minor and Elective students in that order.

(BCIT students have their own Erasmus programme, which is organised through the School of Business office).

There are currently 13 places reserved for students studying Italian in the UCD School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, 3 at the university of Macerata and 2 at each of the remaining ones of the following universities:

Università degli studi di CAGLIARI (Sardinia): (opens in a new window)http://www.unica.it/index.jsp

Università degli studi di MACERATA: (opens in a new window)http://www.unimc.it

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (MILAN): (opens in a new window)http://www.unicatt.it

Università degli studi di Roma III (ROME): (opens in a new window)http://www.uniroma3.it

Università di TRENTO: (opens in a new window)http://www.unitn.it 

Università degli studi di URBINO: (opens in a new window)http://www.uniurb.it

Università di Pisa: (opens in a new window)htttp://www.unipi.it

Università degli Studi di Bologna: (opens in a new window)https://www.unibo.it/en

There are also a number of ‘open places’ (in Rome, Lausanne, Amsterdam and Berlin) which you may apply for directly through the International Office (see 13 below).

If there are more applicants than places, first choice (given the order of priority mentioned in 4 above) is given on the basis of Level 1 and Level 2 module results (especially language modules). But please note: BAIML students must spend their third year abroad and so are guaranteed a place, provided they meet the requirements.

As far as possible, places are awarded on the basis of applicants’ stated preferences, but since it is never possible to please everybody all the time, the final choice of place will rest with the Head of Italian Studies.

You will have to pay the current registration fee at UCD for the year, but no registration fee at the host university in Italy. On the whole the cost of living in Italy is lower than in Ireland, and your living expenses for the year should come to somewhere in the region of EUR 6,000 – 8,000 (+ travel).

All successful applicants should receive a grant of somewhere in the region of EUR 250 per month. But please check with the International Office.

Students on a local authority grant should continue to receive their grant while abroad (a letter from the International Office may be required in order to secure this).

Application forms are circulated to students registered to Level 2 Italian language in the first semester, and must usually be returned by the end of the semester. The Head of Italian will then establish a list of nominees after the results of the January examination session. After confirming that nominees accept their places, this list is then passed on to the UCD International Office, which organizes the formal application to the host universities in Italy. The International Office will write to the nominees in the Spring send them the online application form.