The seventh edition of the University of Pavia's Foundation Year opened on Thursday 10 October in Aula Scarpa. Welcoming the students enrolled for 2024-25 were the Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Prof. Antonella Forlino, Prof. Axel Berkofsky, Delegate for Internationalization of the Far East, the Director of the Programme, Prof. Ilaria Fiorentini, the staff and the Head of the UOC Marketing and Recruitment, Dr. Elena Fontana, as well as STEP-ESN Pavia and a delegation of Alumni from previous editions.  

Conceived in the 2018-19 academic year, the Foundation Year at the University of Pavia is a preparatory course in Italian aimed at students who do not meet the 12-year schooling requirement for access to a degree course in Italy, but also at those who are interested in acquiring or improving their Italian language skills in preparation for a university course in Italy. 

Over the years, the number of students enrolled in the Programme has increased exponentially from 10 students in the first pilot edition in the year 2018-19 to over 200 students in the current edition. The students come from 40 countries around the world: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Turkey are the most represented nationalities.

Upon passing the final examination, students may decide to enroll in a first cycle degree programme at the University of Pavia. Around 60 per cent of the students who have passed Foundation Year 2023-24 enrolled in a degree programme at the University of Pavia.

The opening ceremony was an opportunity to wish the students every success in taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by this study and life experience.