FAQ

 

What to do before leaving for Pisa
As soon as you are nominated by your University, make sure to get in touch with the Italian International Erasmus Coordinator (CAI, Coordinatore di Area per l’Internazionalizzazione) to find out what courses are provided by the Department of Biology. Please note that most of the courses are held in Italian. The CAI can be contacted for details and assistance in preparing the Learning Agreement (LA) and learning about all of the administrative steps necessary to start the mobility.
While you are still abroad you can register online through the Alice portal, in order to obtain the credentials required to complete the enrolment procedure at the University of Pisa.
Remember to fill in on the Erasmus Mobility Platform and submit the Application form for incoming students where you will be asked to upload the Learning Agreement before the mobility and obtain the validation from the CAI

What shall I do upon arrival in Pisa?
A few days (no more than a couple of weeks) before your arrival, you must register, if you haven’t done it yet, at the Alice portal, (the online student services portal) and perform the Registration. After completing the registration, you must set an appointment with WIS! office (Welcome International Students) in Pisa, Via Buonarroti 4 – Building E, room PS1).
Make sure to choose a day that you will be in Pisa and SAVE THE DATE!
After you register at the WIS! Office, you will receive your University Booklet (libretto), a matriculation number, your student card and the credentials to gain access to the Wi-Fi and other services (university canteen, libraries etc.).
If you are an incoming Non-EU Erasmus student, coming from a non-Schengen Country, you must apply for the Residency permit. You need the post office receipt attesting the submission of the Residency permit application, before making an appointment (next step). On the other hand, if you are a Non-EU Erasmus student, coming from a Schengen Country, you do not have to apply for the Italian residency permit provided you have the requested documents indicated at https://www.unipi.it/index.php/erasmus-programme/item/5933-visa-and-residency-permit.

How do I get an Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale)?
The Italian Tax Code (codice fiscale), which you will need to rent an apartment or to obtain an Italian phone card or anything else, is automatically generated when you subscribe to the Alice Portal.
Since the code is automatically generated, you will have to be extremely careful while filling the form.
However, in order to obtain your official Tax Code Card you will need go to the local Italian tax authority (Agenzia delle entrate) with a valid ID.
Info and contacts:
Italian tax authority (Agenzia delle entrate) – Via Matteucci, 34
Galleria G.B. Gerace, 7/15 (Centro Forum) – 56124 Pisa
Tel. +39 050 325472 Fax +39 050 3154823 email: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. E' necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 to 12:45; Tuesday and Thursday: 14:20 to 16:45
See also https://www.unipi.it/index.php/erasmus-programme/item/8796-entry-and-residency-rights-for-eu-citizens

How do I get a Doctor?
Health care assistance is available to all European citizens (belonging to EU Member States and EEA States) who have the EHIC/TEAM card (European Health Insurance Card) or who enrol in the Italian National Health Service. With your EHIC/TEAM card you can choose a G.P. (General practitioner) and get medical assistance during your stay.
 
How is the university system organized?
The Italian University System is divided into Laurea Triennale "LT" (Bachelor Degree) and Laurea Magistrale "LM" (Master Degree).

When do the semesters start?
Courses of the winter term start in mid September and finish in the second half of December; those of the spring term start by mid February and finish by the end of May. The didactic calendar is available here.

How is the Department of Biology of the University of Pisa organized?
Our department offers the following degree courses as shown below:

 Laurea Triennale - "LT" (Bachelor Degree)

Laurea Magistrale - "LM" (Master Degree)

Which modules can I choose?
Bachelor's degree students will be allowed to select all courses from all Bachelor's degree courses of the Department of Biology
Bachelor’s degree students will be allowed to add only maximum 2 courses offered by Master’s degree courses;
All students will be allowed to add maximum 2 courses offered by other Departments (with prior authorization);
It will not be possible to select a course for a lower number of ECTS than offered.
Please always include the exam code in your Learning Agreement Before ( see ""course code"" coumn in the list of available course);
Some courses consist of different modules. You cannot select just 1 module but only the entire course;
You cannot select annual courses if you applied for a single semester;
Make sure to select courses scheduled during the semester you applied for.

Where do I find the programmes of the courses?
To find out the syllabus for a specific course, please check here. Be aware that the majority courses at the Department of Biology are taught in Italian: be sure to have the necessary language skills to attend them.

How are the exams organized?
To sit an exam students are required to subscribe on the online portal VALUTAMI. According to the Italian University Grading System your performance will be evaluated on the basis of 30 points. When the student’s performance is considered outstanding, a laude can be added by the commission, whereas the minimum passing grade is 18/30. It will be recorded on your on-line student portal and on your libretto. If you don’t pass the exam, this cannot be recorded, but you can ask the lecturer for a certificate of attendance.

Does the university offer Italian courses?
Yes and they can be found at the Centro Linguistico Dipartimentale (CLI), the University Language Centre. It offers free Italian lessons for all incoming students in order to help them achieving the CEFR B2 level. The courses provide 4 ECTS. The first course (40 hours) is free. In order to enrol in one of the free Italian language courses, all students – including beginners – are required to take an entry test, so you need to register online.
CLI offers courses up to the C1 level. Here you will find all the information and deadlines. If you are a non EU student, you must have a residency permit. If you want the 4 ECTS of Italian language course transferred to your university, please include the course in your Learning Agreement (see below).

What do I have to do with my learning agreement?
LA before: before your arrival in Pisa, you need to get your LA signed by the Department’s CAI. Please send it to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. E' necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo. Please note that, this document must be signed by your Coordinator and that you must upload the final version on the Erasmus Mobility Portal within the provided deadline. To facilitate this process, we suggest students to share with us, a first draft of your Learning Agreement BEFORE, in WORD format, so that we can amend it (if necessary) before all parties sign it. You can share the WORD format by sending an email to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. E' necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo. well in advance of your application.
LA during: you may amend your Learning Agreement within one month before the end of your mobility. As with the Learning Agreement Before, also the Learning Agreement During must be signed by both your coordinator and the Department’s CAI.
LA after: Before you leave Pisa, in addition to your certificate of departure, the CAI will also sign your L.A. After with all the exams you sat and the grading table.

What do I have to do before I leave Pisa?
Before you leave you may need a signed certificate of departure, or at least an official document which indicates your arrival and departure date. If your home institution does not expressly require a departure certificate, the A section of the Learning Agreement after the mobility will be enough.
Both the departure certificate (if available) and the LA must be signed and sealed by the CAI or vice CAI, so please get in touch with them at least two weeks before your departure in order to schedule an appointment.
Your Transcript of Records (ToR) will be either issued or sent to you by e-mail within 5 weeks after your departure. The ToR is issued by the officers at Erasmus Office.
In your final visit to the International office of the Department of Biology, you will also have to bring your STUDENT CARD (that you will hand back) and any certificate from the CLI.
If you have problems in scheduling your appointment, inform the Erasmus staff.

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