The University of Pisa sporting facilities are among the best in the country and reflect the popularity and significance of sports in the university. This is evident in the wide range of both indoor and outdoor facilities available.

The University Sports Centre of Pisa (CUS) is a member of CONI (the Italia Olympic Committee) and offers a full programme of fitness classes including aerobics, gymnastics, yoga and pilates. The centre has modern facilities and is used by many students.

It is not necessary to pay a membership fee to join the Centre. You can use many facilities for free, and if you want to participate in sports activities led by an instructor, the exact cost will depend on the sport. On average, it will be about 55/60 euros for three months.

Info and contacts

C.U.S. Pisa a.s.d - Centro Universitario Sportivo di Pisa
Via Federico Chiarugi, 5 - 56122 Pisa
Tel. +039 050 2211260/262/263 - Fax +39 050 551222
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Pisa is a small yet culturally lively city which offers various leisure opportunities for university students, who further benefit from discounted rates for many cinemas, theatres and concert tickets.

You can join the University Choir mostly made up of university students but also of teaching and technical/administrative staff. The choir, instructed and directed by Maestro Stefano Barandoni, organizes a Christmas concert every year in which traditional and modern Christmas music is proposed as well as an important concert during the Giugno Pisano.

Students could also join the Centro per la diffusione della cultura e della pratica musicale (Centre for the dissemination of culture and the practice of music), which organizes and coordinates the University of Pisa's Choir and Orchestra activities.

The Centre aims to propagate interest in music, introducing students and university staff to a great choral and symphonic repertoire, symphonic-choral and classical chamber music, as well as to experiences of contemporary music and film.

The Centre organizes social events for the university community and exchange programmes with other choirs and university orchestras.

Info and contacts

Maestro Stefano Barandoni
Tel. +39 050 48621 - Mobile +39 339 4220709
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Giancarlo Dell'Amico
Tel. +39 050 47048 - Mobile +39 349 4026450
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https://www.unipi.it/index.php/study/item/6494-courses-of-italian-language-and-culture-for-international-students

The University of Pisa has been progressively working towards the removal of any obstacles that may interfere between students with special needs and their university life experience. This will allow students to participate in all activities carried out in the various university structures.

There is a specific office, the USID (Unità di Servizi per l'Integrazione degli studenti Disabili) Service unit for facilitating acess and success for students with special needs which is open to the public and has dedicated administrative staff and a coordinator responsible for support needs, appointed by the Rector.

The following services are offered:

• Educational and specialised tutoring for the provision and facilitation of study skills and to identify alternative methods of taking exams;
• Planning of classrooms and schedules to facilitate access to the classrooms and to other university facilities;
• Support with transportation to ensure necessary transfers for those with impaired mobility. The University has three dedicated vehicles equipped with lifts;
• Technological assistance/aids by using IT tools and specialist software to provide assistance for different types of support needs;
• Economic and administrative support for stays abroad:
• Monitoring of architectural barriers to control the accessibility of facilities and to promote immediate action for the removal of obstacles;
• Welcome Project to promote the support available for students and assist them in planning their academic career.

If you would like to contact our USID office, please email to:

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Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3 - Area Pontecorvo (Complesso ex Marzotto)
Edificio G - 56127 Pisa
Tel. +39 050 2213608

The University of Pisa offers a low-price dining service to students through the Diritto allo Studio Universitario (DSU Toscana) agency.

In Pisa, there are five dining halls that may be accessible to students enrolled.

In order to access the university canteens you must have a temporary canteen card that can be obtained at the canteens themselves, or the student card given to the student along with the exam booklet.

In order to use in the canteens, the card must be activated online or alternatively at the canteen card offices: all information regarding costs and the application for reduced costs are available on the dedicated webpage.

The temporary canteen card can only be used in the canteens.

The Student Card is a magnetic card which allows those who attend any of the universities in Tuscany, to access all the services offered by the DSU, regardless of which university they are enrolled at. The card, which has function as a smart card, will allow access to all the university services, including the dining halls available at various institutions run by Ardsu Toscana, and also as an ‘electronic wallet’.

In case of loss, theft or damage of the student card, the owner must follow these steps.

Info and contacts

DSU Toscana
Piazza dei Cavalieri, 6
Tel. +39 050 567 397 - 441 - 462 - 463
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Locations and opening hours for the University of Pisa's canteens can be found on the DSU Toscana website

The University has various teaching and research buildings, museums and libraries spread throughout the city. Given that Pisa is a small city, it is quite easy to reach these facilities by bicycle.

The University provides an online system so students and professors can have access to information related to an academic course such as syllabus and homework. Each department has a tutor - usually a young researcher - who advises students on academic matters.

Sorry, please follow the link below:

https://www.unipi.it/index.php/accommodation

What is it

It is a personal alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the subjects within the Italian State, as far as tax and administrative matters are concerned.

The tax code is one of the required documents to get the Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno), to rent a room and open a bank account. Please note that the temporary tax code issued upon your registration on Alice web portal (the University of Pisa registration web portal) or Universitaly web portal is not considered as valid. 

How to get the Tax Code

You can apply for a tax code only after arriving in Italy.

It is necessary to book an in-person appointment at the following link: Agenzia delle Entrate - Prenotazione appuntamenti – you can choose the most convenient office to reach. The website is in Italian language only: please, follow the detailed instructions on how to book an appointment that you can find at the bottom of this page.

At the appointment, you must present:

Non-EU students with an Italian visa

• Passport with a valid Italian entry visa stamped on it
• Copy of the passport (only the pages with personal data) and the visa
• AA4/8 form completed following the instructions at the bottom of this page

EU students

• Identity card of your country or passport
• AA4/8 form completed following the instructions at the bottom of this page

Non-EU students with a visa from an EU member state

• Valid residence permit issued by the European country
• Declaration of presence made at the Pisa Police Headquarters (to be requested within 8 days of entering Italy)
• AA4/8 form completed following the instructions at the bottom of this page

It is recommended to have a document that certifies your status at the University of Pisa.

Attention: the only official tax code is the one issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate or by Italian Embassies. The tax code generated by ALICE is not official.

Info and contacts

Revenue Agency - Agenzia delle entrate - Via Matteucci, 34 Galleria G.B. Gerace, 7/15 (Centro Forum) - 56124 Pisa
Tel. +39 050 315471 e-mail Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.

You can reach it by bus 1+

Opening hours: by appointment only

The insurance coverage for health services or hospitalization is required to get the VISA and for the residence permit application. You can subscribe to the Italian National Health System (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale - SSN).

According to Italian Law are also accepted:

• consular declaration which demonstrates the right for health care cover due to an Agreement between Italy and the Country of origin;
• foreign insurance policy, whose cover must be valid in Italy, and which should not include limitations or exceptions to the tariffs established for urgent hospital admittance for the length of the cover;
• insurance policy with Authorities or national companies accompanied by a declaration from the insuring entity that specifies the absence of limitations or exceptions to the tariffs established for urgent hospital admittance for the length of the cover.

National Health System 

The National Health System (SSN) provides:

• hospitalisation and treatment
• right to choose your General Practicioner - or Family Doctor
• basic and specialist medical care at a discounted price
• ambulance service and other free services provided by the local healthcare authority
• Italian Health Card

The Italian Law recognises the right to health as a fundamental human right. Legal foreign residents are fully entitled to the same treatment and civil rights as Italian citizens, if registered with the National Health Service.

How to register with the SSN

The registration cost for the current year is 700€ and is valid until the 31st of December of each year regardless of the registration date. Itmeansthatifyouregister in October, the service willexpire on December 31 of the sameyear. The registration fee must be payed with F24 form.

• 1st step: fill out the F24 form

Fill it out with your personal data (tax code, surname, name, Country of birth, date of birth, address in Italy and gender).

• CODICE TRIBUTO (type of payment): 8846
• CODICE REGIONE (Region number). 17
• ANNO DI RIFERIMENTO (reference year): 2024

Please, find the guide on how to fill out the Modello F24 at the bottom of this webpage.

• 2nd step: pay the F24 payment form

  at any bank, post office or at the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate).

• 3rd step: choose your general practitioner (family doctor)

Here you can find the list of doctors available in Pisa. Just select "Medici di medicina generale" and in the section "Comuni", choose Pisa. Fill out Modello 1 and Modello 6: you can download them at the bottom of this webpage.

• Last step: send an e-mail to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo. to complete the registration and to get the Health Card (Tessera Sanitaria).

The subject of the e-mail should be: “Your name and surname + Richiesta medico di base studente internazionale Unipi” attaching the following documents:

• Passport
• Visa
• Receipt of the payment of Modello F24 (year 2024)
• Italian tax code
• Receipts of the residence permit application 
• “Modello 1” and “Modello 6” filled out and signed. 

Please note: the registration to the Italian National Health Service ensures that foreigners receive an equal treatment and full equality regarding rights and duties compared to Italian citizens with regard to health care provided in Italy. Should you be in a situation in which you need health assistance or/and emergency care either provided by public or private health staff (contracted by the SSN) and you do not have the Italian health card (or its provisional replacement certificate), you will need to pay for all the medical expenses.

Guardia Medica

Your general practicioner has work hours. This means that you cannot see him/her everytime you want to but only during their working hours. What happens when you are not feeling well and your doctor is not available? For example, when one feels sick during the night or on weekends? At this point, you should call or visit the Guardia Medica. It is a doctor that substitutes your general practicioner when he/she is not working - during the night, on weekends and on national holidays. The Guardia Medica should be called for a medication or prescription that is urgent, but not serious enough to go to the emergency department (pronto soccorso). The Guardia Medica is free of charge for those who are registered with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN).

When you need the Guardia Medica, you just call the phone number or go directly to their office. The Guardia Medica will see you at home if you are not well and cannot move.

Working hours

Monday to Friday: from 8 pm to 8am

National holidays, Saturday and Sunday: from 10am until 8 am of the following business day.

Where

The Guardia Medica is located in via Garibaldi, 198 Pisa, tel. 050 959866 - Web page

Private Health Insurance

As an alternative to registering with the SSN, you can apply/renew your Residence Permit with a private health insurance valid in Italy.

The insurance can be issued by foreign or Italian companies and it must:

• cover you without limitations or exceptions;
• Be registered to you;
• Be valid in Italy for the duration of the study program or mobility.

Please, note that private health policies:

• Do not allow the choice of a general practitioner or the registration with the Italian National Health Service (SSN);
• Usually require the student to pay the expenses in advance and then ask for reimbursement from the insurance company. 

We highly reccommend you to carefully check the conditions and terms before purchasing the policy. Remember that the health costs to be advanced could be very high, for example in the case of hospitalization. In the event of a claim, you should contact the insurance company as soon as possible. Please, note that failure to comply with one of the obligations may result in total or partial loss of insurance compensation.

You can purchase a health insurance from different private companies: compare multiple options to figure out which one is best suited to your needs. Here you can find an example of private insurance that have been recognized by the Police station to apply/renew the Residence Permit:

• WAI - Welcome Association Italy  https://www.waitaly.net/en/

For more information, please read carefully the conditions of the Insurance Policy available here: https://www.waitaly.net/en/pacchetti-welcome/cittadino-extra-ue-richiedente-permesso-di-soggiorno/#copertura.

Emergency number: 112

Call the single European emergency number if you require urgent assistance from:

• the police
• the fire brigade
• medical services

The 112 operator will forward the call to the relevant service depending on the type of emergency.

Calls to the single European emergency number, 112, are free of charge from landlines and mobile networks, even if the phone does not have a SIM card, is blocked or is out of credit.

Emergency Department (Pronto Soccorso) in Pisa

Hospital in Pisa: Ospedale di Cisanello

Address: Via Paradisa, 2 (Pronto Soccorso/Emergency room: Building 31)

Information provided by:

International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 - 56126 Pisa

Non-EU citizens residing abroad and wishing to carry out research projects in Italy for a period longer than 90 days need an Italian government authorization called the “research nulla osta”, which is the first step before applying for the research visa.

The administrative procedure for getting the research nulla osta can only be started by an Italian Research Center (e.g. a University or a similar Research Center) that has a previous agreement with the Italian Ministry of Education and Research (MIUR).

A foreign researcher or a private citizen cannot start the application by himself.

At the University of Pisa, for the first step, a non-EU researcher has to apply to the Visiting Fellow Programme and contact the International Coordinator of the Department he/she wishes to visit and carry out his/her research.

Regarding the nulla osta procedure, the steps are the following:

1. Firstly, a "Hosting Agreement" (Convenzione d'Accoglienza) has to be signed between the foreign researcher and the Department at the University of Pisa, which will be hosting you. Therefore the Department will forward you the "Hosting Agreement", which you will have to sign (two copies) and send back to your host Department in Pisa.
2. After receiving back the Hosting Agreement signed by you, the Department at the University of Pisa will formally apply for the Italian Governmental authorization called the "research nulla osta", which is the official document that will allow you to apply for the research visa. In order to proceed, you will have to show that you have already booked accommodation here in Pisa (at least one month booking is necessary).
3. If the nulla osta application is accepted, the governmental office called Prefettura (Ufficio Unico) will release the research nulla osta to your host Department staff that, on their turn, will forward the nulla osta to you as well. In the meantime, the Prefettura will inform the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the Country where you reside too, for the next issuing of your research visa.
4. At this point, after receiving the nulla osta by your Department staff, you are allowed to apply for the research visa (our Embassy will already know your name and details of the nulla osta).
5. After getting the research visa, upon your arrival in Italy, you must apply for the research residency permit, within the first 8 days upon your arrival.
6. Finally, after applying for the Italian residency permit (at the post office), while waiting for its release, you are allowed to start working.

Please note that at least one month may be necessary for the whole process.

For more information about the Research Visa, the European Euraxess web site may help you.

Information provided by:

International Promotion Unit
Piazza Torricelli, 4 56126 Pisa

According to Italian Law (D. Lgs. 286/98) non E.U. citizens, planning to stay in Italy longer than 3 months must apply for a Residence permit within 8 working days after arrival.

Please note, if you have a Type ‘D’ visa you must apply for the Residence Permit.

First step: Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale)

Information on how to get the Tax Code, please follow instructions at this page.

Please note that the tax code issued by your registration at Alice (University of Pisa website) is not official.

Second step: Health Insurance coverage

In order to apply for a Residence Permit, you need an Health Insurance coverage. Please, read the dedicated webpage where you will find detailed informations.

If you do not have an Health Insurance coverage

In this case we suggest you enrol in the Italian National Health Service for the current year, which means that it only lasts until December 31st each year (it doesn’t matter when you apply) and must be renewed each calendar year. However, if you enrol in the Italian National Health Service, you will then receive the same benefits AS AN ITALIAN CITIZEN by getting the Italian health card.

You will also have the right to choose your personal medical Doctor in Pisa.

The registration cost for the current year 2024 is 700€ and is valid until Dec/31st of each year regardless of the registration date. Please keep in mind that the registration needs to be renewed every year. Payment of the registration fee must be made by modello F24 (available in any post office), CODICE TRIBUTO (type of payment): 8846; CODICE REGIONE (Region number) : 17; ANNO DI RIFERIMENTO (reference year): 2024.

Please keep your receipt of payment. It will be useful later for your enrollment at the local Italian Health Center.

If you already have Health Insurance coverage

Please, check its validity in Italy with the Patronato Office (third step).

Third step: appointment at a “Patronato” Office

Take an appointment at one of the Patronato Offices suggested below: you will get assistance.

Suggested Patronato Offices:

• Patronato ACLI, via Francesco da Buti, 20 (near to Piazza Guerrazzi) tel. 050 913120, e-mail: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.. 
  
• Patronato UIL, via Cisanello, 145 – tel. 050 25000, e-mail: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
• Patronato ENAC/CAF UCI, Via Catalani, 37 (a street off via C. Battisti), tel. 050 5205494, no appointment needed from 9 a.m. to 12 (noon) and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Patronato INCA, viale Bonaini, 71 - 1st floor - tel 050 515217, e-mail: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo..

Documents requested to apply for the study residence permit:

1. Passport (and the Italian tax code if you aready have it);
2. A copy of your passport (just the pages with your personal data and the one with the Visa stamp);
3. A special stamp (marca da bollo) which costs €16.00 that you can buy at tobacco shop;
4. Type D study visa is enough to start the application for the Residency permit. Then, at the Police appointment, it is necessary to show Pisa University Enrolment certificate to the current academic year that you can find on ALICE portal OR you can request to the Students’ Office (Segreterie Studenti) or the Phd Office (Ufficio Dottorato) if you are a phd student. Instead, if you are an Erasmus/exchange/visiting student, you must have an Acceptance Letter signed by your hosting Department in Pisa, proving that you are involved in a Study Project or Erasmus activity, with the starting and ending date of your stay in Pisa;
5. Health insurance coverage (in case you have a foreign insurance coverage or a specific insurance policy, please check its validity in Italy with the Patronato Office);
6. Declaration that you have a scholarship (if you have one) or bank statement (proof) that you have sufficient financial resources to guarantee your stay in Italy in your bank account (not less than €468,10 for each month);

Please note: some of these documents must be enclosed with the Application Form (kit giallo/yellow kit) at the Post Office.

Fourth step:  Residence Permit application 

Go to one of the Post offices in town (Poste Italiane) and send the Residence Permit form. We suggest you to go to the main Post Office in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, near to the central train station.

Please be aware that after sending the Application Form by mail, the Post Office clerk will give you a special Receipt and a fingerprinting appointment at the Questura (Local Police Headquarters) in Via Lalli, 3.

The post office receipt, where you can find your Username and Password, is extremely important and should be kept safe as it is proves that you have applied for a Residence Permit before you actually receive one.

List of expenses when applying for the Residence Permit:

• € 16,00 for the special stamp (marca da bollo);
• € 30,00 for the Post Office in order to mail the Application Form;
• € 70,46 for the application for the Residence Permit (valid for up to 1 year)

You can check the progress of your residency Permit application and any missing document at Portale Immigrazione, by using the password and ID on your post office application receipt (do not consider the dash in the password).

At the Questura you will sign the Integration Agreement too, which is an agreement between the Italian State and a non EU/EEA citizen entering Italy for the first time. The international student is committed to meet his/her civic obligations and invited to participate in a class on Civic education, about life in Italy.

Fifth step: Health Card and family doctor 

If you have paid the 700,00 euro for the enrolment to the Italian public Health System, go to the Health District in via Garibaldi 198, where you will be able to get the health card and choose your personal doctor free of charge.

Details at https://www.unipi.it/index.php/insurance/item/6679-choose-your-own-doctor-in-pisa. 

Please beware that, if you arrived in Italy with a study visa, you enrolled to an Italian University and you wish to do a RINUNCIA AGLI STUDI (renunciation to your studies), in order to enroll again to the same or another Italian university, you cannot use the study Residence permit you already have and you must get a new study visa.

Information provided by: 

International Promotion Unit 
Piazza Torricelli, 4 56126 Pisa

Contacts: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.