The University of Pisa Foundation Course Welcome Day for the 2026–2027 academic year took place on Tuesday, 8 September, in the historic Aula Magna of Palazzo della Sapienza. Taught entirely in English and designed for international students, the programme is celebrating its eleventh edition this year.
The Foundation Course is a one-year program taught in English, designed primarily for international students who do not yet meet the minimum entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree program at Italian universities. To help students integrate into the local community and academic environment, the curriculum includes a year-long Italian language course designed to bring students to a B1 proficiency level.
Around forty students attended the event in person, representing a larger body of incoming learners: a total of 260 students are enrolled in the on-campus tracks (Science and Humanities), while 50 are enrolled in the online Social Science track. The lower attendance at the Welcome Day was mainly due to many students still awaiting the issue of their study visas.
Institutional greetings were delivered by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations, Prof. Giovanni Federico Gronchi. The event was also attended by the directors of the three tracks: Prof. Carlotta Ferrara degli Uberti (Humanities), Prof. Michele Burrello (Science), and Prof. Irene Psaroudakis (Social Science). Also present were Prof. Marianne Hepp, Director of the University Language Centre (CLI), as well as Adio Terranova and Gaia Pegoraro representing the International Cooperation Office.
During the session, after a presentation on the overall structure and organization of the program, students had the opportunity to introduce themselves to their peers and professors. The day concluded with a light lunch offered by the university, providing a welcoming space for informal networking and initial bonding.
The Welcome Day marked the opening of a welcome week for newly arrived students, which includes a guided tour of the city’s main historical attractions and key university facilities, among other activities.
