1. International students Visit and exchange programmes Visiting Students Programme

Visiting Students Programme

Visiting Students are students or PhD students enrolled at a foreign university who decide to spend a study or traineeship period at a department of our University.

They move in the absence of an exchange agreement between their institution and the University of Pisa, either because they are interested in the educational offer available or following contact with a lecturer.

The study or traineeship period can last from a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of 12 months.

How to become a Visiting Student

A Visiting Student is identified through an application or invitation.

The application can be submitted at any time of the year. To submit it, you need to:

  • fill in the Annex A
  • attach your curriculum vitae
  • attach a copy of your identity document -passport for non-EU citizens
  • send the documentation by e-mail to the CAI (International Coordinator) of the department in which you want to study.

In Annex A you must indicate:

  • the estimated duration and period of stay at the department
  • a title and brief description of the activities to be carried out
  • the name of a scientific coordinator within the host department

The following can act as scientific coordinators:

  • Full and Associate Professors at a department
  • Researchers on permanent employment contracts
  • Temporary researchers only if employed at the University of Pisa for the entire duration of the guest’s stay.

The invitation of a Visiting Student can be made at any time of the year, the lecturer must:

  • fill in the Annex  B
  • attach the guest’s curriculum vitae
  • attach a copy of the guest’s identity document -passport for non-EU citizens.

In Annex B, you must indicate:

  • the estimated duration and period of stay at the Department
  • a title and brief description of the activities
  • the name of the scientific coordinator within the host Department

The following can invite a Visiting Student:

  • Full and Associate Professors at a department
  • Researchers on permanent employment contracts
  • Temporary researchers only if employed at the University of Pisa for the entire duration of the guest’s stay.

Admission procedure for a Visiting Student

Applications are examined by the CAI (International Coordinator) of the host Department, who submits them for approval by the relevant Department Council.

At the arrival of the Visiting Student, the Head of the Department must send to the International Mobility Unit (relazioni.internazionali@adm.unipi.it ) the Annex Cwith the following information:

  • first name and last name
  • place and date of birth
  • citizenship
  • type of guest (e.g. PhD student)
  • foreign university/institution of origin
  • stay period (indicating the start and end dates of the period)
  • guest activities programme
  • host Department (e.g. Department of Pharmacy)
  • coordinator in the host department

Advantages

The Visiting Student:

  • is authorised to use the study and research facilities of the Department, which takes care of insurance coverage and workplace safety obligations in accordance with current regulations
  • has access to the University’s computer network through the granting of temporary credentials, which are valid for the entire period of stay in the department, and can obtain a University e-mail address
  • can attend an Italian language course at the University Language Centre (CLI) at a subsidised fee reserved for students of the University of Pisa

Entry and residence in Italy

Non-EU citizens residing abroad and requiring a visa, after receiving the Acceptance letter and before applying for a study visa, must pre-register on the UniversItaly portal:

  • sign up
  • choose the University of Pisa and the “Visiting Students and Free Movers” process
  • upload the Acceptance Letter and any available scholarship in step C,
  • choose the Italian Embassy where you will apply for your visa.

Do not indicate your tax code if you do not already have one, and the ID of the chosen university.

The application on the UniversItaly website will be checked by the University of Pisa and then by the Italian diplomatic mission (Embassy or Consulate) indicated by the student. When your application is validated by the University, you will receive a notification from the portal and you will find the Summary in PDF at the bottom of your UniversItaly page.

Only then you can apply for a visa at the Embassy, attaching the previously printed Summary.

For any further information, please contact the Italian Embassy in your country of residence.

For information on the Visiting Students programme please contact the CAI of the host Department.

Once arrived in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit within 8 working days of the arrival. All information is available on the dedicated web pages for international students reception.

For a stay shorter than 90 days, please see info at the Study visa page. For a stay shorter than 90 days, once arrived in Italy, within the first 8 working days, you must go to the Questura (Police) in via San Francesco 8 – between 12pm (noon) and 1pm – and fill in the “dichiarazione di presenza” (declaration of presence).  To fill it, you must have the entry date stamp on your passport when you enter Italy OR the travel ticket of your arrival in Italy. If missing the entry stamp/travel ticket, you will have to apply for the residence permit.