Didactics
Is it easier to study online than in the traditional on-campus format with university lectures?
No, distance learning is not easier.
Many students plan to study in the evenings after the working day has ended, which is entirely possible. However, it is important to be aware that distance studies require the same amount of work, commitment, and responsibility as traditional university studies.
Are there any compulsory classes or activities held on campus in Falun?
No, there are no compulsory on-campus teaching sessions in Falun. All distance courses in Italian are conducted entirely online, including teaching, examinations, and academic supervision.
However, all scheduled online classes within each course are mandatory.
I have never studied Italian before. Is there a course suitable for me?
Yes. You may apply for the course Italian: Beginner’s Course I, 15 credits.
The course is offered at half-time (50%), and the entry requirement is general eligibility for higher education.
Read more about general eligibility (only in Swedish)
Läs mer om grundläggande behörighet (du.se)
I have studied Italian Level 2 in upper secondary school. Which course should I apply for?
In this case, we recommend Italian: Beginner’s Course II, 15 credits.
I have studied Italian Level 3 in upper secondary school. Which courses may I apply for?
You are eligible to apply for the following first-cycle (A-level) courses:
Italian A: Phonetics and Oral Language Proficiency, 7.5 credits
Italian A: Grammar and Written Language Proficiency, 7.5 credits
Italian A: Culture and Society, 7.5 credits
Italian A: Text Analysis, 7.5 credits
If you wish to study full-time (100%), you should take all four courses. You may also choose to study one course (25%), two courses (50%), or three courses (75%).
I studied Italian Level 3 in upper secondary school, but it was a long time ago and I have forgotten much of it. Which course should I apply for?
We recommend that you refresh your knowledge by taking Italian: Beginner’s Course II, 15 credits, which is an intensive course.
Is Swedish 3 from upper secondary school required to apply for beginner courses?
No. The language of instruction is English, and Swedish 3 is therefore not required.
I do not have grades in Italian from a Swedish upper secondary school, but Italian is my native language. Can I be admitted to your courses?
Yes. Please contact the subject coordinator for Italian, Gianluca Colella (gco@du.se).
I do not have grades in Italian from a Swedish upper secondary school, but I have studied and/or lived in Italy for a long time. Can I be admitted?
No, but you may become eligible by taking a placement test.
www.du.se/en/study-at-du/vara-utbildningar/sprak/italienska/proficiency-test--italian/
I have foreign diplomas or grades in Italian. Are these valid for admission?
No, but you may become eligible either through recognition of prior learning (please contact the study counsellors) or by taking a placement test.
www.du.se/en/study-at-du/vara-utbildningar/sprak/italienska/proficiency-test--italian/
I am an EU citizen and would like to study Italian at your university. Is there a tuition fee?
No. Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland are not required to pay application or tuition fees.
However, you must submit documentation via antagning.se to verify your citizenship.
I am a citizen of a country outside the EU. Does this involve any costs?
Yes, if you are not resident in Sweden or within the EU/EEA.
Currently, the tuition fee is approximately SEK 12,000 for courses of 7.5 credits and SEK 24,000 for courses of 15 credits.
Which courses are required to complete each level of study (30 credits)?
First-cycle level A (30 credits) – four courses:
Phonetics and Oral Language Proficiency
Grammar and Written Language Proficiency
Culture and Society
Text Analysis
First-cycle level B (30 credits) – four courses:
Grammar and Written Production (autumn semester)
Italian Past and Present (autumn semester)
Literary History with Text Analysis (spring semester)
Oral Language Proficiency and Cultural Studies (spring semester)
First-cycle level C (30 credits) – three courses:
Italian Linguistics
Older Literature with Language Analysis
Bachelor’s Degree Project, 15 credits
(The degree project may only be taken after completion of the other C-level courses.)
Do I have to take all courses simultaneously?
No. The programme is highly flexible. You may choose your own study pace:
100% (4 courses)
75% (3 courses)
50% (2 courses)
25% (1 course)
For psychological and practical reasons, we recommend that you do not enrol in more courses than you can realistically complete.
In which order are the courses recommended?
The order is flexible, but for pedagogical reasons we recommend the following sequence:
A-level courses first:
Phonetics and Oral Language Proficiency
Grammar and Written Language Proficiency
followed by:
Text Analysis and Culture and Society
B-level courses:
Autumn semester: Grammar and Written Production; Italian Past and Present
Spring semester: Oral Language Proficiency and Cultural Studies; Literary History with Text Analysis
C-level courses:
Italian Linguistics
Older Literature with Language Analysis
followed by:
Bachelor’s Degree Project
Does a 7.5-credit course correspond to five weeks of study?
No. Our 7.5- and 15-credit courses run continuously throughout the entire semester (20 weeks).
We believe this structure provides better conditions for language acquisition than short, intensive courses.
Timetable, Schedule and Attendance
When does teaching take place?
All teaching is conducted in the evening, starting at 6:00 p.m., from Monday to Thursday. No teaching takes place on Fridays or public holidays.
We aim to avoid timetable conflicts between courses at the same level; however, we cannot guarantee that courses at different levels will not overlap.
Are all classes compulsory?
Yes. Attendance and active participation are essential in distance learning. For this reason, all seminars are compulsory.
What happens if I miss a compulsory seminar?
To receive a passing grade, attendance at a specified number of seminars is required (see the course overview for each course).
If you miss too many seminars to obtain a passing grade (G), you must complete the missing seminars in the following semester.
May I record seminars?
No. For reasons of privacy and data protection (GDPR), recording seminars is not permitted.
Can I decide my own study pace during the course?
Partly. You may decide when to study outside scheduled teaching hours; however, submission deadlines and seminar times are determined by the instructor.
Required Technical Equipment and Software
What technical equipment is required to participate in online teaching?
You need a desktop or laptop computer that is no older than 4–5 years. We strongly advise against using mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones to participate in teaching.
In addition, the following are required:
a headset with headphones and microphone,
a webcam,
a stable internet connection.
For written examinations, an external webcam is also required.
We recommend a USB-connected headset. Bluetooth headsets or mobile phone headsets are not recommended.
What system requirements apply for participating in online seminars?
You need a minimum internet connection speed of 800 kbps / 1.0 Mbps (upload/download). A speed above 2.5 Mbps is strongly recommended. We also recommend using a wired internet connection instead of a wireless network.
You can check your connection speed via Bredbandskollen.
Which software is required to follow the courses without difficulty?
For online seminars, you need the Zoom application, which can be downloaded from:
Zoom download.
It is possible to use Zoom via a web browser, but the application is generally more stable and therefore recommended.
Högskolan Dalarna provides access to Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), which can be downloaded or used online via www.office.com.
You log in using your university account (username and password).
To read PDF files, Adobe Acrobat Reader is recommended and can be downloaded free of charge from Adobe’s website.
How can I test that my equipment works properly?
It is important to test your equipment—especially your microphone and webcam—before the course starts, in order to avoid technical problems during the first Zoom session.
Högskolan Dalarna offers technical support via a Zoom support café, where you can test your equipment and receive assistance from technical staff. Support is available on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. via the support café:
https://du-se.zoom.us/j/9023778888
I have never used Zoom before. How can I learn to use the program?
Zoom is relatively intuitive and easy to use. If you still feel uncertain, you can consult the university’s guides here:
www.du.se/en/study-at-du/study-tools2/zoom/
Who should I contact in case of technical problems?
In case of technical issues, you should always contact the university’s technical support by email at:
support@du.se
Please clearly and briefly state the type of problem in the subject line (e.g. email, login, Zoom, or Canvas).
You may also receive real-time assistance by contacting the university’s educational technologists via the Zoom support café.
Course Reading Lists: Books and Compendia
Do I need to purchase all the books listed in the reading list?
Yes. All books listed in the reading list must be obtained and available at the start of the course.
It does not matter whether the books are new or second-hand, purchased in a bookstore or online, or borrowed from a library—the important thing is that you have access to them.
Please note that several literary works that are no longer subject to copyright (usually around 75 years after the author’s death) can be downloaded free of charge. For example, Divina Commedia and I promessi sposi are available at www.liberliber.it.
Books listed as reference literature are not compulsory but recommended. It is therefore up to you to decide whether to use them.
As a distance student, may I borrow course literature from the university library?
Yes, provided that you are resident in Sweden.
The university library in Falun holds at least one copy of each book listed in the reading lists. Books can be sent free of charge to your registered address in Sweden for a loan period of three weeks. You are responsible for the return postage.
Books are loaned according to the principle of first come, first served. Other students will be placed on a waiting list.
University Library – Högskolan Dalarna
I have an older edition of a book. May I use it?
For dictionaries and grammars, older editions are often sufficient.
For other books—especially exercise books and anthologies—we strongly recommend using the edition specified in the course reading list. If in doubt, you should always contact the course instructor.
From which bookstore should I order the course literature?
You are free to choose how to obtain the course literature, for example through Swedish or international bookstores, online retailers, or during a trip to Italy.
Contacting the Teaching Staff
May I use my private email address to contact the teaching staff?
For reasons of privacy and security, we recommend that you always use the email address provided by Högskolan Dalarna or communicate via the messaging function in Canvas.
Can I expect an immediate response to emails?
No. Teaching staff work during regular office hours and are not always able to respond immediately. According to university policy, emails that require a response are normally answered within three working days (excluding weekends and public holidays).
After submitting an essay or assignment, how long does the grading process take?
In general, instructors have fifteen working days to grade submitted assignments. This period excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays and is counted from the established submission deadline.
If, after fifteen working days, you have not received feedback or a grade, you should first contact the course instructor (who may, for example, have been on sick leave). If the matter is still unresolved, you may then contact the subject coordinator.
Students Permanently or Temporarily Residing Abroad
I am permanently or temporarily residing abroad. Is there anything in particular I should be aware of?
Yes. You should order your course literature well in advance, as delivery times may be longer when shipping internationally.
If you are residing in a country with a significant time difference relative to Sweden, scheduled teaching sessions may, in some cases, take place late at night in your local time.