About Italy

Italy is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea and is a country rich in cuisine, history, culture, and art. From the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire, gorgeous churches, and medieval castles one can see relics of all periods of history everywhere around Italy. It has several embassies, governmental agencies, international organizations and multinational companies. It serves as a bustling hub for politics, business, and research. Italian lifestyle is exciting with countless national and international events going on every day.

Italy is situated in Southern Europe. Italy borders Switzerland, France and Slovenia are roughly demarcate by the Alpine watershed encircling the Po Valley and the Venetian Plain. It is located at the meeting point of the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate, leading to ample volcanic and seismic activity. Italy has 14 active volcanoes. The marine areas have temperate winters and usually arid summers but lowland canyons are hotter in summer. Euro is the currency used by Italy and Italian is its official language, most widely spoken by Italians. Rome is the capital and most populous city of Italy. It is situated in the Central-Western region of the Italian Peninsula on the bank of Tiber River. Rome has the position of a global city and placed as the 14th most visited destination in the world. Generally, the economy of Rome is symbolized by the absence of heavy industry and this city is largely influenced by high technology, Services, It companies, telecommunication, construction and commercial activities. The vast advancement of tourism also extensive to its economy. Italy is the main international point for higher education, consist of various colleges, institutes and universities.

Geography

Italy is located in southern Europe and comprises the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the southern side of Alps, the large plain of the Po Valley and some islands including Sicily and Sardinia. Corsica, although part of the Italian geographical region, has been administered by France since the 18th century. Italy is part of the Northern Hemisphere. Two of the Pelagie Islands (Lampedusa and Lampione) are located on the African continent.

Its total area is 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi), of which 294,140 km2 (113,570 sq mi) is land and 7,200 km2 is water (2,780 sq mi). It lies between latitudes 35° and 47° N, and longitudes 6° and 19° E.

Italy borders Switzerland (698 km or 434 mi), France (476 km or 296 mi), Austria (404 km or 251 mi) and Slovenia (218 km or 135 mi). San Marino (37 km or 23 mi) and Vatican city (3.4 km or 2.1 mi) are enclaves. The total border length is 1,836.4 km (1,141.1 mi).

Including islands, Italy has a coastline of 7,600 km (4,700 mi) on the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ligurian Sea, Sea of Sardinia and Strait of Sicily.

Climate

Italy has a variety of climate systems. The inland northern areas of Italy (for example Turin, Milan, and Bologna) have a relatively cool, mid-latitude version of the Humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), while the coastal areas of Liguria and the peninsula south of Florence generally fit the Mediterranean climate profile (Köppen climate classification Csa).

Between the north and south there can be a considerable difference in temperature, above all during the winter: on some winter days it can be −2 °C (28 °F) and snowing in Milan, while it is 8 °C (46.4 °F) in Rome and 20 °C (68 °F) in Palermo. Temperature differences are less extreme in the summer.

The east coast of the Italian peninsula is not as wet as the west coast, but is usually colder in the winter. The east coast north of Pescara is occasionally affected by the cold bora winds in winter and spring, but the wind is less strong here than around Trieste. During these frosty spells from E–NE cities like Rimini, Ancona, Pescara and the entire eastern hillside of the Apennines can be affected by true "blizzards". The town of Fabriano, located just around 300 m (984 ft) in elevation, can often see 0.5–0.6 m (1 ft 7.7 in–1 ft 11.6 in) of fresh snow fall in 24 hours during these episodes.

Economy

The economy of Italy is the third-largest national economy in the European Union, the eighth-largest by nominal GDP in the world, and the 13th-largest by GDP (PPP). Italy is a founding member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the OECD, the G7 and the G20. it is the tenth-largest exporter in the world, with $632 billion exported in 2019. Its closest trade ties are with the other countries of the European Union, with whom it conducts about 59% of its total trade. The largest trading partners, in order of market share in exports, are Germany (12.5%), France (10.3%), the United States (9%), Spain (5.2%), the United Kingdom (5.2%) and Switzerland (4.6%).

In the post-World War II period, Italy saw a transformation from an agricultural based economy which had been severely affected by the consequences of the World Wars, into one of the world's most advanced nations, and a leading country in world trade and exports. According to the Human Development Index, the country enjoys a very high standard of living. According to The Economist, Italy has the world's 8th highest quality of life.[24] Italy owns the world's third-largest gold reserve, and is the third-largest net contributor to the budget of the European Union. Furthermore, the advanced country private wealth is one of the largest in the world. In terms of private wealth, Italy ranks second, after Hong Kong, in private wealth to GDP ratio.

Why Study in Italy?

Italy is home to some of the oldest universities in the world and is the founder of the Bologna process. Students who are passionate about fields like art, architecture or fashion must study in Italy. The city offers a multicultural ambience and is considered to be one of the most student-friendly places in Europe. The locals in Italy are warm and outgoing. Italy has an ultra-developed public transportation system that makes it easier for students to commute from one place to another at cheaper rates.

Education Cost in Italy

The tuition fees in public universities in Italy cost between 850 to 1000 Euros. The tuition fees in private institutes range between 6000 Euro to 20,000 Euro per year. The cost of living in Italy also ranges from 650 to 1000 Euro per year.

Scholarships in Italy

Some scholarships cover tuition fees as well as living costs. Scholarships are often limited and are given to the students based on merit, after an assessment of their grades from previous studies. Colleges that offer programs in the field of Art and Design, have individual scholarships that they provide the students with, based on their portfolio and profile.

Study Visa Requirements

After being accepted at university, students get a letter of acceptance required for the visa application. Students must apply for visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in their country. They should schedule a visa interview around four to six weeks in advance. It is advised that students should apply for a student visa in Italy at least three months before their arrival. The processing time of their application may take between 1 – 3 weeks. Depending on the duration of your course in Italy, you need to make an application for the below given types of visa :

Short stay visa – type C – if you apply for a language course that lasts up to 90 days.

Long stay (national) visa – type D, for study purposes – if you apply for any degree course that has at least 20 hours of courses per week (or 80 hours a month).