I'm really trying to figure things out in terms of how to accomplish what I'd like. My goal is to get a degree in Art History. I already have a degree in Theatre Arts and so would prefer to get my Masters next. Since I am a single mom, my funds are very limited and I don't want to have to be stuck paying off student loans for the rest of my life. So, an American University in Italy would be nice to go to, but I'd like to make it more affordable. So, I was thinking of attending an Italian University as a Foreign student. This would most definitely be more affordable as school in Italy is much cheaper. But, I have a few concerns that maybe someone could help me with:

- I am fluent in Italian and am currently improving on my skills in some class environments as well. But, I am worried that the classes will be too difficult for me as a non-native speaker. Does anyone have any insight into this for me?

- Is there any financial help from the government for single moms in Italy who have residency?

- How much money would you think I'd need to live on including rent, groceries, etc.for a year? I know I could probably supplement myself with some English lessons, but I would prefer to not work full-time so that I could focus on my studies. I know that the rent issue is kind of fuzzy because rent in Rome is quite expensive and I have a little girl. I know it'll be hard to find a place to stay that's affordable. I am also considering allowing my daughter to live with her father during this period, if there is no other way of doing it, that is.

- I am hoping to do this in Rome but am also open to other cities as well.

I hope someone has some experience with this. Or even if you know someone who has, please share what you know. Thanks so much!

Cassi I'm not very up on the details of doing the college thing overseas but I wish you the best of luck in that venture.

As far as not understanding your professor, maybe you might want to call the college and ask them what their policy is regarding taping class and lectures. Rewind can come in real handy in that situation. Probably couldn't hurt your Italian language skills either to go back and clarify anything you couldn't understand.

Praying for you
-Danse

Before the birth of my daughter and in the UK I was following the Open University's degree programme in Art History. I know everyone groans when they hear correspondence course, but the OU is different and many on here that know of it will agree. It is highly thought of and you can do their courses from overseas. I don't know how good the tutor coverage is but they have tutors in the countries that you are able to take their courses in. The online community is also huge. It was set up in the '60's to make learning more accessible to people who had to work by the government in the UK. It is a good course and very wide ranging. You can also take as long as you like to complete the course - as long as you finish the year you have signed up for you can take a break and continue with it when you can.

Wow, Alyson, that sounds interesting, actually. Is it looked up to in Italy? I also thought that if I get my degree from an Italian universities, my chances of being hired might become a bit better! Is it expensive? I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

You even piqued my curiosity Alyson. I imagine after I strap myself into the catapult and expatrify me to Italy (back to the future) I may have more free time on my hands than I know what to do with.

Am guessing a prestigious correspondence course wouldn't be a waste of some of that irreplaceable leftover lifespan. Guessing it would be a heckuva lot cheaper to go this route than to get into extreme debt with loans. And I do enjoy feeding my brain. If I starve it for too long it starts to rebel. Knowing me it would probably be a good distraction from mischief or homesickness. Was planning to volunteer at a Church or soup kitchen or something - saw it suggested in a post in the last week and it really struck a chord with me. Did a little volunteering at some shelters where I live over some past holidays and it really lifted my spirits. I don't ever wanna "not" be busy if I'm dwelling on the negative. Anything that is positive that's where I want to be.

I dunno don't mind me. I'm just kicking around over eleventy-billion different things.

None of them probably relevant. Sorry for the off-topic excursion into my weird psyche.

-Danse

This is the link: www.open.ac.uk

The overseas fees seem expensive compared to what I would have paid in the UK but compared to most courses here...I think they compare quite well.

Also they are very good at responding to e-mail enquiries if you have any. They also have different start times for their courses and some carry on over the summer so they fit peoples schedules.

I would be interested to know what you think .

I genuinely don't know about its standing in Italy but in the UK its degrees are consistently rated very highly for content. I guess they are on a par with a British Uni like Sussex or Bath where a lot of their tutorials for the second level courses (year 2 of a degree) are held. They are certainly credited in the same way as a British degree and you can obtain honours if you want to. Many professions are now using it as a way for people to gain their qualifications without having to take time off work, particuarly in teaching and nursing.

quote:

Originally posted by DanseMacabre:
As far as not understanding your professor, maybe you might want to call the college and ask them what their policy is regarding taping class and lectures.

The standard policy for taping classes at any Italian university or school is no policy. Anyone (any student) does as he or she wants. itìs quite common to find whole lessons by the most popular Italian university professors (people who also work on TV) on peer-to-peer servers. Legally distributed.

Cassi, since you don't have a minimum number of exams to pass each year, you can consider frequenting the first year aiming at pass just a couple of exams and get acquainted and more fluent with the language, next year you will be able to do more. Or you may consider the Università per stranieri either in Siena or in Perugia, where you would be amongst other foreign students.

Thanks, Alice. That's a good idea, actually. I already looked into attending Siena or Perugia but I couldn't find any information on Art History programs. That seemed kind of strange to me. But maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

Cassy - I went to the Uni x stranieri in Perugia, and in their advanced level lang/culture programs (lasting from 3 to 6 months) they have Art History. I don't think you'd get a degree from it but it's there You choose between the cultural, linguistic, or economic/business program. Art History is an "elective" course that you can pick if you're doing cultural or linguistic... Here is the brochure. ...it may be in there somewhere.

I didn't do Art History, I chose Music History instead. Prof. Ragni was my favorite in the world. Don't know who teaches Art History...

Even so, you could do a year there, including the art history class, and use it to gain credits that you can "recycle" for another university.

Hi don't worry about not understanding your professor. Most university teachers are used to having foreign students in the class. Moreover you can normally tape the lesson (but some professors won't want students too, although that is rare).
Plus every course has a special programme for people who could not attend, and you can actually sit the exam without attending classes, just by reading all the material included in the course programme.

Most lecturers moreover leave handouts of their classes in photocopy shops where you can get a copy or they make them available online.

At least in Pisa it works like this.

Alyson: Thanks again for the Open Course link. They do correspondence courses for the subject I'm most interested in (Technology, engineering and manufacturing). I'm guessing if they are credentialled by the UK the schooling might carry some weight in the boot.

One thing that has occured to me.. when my dual citizenship is a done deal, does that make me eligible for free schooling at Italian colleges?

I'd kind of feel like I were mooching off a system I've never paid into so I'd very likely never take advantage of it (or perhaps pay out of pocket instead), but I'm wondering about that. A little venture into the Italian University scene would probably be a real hoot (and couldn't hurt in the brainpower department).

One day I may proudly say "I are a college gradjit of Itlee."

-Danse