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To strengthen the relationships between Italy and China, the TURANDOT project has been launched. It is a partnership programme between Italy and China, focusing on arts, music and design. Through this new programme Chinese students will have the chance to enrol in the Italian Afam institutions – higher education institutions for music and dance - enjoying the same conditions of the Programme Marco Polo. To achieve this purpose, a set number of places (quota) has been reserved exclusively to Chinese students in the 3.475 courses available in total.
Between the 9th March 2009 and the 15th April 2009, Chinese students can hand in their pre-enrolment application for the selected course in one of the Afam institutions at the competent Italian diplomatic authorities in China.
On AFAM/Studenti stranieri web page (in Italian only), it is possible to browse the list of the courses with the corresponding quotas that each institution has reserved to Chinese students.
Together with their pre-enrolment application, students must also hand in a proof of the studies accomplished so far and the certification that they have passed the State examinations for admission at university: the "Gao Kao" exam. All the above-mentioned documents must be legalized. Finally, students must also provide the declaration of value (Dichiarazione di Valore in loco) of the accomplished studies that can be requested at the competent Italian diplomatic authority in China. Only the applications of the students that have obtained the threshold mark specified by the competent Italian diplomatic authorities will be considered eligible for the programme. Students must also demonstrate that they have sufficient economic means to provide for the whole duration of their stay in Italy.
In the pre-enrolment application, students can indicate where they prefer to attend the Italian language course they have the possibility to follow, among the universities that organize such courses, there are the University for Strangers in Perugia and in Siena, the University for Strangers ‘Dante Alighieri’ in Reggio Calabria and the Third University of Rome (Terza Università di Roma).
From the 16th of April to the 8th of May 2009, the Italian diplomatic authorities in China, will send to the Afam institutions all the applications they have received, with all required documents: legalization of the qualifications and declaration of value. In the meantime, the Italian diplomatic authorities will send via e-mail the lists of all Chinese students interested in taking part in the courses of Afam institutions.
To the end of the issuing of the study visa in due time for their participation in the Italian language course, Italian universities have to conditionally accept all applications until they will receive the complete documentations. They will then inform the diplomatic authorities and the Ministry for Education, University and Research about the date and the selected seat of the Italian language course that will last at least six months and will be useful to prepare Chinese students to face an academic path in Italy. If Chinese students pass the final examination of the Italian language course, they will be relieved from the Italian language test required for the enrolment of all foreign students.
Once in Italy, Chinese applicants have to contact the local police station (Questura) in order to apply for a study stay permit as provided for all international candidates.
On the fixed dates, Chinese applicants have to take the admission examinations, according to the agenda that has been determined for all international students. The applicants that despite resulting eligible have not qualified for a place within the quotas of the chosen university, have the possibility submit a further application to be enrolled either in another course at the same university or in the same course at another university.
If the result of the admission exam is positive, students will complete the enrolment procedure at the universities of their choice.
On the contrary, students who have not passed admission exams or that despite being eligible could not be enrolled in another course or at a different university, must leave Italy within the expiring date of their study visa, unless they hold another type of visa which allows them to legally remain in Italy beyond that date.
Chinese students participating in the “Marco Polo” Project have to deliver their applications for pre-enrolment either in first or second cycle courses within the 15th December 2009 courses to the competent Italian diplomatic authorities in China. The courses must be chosen among those that have reserved a number of places for “Marco Polo” participants.
The list of all degree courses and of the quotas reserved for them by individual universities has been made available online from 19th October 2009 on the following web address of the Ministry of University and Research Contingente riservato.
The same list is also advertised by CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors), by Italian universities and Italian diplomatic authorities in China.
In their applications candidates have to mention also the university site where they want to attend the course in the Italian language; that site must be selected out of those which organise said specific language courses, in addition to the Universities for Foreigners of Perugia and Siena, and the Third University of Rome.
In conformity to the current provisions concerning all international students, also Chinese candidates have to submit, along with their pre-enrolment applications, the documents relating to their previous studies, included the certificate that they have passed the academic suitability exam called "Gao Kao" with the minimum mark of 380; furthermore they must provide documentary evidence that they dispose of sufficient financial means to support themselves in Italy.
By 16th January 2010, Italian diplomatic authorities have to forward, either via email or registered post, if possible, all the applications and the respective study documents, duly legalised and completed with the Statement of Validity referring to universities of thr awarding country (Dichiarazione di Valore in loco). When the complexity of the mentioned procedures does not allow to meet the above deadline, the same authorities will forward the various documentations on a subsequent date but anyhow no later than the end of February 2010.
To the end of the issuing to the students concerned of the necessary study visa in due time for their participation in the Italian language course, Italian universities have to conditionally accept all applications until they will receive the respective documentations.
When the language course is held at a university site different from that where a student will be matriculated in the chosen degree course, the diplomatic authorities concerned have to forward the documentation to this last study site and simultaneously inform the first university.
When applications refer to degree courses regulated by admission restrictions, the necessary information will be given directly to the applicants concerned in due time and according to the same modalities as prescribed for all international candidates.
Italian diplomatic authorities will issue the required visa by the 24th of August 2009. The starting dates of the language courses will be timely communicated by individual universities and will be included in the list prepared for the purpose.
Once in Italy, Chinese applicants have to go to the police station (Questura) in order to ask for a stay permit for study purposes according to the same modalities and times as prescribed for all international candidates, according to the Ministerial provisions issued on 16th may 2008 valid covering three years from 2008 to 2011.
On the fixed dates, Chinese applicants have to take the admission exams taking into account the agenda that has been determined for all national and international students.
Applicants defined "idonei" (those who have passed the admission exams but have not qualified for a place within the quotas of the chosen universitiy sites) may submit an application for a second placement either in another degree course at the same university or in the same degree course at another university.
Once passed the exams, students may directly proceed to their definitive matriculation in the Italian universities concerned.
Students who have not passed the admission exams or, classified as "idonei", could not be admitted to another degree course or to another study site, must leave Italy by the expiring date of their visa/stay permit for study purposes; just one exception is possible: it concerns only those candidates who hold also another type of stay permit which allows them to live legally in Italy beyond the expiring date of the stay permit for study purposes.