Dear exchange students. Welcome in Bozen-Bolzano. Languages are an important issue in our university and the Language Centre is at your disposal for language courses, language certification, autonomous learning and language counseling.  

If you are interested in learning languages and attending courses we would like to give you useful information about the enrolment procedure, fees and the end-of-course-test.

What makes the difference?
One of the key features of our university is the trilingual approach. Lessons are held in English, German and Italian in most of our degree courses and between one class and the next you have to switch from one language to another. Therefore we strongly recommend to start learning the local languages and English in particular as soon as possible in order to be able to attend classes successfully.  

An overview of the language models

• School of Economics and Management – trilingual (English is of particular importance in post-graduate courses)
• Faculty of Design and Arts – trilingual
• Faculty of Computer Science – trilingual (English is of particular importance in all degree courses)
• Faculty of Science and Technology – trilingual
• Faculty of Education – trilingual (Multilingual Communication), bilingual with lessons in German and Italian (Social Work and Community Educators), monolingual with lessons either in German or Italian (Nursery and Primary School Teachers)

Are you a complete beginner in German or Italian?  
In this case you have to opt for one language. You cannot enroll for two beginners’ courses, because starting to learn two languages at the same is confusing and might end up in frustration and a waste of time. Therefore you should concentrate on one of the official languages of our university. Please find a description of the beginners’ courses at the page "Courses".  

What is the cost of a language course?
For Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus students and participants in other international exchange programs (as well as bilateral agreements) the courses organized by the Language Centre are free.

Do I have to sit a placement-test?
There will be placement sessions before the beginning of each semester. The main objective of the test is to establish if you have chosen the right course for your level.  

What is going to happen after the placement?
The Language Centre will have to decide on the basis of the number of pre-enrolled participants if there is sufficient interest for each course. 

And if I try to attend the course without being enrolled?
We will get to know this pretty soon because only the regular participants will be on the list. Those who are not on the list will be excluded right from the beginning.  

I would like to get ECTS (credit points) for my language course. What am I supposed to do?
If you need a paper to certify your attendance you just have to attend 75% of the scheduled lessons. Otherwise the Language Centre will not hand in any kind of certification. There is a test at the end of all optional courses except preparation courses (e.g. First Certificate, CAE, CPE, TestDaF, CELI). The objective of the preparation courses is to sit – and possibly pass – the respective language exam. The objective of all other courses is to improve general or specific language skills. In this context the end-of-course-test will give you an important feedback about your language learning achievements. Therefore you can only sit the end-of-course-test if you have attended the course regularly (at least 75% of the scheduled lessons). If you sit the exam you will get the test result. Afterwards your home university will have to decide about giving you the ECTS or not.  

For further information?
Just drop by at the premises of the Language Centre, at the Info Point (E1.23), during our office hours: Tue & Thu 14.00-16.00; Wed & Fri 10.00-12.30