University of Udine - Arts Only
Located in Northeastern Italy along the border with Ljubljana, in easy distance of the old Roman town of Aquileia and the medieval castles of the Friuli hills, Udine is a trendy city with a rich culture.
Udine has a visible history, with local architecture & culture embracing elements of its Venetian past (including a canal system and a skyline dotted with Venetian spires) alongside its uniquely Friuilian Italian language & traditions. It's also known for locally-produced delicacies, like polenta and prosciutto!
Università degli Studi di Udine (The University of Udine or UNIUD) offers a comfortable atmosphere for students. With a higher than average ratio of students to faculty, spacious green campuses, and a range of social activities, UNIUD has been ranked 3rd among Italian universities of its size.
Key information
Program details
The information below was last updated on: July 18, 2025
UCalgary exchange students have access to courses in two departments at UNIUD:
- Department of Languages, Communication, Education & Society
- Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage
The majority of courses are taught in Italian. However, there are enough English-taught courses that it is possible to study a semester in English.
See the list of English-taught courses here (Excel sheet, last updated September 2024).
You can also browse the full list of courses at UNIUD's Course Catalogue online. First select a department, then a degree program, and go to Study Plan/Teachings Offered to view the relevant courses.
Note:
- Exchange students who will be in the 3rd or 4th year of their bachelor's degree may be permitted to take Master's level courses at UNIUD.
- Students from outside the UCalgary Faculty of Arts might be permitted to attend this exchange if they are taking exclusively Arts courses at UNIUD - please contact the exchange advisor to discuss.
The European credit system uses ECTS credits. 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 standard UCalgary course). At UNIUD, students are expected to take 24-30 ECTS (12-15 UCalgary units) per semester.
The academic year is divided into two semesters:
- The first semester, "Fall/Winter" (equivalent to UCalgary Fall) runs from September to January, with final exams held in January/February.
- The second semester, "Spring/Summer" (equivalent to UCalgary Winter) runs from February to June, with final exams held in June/July.
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
UNIUD estimates that the cost of living for most students is between 400-800 euros per month, including rent, food, and all expenses. The variation depends on lifestyle and the type/luxury of housing.
Students in Udine also get access to discounts at a variety of stores, public transportation, and the city's bike-sharing service.
Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning. Please Note: Italian study permit applications may require travel to Vancouver to submit the application documents.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while studying abroad, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are otherwise eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund and the Global Learning Award. Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
The UCalgary School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures & Cultures has recommended funding for Italian exchanges, such as:
- Italian Study Abroad Award: One award, provided by Calgary's local Italian community and facilitated by the UCalgary Italian Department.
- Fogolâr Furlan di Calgary Scholarship in Italian Studies: One award, managed by The Calgary Foundation. Students who are Alberta residents working towards a major or minor in Italian Studies may be eligible.
UNIUD does not have on-campus housing for students. Instead, university students generally live off-campus in a variety of options such as shared residence halls, private housing rentals, etc. UNIUD provides several recommendations for exchange students to guide you in your housing search.
Because of the range of housing options, no "average rent" is available. Generally, students should expect rent as low as €250 per month (shared rooms in student hostels) to upwards of €600 (private studio apartments).
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in the UCalgary Faculty of Arts, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
For Italian-taught courses, applicants should have a command of Italian at minimum B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR). Certification of language proficiency may be required. Students taking a mix of Italian and English-taught courses must also meet this requirement.
For completely English-taught courses, Italian language competency is not required, but a basic knowledge is recommended for navigating everyday life.
Do I have to speak Italian?
For studies in Italian, it will be required, but for studies in English we recommend a basic understanding of Italian for functioning in day-to-day life. While many younger Italians speak English, it can be challenging to complete day-to-day tasks without at least a basic understanding of Italian.
What supports and services are available at UNIUD?
UNIUD offers a variety of supports such as tutoring/academic advising, language support, counselling, etc.
UNIUD also offers support for students with disabilities. Note that supports may be limited or different compared to what is culturally common in North America; we encourage speaking with the UCalgary exchange advisor to talk about your needs in advance.
For information on accessibility of campuses across Europe, ESN has created "Inclusive Mobility EU" which allows you to check the accessibility of universities and cities across Europe. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.
Additionally, UNIUD runs an orientation program. Their student association has opportunities for meeting other local and international students, social events, field trips, etc.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.