Frequently Asked Questions
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Questions you may have before applying:
I'm interested in studying at VIU. How can I apply? Am I eligible? Do I have to pay fees to study at VIU? What is the deadline for applications for the Semester Program? Is accommodation available on campus? How much does it cost? I'd like to contact students who have studied at VIU before. How can I? I have some questions and I don't find the answers on the website. Who should I contact? Now that you are registered:
Visas and permits Do I need a visa to study in Italy? I have obtained a visa. The Italian Embassy told me I had to get a Permesso di soggiorno once I arrived in Italy. What do I need to do to get it? The Semester Program I've been admitted to the program. How do I register for courses? Is Orientation compulsory? I can't arrive in Venice until after Orientation starts. Is this okay? Do I have to notify anyone? I can't arrive in Venice until after courses start. Is this okay? Do I have to notify anyone? How many courses should I take? Is Italian for Foreigners compulsory? If I take Italian for foreigners, are there any other requirements? I've changed my mind about the courses I'd like to take. How can I change my choices? When is the deadline? How do I know if I have got in to the courses I registered for? Accommodation and Arrival
How do I get to VIU? I have been granted accommodation on campus. When can I check in to my room? I am arriving very late in Venice. Will there be somebody available to check me in to my room? Are towels, sheets, blankets and pillows provided or should I bring my own? How do I contact the reception?
Miscellaneous Can I receive post and packages at VIU? What is the correct address? Questions you may have before applying?
I'm interested in studying at VIU. How can I apply? Am I eligible?
The Semester Program of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is open to any student enrolled in undergraduate or master's degree programs in any of the member universities. This includes students who are studying temporarily at Ca' Foscari and Iuav on exchange programs (e.g. Erasmus). Procedures and requirements differ depending on the university of origin. Visit the admissions section for more information.
Do I have to pay fees to study at VIU?
Students must be regularly enrolled in their home university and must pay regular tuition fees to their home university. No further fees are paid directly to Venice International University.
What is the deadline for applications for the Semester Program?
Registration for courses opens July 5 for the Fall semester and on December 5 for the Spring semester.
Registration for courses closes on the last day of the first week of courses.
Students who wish to apply for accommodation on campus must pre-register for the program by July 5 for the Fall semester, or by December 5 for the Spring semester.
Is accommodation available on campus? How much does it cost?
Yes, there are residential halls at Venice International University. The residential halls are not managed directly by VIU. Accommodation for the duration of the semester sharing a double room costs €1260 (prices valid for 2007).
No single rooms are available for students in the semester program.
Students pre-registered by the accommodation deadline (July 5 for Fall, December 5 for Spring) will be placed on the accommodation lists.
For more informaton visit accommodation and VIU campus sections
I'd like to contact students who have studied at VIU before. How can I?
StudentsBlog: the aim of the blog is to get past and future students of VIU connected. Use the blog to ask former students about their experience and to get their recommendations and suggestions.
Many VIU students connect through Facebook. Join the Facebook group "Venice International University".
View VIU photos on Flickr in the VIUCOMMUNITY group.
I have some questions and I don't find the answers on the website. Who should I contact?
Send your query to viu@univiu.org or call +39 041 2719 511.
Visas and permitsDo I need a visa to study in Italy?
Students from countries outside the European Union must obtain a study visa. Visit our visa and permits section for more information.
I have obtained a visa. The Italian Embassy told me I had to get a Permesso di soggiorno once I arrived in Italy. What do I need to do to get it?
Visit our visa and permits section for more information. The information has been recently updated with information on the new procedures were introduced in December 2006 by the Italian Ministry for the Interior.
The Semester ProgramI've been admitted to the program. How do I register for courses?
You must pre-register for the program by filling out the VIU web portal membership form at www.univiu.org/createMember. Once you have received your username and password you can fill out the course registration form which is available at http://www2.univiu.org/registration/fall07.htm
Is Orientation compulsory? I can't arrive in Venice until after Orientation starts. Is this okay? Do I have to notify anyone?
VIU recommends that all students participate in orientation activities, however it is not compulsory. It is not necessary to notify anyone.
I can't arrive in Venice until after courses start. Is this okay? Do I have to notify anyone?
Any classes missed will be marked as absences on attendance sheets. If you will miss classes because of a delayed arrival in Venice, you should notify the Academic Supervisor. If you will miss classes because of university exams or for medical reasons certificates should be provided. Arrival after the first week of courses is not permitted.
How many courses should I take?
Some of the member universities set a minimum for their students.
Boston College: 5
Duke University: 4
Tel Aviv University: 4/5
Students who are staying in the Residential Halls on San Servolo are required to complete at least three full-term courses.
Is Italian for Foreigners compulsory?
Not necessarily. It depends on the policy of your home university. BC, Duke and TAU students are required to take Italian. Nearly all non-Italian students take Italian for Foreigners. Do you really want to come to Italy and not learn Italian?!
If I take Italian for foreigners, are there any other requirements?
Italian for Foreigners is reserved for students who are taking at least two other full-term courses. If you register for Italian for Foreigners, you are required to pass two other full-term courses in order to receive the credit.
I've changed my mind about the courses I'd like to take. How can I change my choices? When is the deadline for changing courses?
If you wish to change your preferences (either the courses or the order of preference), please fill out the registration form again and re-send.
Later registration forms override earlier ones so consider carefully your changes.
If you list a course in your preferences on successive forms you will maintain your place in the course (or on the waiting list if you were not granted a place).
The date of registration for that course will be the date you submitted the first form which included that course (this is to your advantage as places are granted on a first-come-first-served basis).
IMPORTANT: Please note however that if you list a course on a first form, omit it from a second form, and then add it again on a third, the date of registration for that course will be the date you submitted third form, as omitting it on the second form means that that preference is removed from the system.
There is a cap on the number of students admitted to each course. A maximum of 20 students is admitted to each course. As the students’ course selections are processed you will be informed whether you have been admitted to a course or if you are on a waiting list.
Students can change their courses until the end of the first week of courses, subject to availablility.
How do I know if I have got in to the courses I registered for?
As the registration requests are processed you will receive notification by email of which courses you have been admitted to.
Accommodation and ArrivalHow do I get to VIU?
Visit the VIU campus section for information.
I have been granted accommodation on campus. When can I check in to my room?
Accommodation dates are included on the Academic Calendar. To request early arrival you should contact the reception to find out if there is availability for the night(s) prior to the commencement of the rental period. The extra nights will have to be paid for separately.
I am arriving very late in Venice. Will there be somebody available to check me in to my room?
The Reception of the residential halls is open 8.30-19.00. From 19.00-8.30 there is a night porter on duty. So check in is possible at any time. Check the Accommodation Agreement you received from San Servolo Servizi for further details regarding reception services.
Are towels, sheets, blankets and pillows provided or should I bring my own?
Towels, sheets, blankets and pillows are provided. Towels and sheets are changed once a week. You may want to consider bringing a duvet or comforter if you do not like sleeping with blankets.
How do I contact the reception?
Fax: + 39 041 2765420
Phone: + 39 041 2765100
E-mail: sanservolo@provincia.venezia.it
Miscellaneous
Can I receive post and packages at VIU? What is the correct address?
Yes, you can have post and packages sent to you at VIU. The correct address is:
Your name
Venice International University
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Venice International University
Isola di San Servolo
30100 Venezia
Italy
There are mailboxes in zone 2 of the main building where your post will be distributed. Note that post and packages will be placed in a public area. If you are expecting a package with valuable goods and you do not wish that it be placed in the mailboxes, you must notify the VIU Front Office in advance by writing to frontoffice@univiu.org, and provide all the details of the package (ie. sender's name, airway bill number).
If anyone is sending you a package from outside the European Union please note that the package must include a proforma invoice. This is basically a list of the contents, and their estimated value.
DO NOT put down the real purchase value of the items. You will be charged import tax by customs. You should put a nominal value on these items which in total does not exceed 55 USD. The text of the proforma invoice could be something like this:
Proforma Invoice:
Package No. (or AWB or any other reference)
Sent to: Joe Smith
Address:
Telephone no.
From: Sam Jones
Address:
1 sweater $15
5 t-shirts $ 10
3 pairs socks $ 4
2 CDs (used) $ 4
etc. etc.
The contents of this package are the personal used property of name, a U.S/Israeli/Japanese citizen, who is currently studying in Italy. These goods are not for resale and will be returned to the U.S./Israel/Japan in May 2007.
Generally it is not a good idea to send electronics of any sort. If someone has to send you something, it should be taken out of its packaging so that it looks "used".
