University of Bologna

About: 

The University of Bologna (Alma mater studiorum - Universitá di Bologna in Italian) is the oldest university in the world as it was founded in 1088 by a guild of students. It is known as one of the most prestigious Italian universities and is established as an international hub for learning. The university has a total of five campuses, 32 departments  and 11 research and training centres. 

Highlights: 

The Orto Botanico dell'Universitá  di Bologna is a botanical garden that is a noteworthy highlight of the university.  It is one of Europe's oldest gardens and was established in 1568. Another garden of note is the Agricultural Garden which is located at the Plexus of Agriculture in Bologna.

Location: 

Bologna, Italy

Courses / Modules: 

To find out which courses can be taken in Bologna, check out their course unit catalogue.

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange.  The University of Bologna uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.

Teaching Periods: 

Semester 1: September - December

Semester 2: February - May 

Language: 

A2 Italian required

Accommodation: 

The University of Bologna recommends that students look for accommodation well in advance of their arrival and provides further advice and guidance on their accommodation pages.

Exchange students can apply for accommodation in university halls of residence, managed by the Regional Authority for the Right to Higher Education (ER-GO). Check out the ER.GO website for more information.

The Student Accommodation and Information Service (SAIS) supports international exchange students and enrolling students in finding accommodation. They can offer assistance with university halls of residence, colleges, short-stay accommodation and private rented accommodation. 

The University of Bologna and ER.GO also make the Vetrina Alloggi (Accommodation Showcase) available to students - this is a virtual bulletin board listing private sector accommodation for rent.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

Check out the International Students Online Welcome Programme for more information on orientation.

Support Services: 

The University of Bologna provides a range of support services to help with issues around around studying, access to digital resources, guidance and tutoring, sports and culture, health, wellbeing and other general administrative matters.   

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in Italy.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the Travel Advice page for Italy and its Living in Italy  guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.   If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

You should also consult the pre-enrolment and visa webpage on the University of Bologna website.

Travel insurance:  

If you are approved by the University of York to participate in this program, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange

Health insurance: 

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

The University of Bologna also provides guidance on healthcare issues on their medical assistance for international students webpage.

William, Year Abroad in Italy, 2025/26

"During my placement, I independently built upon the works of previous masters students to optimise and develop a new novel microscopy technique for measuring and viewing cells as a function of the current and phase difference received by an electrode after current is generated and passed through live cells adhered to the surface of a semiconductor where current generation is produced by a laser. In this way, the dielectric properties such as resistance and capacitance of cells can be characterised. This is a new and never done before piece of science and whilst we were unable to image live cells, we were able to image dead ones that adhered to the semiconductor surface. So, whilst some some better understanding of the physical interaction with the cells and the biology of their adherence is required, we ultimately were able to provide a proof of concept. This has allowed for the research to be furthered and has also allowed to a new project proposal based off the work to be produced and pursued. This research has wildly improved my independent problem solving skills and my technical experimental skill set as I was able to use lab equipment for an entire year, a possibility not available to the rest of the cohort not on this year abroad or year in industry. This has made me not only more informed about the sort of work I would like to pursue but has also made me significantly more employable than I was before the placement. This is boosted by the fact that I was able to attain a B1 level of Italian making my communication skills with a broader community possible. I think overall that this experience has really reduced the 'unknown' of living and studying in another country and what previously felt very difficult feels very manageable and normal."

Eloise, Year Abroad in Italy, 2019/20

"My experience abroad has made me more confident in my own abilities. Speaking the language was one of the biggest challenges and I am proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone, speaking in Italian despite being afraid and succeeding in overcoming my fears. I was able to make friends with Italian speakers and passed speaking exams in Italian. These experiences have helped me to realise that I can do more than I think I can."

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website!

• University of Bologna Website

• University of Bologna Incoming Exchange Students

• University of Bologna Factsheet 2026/27

• Foreign Travel Advice for Italy

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

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Book a virtual appointment with one of our advisors here, or email global-opportunities@york.ac.uk for further support.