Summer Study Abroad Academic Guide
Academics at a Glance
45
Academic contact hours per standard course
6 ECTS
European credits per course
3
U.S./Canadian semester-credit reference per course
3
Credits per standard summer course
2–8
Weeks in a standard summer session
75%
Minimum attendance
18/30
Minimum passing grade · 60% · D−
30/30
Highest standard grade · 95–99% · A
A standard summer session normally comprises one or two courses, corresponding to 24–30 ECTS / 12–15 U.S./Canadian semester credits. Summer sessions run from May through September. Each standard Unicollege course carries 6 ECTS / 3 U.S./Canadian semester credits and includes 45 academic contact hours.
For students whose nationality permits visa-free entry into the Schengen Area, certain study arrangements may fall within the applicable 90-day immigration framework. Academic enrollment and immigration requirements are reviewed separately according to program duration and nationality.
Credits, Workload & Course Recognition
Italy uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). ECTS measures the full workload required to complete a course — including lectures, seminars, projects, fieldwork, independent study, and assessment — rather than classroom time alone.
For international mobility, Unicollege presents the European and North American references together.
| Italian / European framework | U.S. / Canadian reference |
|---|---|
| 6 ECTS | 3 semester credits |
| 45 academic contact hours | Standard 3-credit course |
| 30 ECTS per semester | 15 semester credits |
| 60 ECTS per academic year | 30 semester credits |
Course syllabi provide the information commonly required for home-university approval: course description, learning outcomes, contact hours, ECTS, U.S./Canadian credit reference, assessment structure, and grading criteria. Final transfer and application toward degree requirements remain subject to the policies of the student’s home institution.
Choosing Courses
The Italian university system does not normally organize coursework through the North American 100-, 200-, 300-, or 400-level course-band system.
For summer students, the published international course offering is therefore designed to be open across disciplines and schools, without prerequisites, allowing students to build an interdisciplinary study plan according to the requirements of their home institution.
How Classes Work
Unicollege summer courses follow a concentrated schedule and typically meet three to five times per week, depending on the course and session. Teaching may combine lectures, seminars, guided discussion, case analysis, applied projects, research, and place-based academic activities.
Attendance is a formal academic requirement. Students must normally attend at least 75% of scheduled instruction to remain eligible for final assessment and for visa purposes.
The Italian Grading System
Italian university examinations are graded on a 30-point scale. For international students, Unicollege provides the corresponding percentage and U.S./Canadian letter-grade reference so that results remain readily interpretable by the home institution.
| Italian grade | Percentage | U.S. / Canadian reference |
|---|---|---|
| 30 e lode | 100% with distinction | A+ |
| 30 | 95–99% | A |
| 29 | 92–94% | A− |
| 28 | 88–91% | B+ |
| 27 | 84–87% | B |
| 26 | 80–83% | B− |
| 25 | 77–79% | C+ |
| 24 | 73–76% | C |
| 23 | 70–72% | C− |
| 22 | 67–69% | D+ |
| 21 | 63–66% | D |
| 18–20 | 60–62% | D− |
| Below 18 | Below 60% | F / Not Passed |
Italian degree-seeking students may normally decline a passing examination result and retake the examination before accepting a grade. This convention does not ordinarily apply to international visiting students, except where specifically authorized.
Final Examinations
Formal examinations remain a central feature of Italian university assessment. For summer students, examinations are normally completed in person and, under the standard assessment model, represent the largest component of the final course grade. Any alternative examination arrangement must be specifically authorized and should not be assumed as part of the standard program. The grade ultimately recorded on the official transcript is the University grade resulting from the assessment structure established for the course.
Following completion, Unicollege issues an official academic transcript documenting the courses and results earned, with internationally intelligible academic references supporting evaluation by the home institution.
Course Changes & the First Week
The Italian university system does not traditionally operate through a North American-style add/drop period. For international mobility, Unicollege allows summer students to request course changes at the start of the session, subject to course availability, timetable compatibility, academic approval, and any requirements established by the home institution.
Academic Integrity, Conduct & Accessibility
Summer students are members of the Unicollege academic community and are instructed at the beginning of their studies on the University’s expectations regarding academic honesty, plagiarism, examinations, responsible use of generative AI and other technologies, respectful conduct, and institutional ethics.
Academic or conduct violations are reviewed through the appropriate University procedures and may result in academic penalties or formal disciplinary action according to their seriousness. Students are expected to comply with the same standards of academic integrity and community conduct applicable to degree-seeking students.
Unicollege also provides reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities and specific learning needs within the applicable Italian and European framework. Where accommodations are already in place at a U.S. or Canadian home institution, early coordination is encouraged; documentation should normally be submitted at least 60 days before arrival so that appropriate arrangements can be reviewed before the semester begins.
Academic Advising
Questions concerning course selection, U.S./Canadian credit loads, equivalencies, academic requirements, or accommodations may be addressed directly to the Study Abroad Office.
Contact Academic AdvisingStudy Abroad Office · course selection, credit loads, equivalencies