Didactics
Is it easier to study online than in the traditional way—with on‑campus lectures at the university?
No, studying remotely is not easier.
Many students choose to study during the evening after work. This is entirely possible. However, one must be aware that online studies require as much effort and work as traditional university studies.
Are there any mandatory in‑person lessons held in Falun?
No, we do not have any mandatory on‑campus lessons in Falun. All Italian distance‑learning courses are conducted exclusively online: lessons, exams, and student supervision. However, attendance is mandatory for all online course sessions.
I have never studied Italian before. Is there a course suitable for me?
Yes, you can enroll in Italian: Beginner’s Course I, 15 credits. It is a part‑time course (50%), and the only admission requirement is General Eligibility.
Do I need Swedish 3 from upper secondary school to apply for beginner courses?
No, Swedish 3 is not required. The language of instruction is English.
I do not have a grade in Italian from Swedish secondary school, but I speak Italian fluently as it is my mother tongue. Can I be admitted to your courses?
Please contact the subject coordinator for Italian, Gianluca Colella (gco@du.se).
I do not have a grade in Italian from Swedish secondary school, but I speak Italian fluently because I have studied/lived in Italy for a long time. Can I be admitted to your courses?
No, but you can qualify by taking a placement test:
https://www.du.se/sv/Utbildning/vara-utbildningar/sprak/italienska/nivatest-i-italienska/
I have foreign diplomas/grades in Italian. Do they count if I apply to your courses?
No, but you may qualify through real competence assessment or by taking a placement test.
https://www.du.se/sv/Utbildning/vara-utbildningar/sprak/italienska/nivatest-i-italienska/
I am an EU citizen and wish to study Italian with you. Is there any cost?
No. As a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not pay an application or tuition fee. However, you must provide documentation via the national admissions system (www.antagning.se) confirming your citizenship.
I am a citizen of a non‑EU country and wish to study with you. Are there any fees?
Yes, if you are not resident in Sweden or another EU country. More information is available on the University Admissions website (in English).
Which sub‑courses must be completed to fulfil each level of study totalling 30 credits?
To complete Undergraduate Level A (30 credits), you must take the following four courses:
Italian A: Phonetics and Oral Proficiency, 7.5 credits
Italian A: Grammar and Written Proficiency, 7.5 credits
Italian A: Culture and Society, 7.5 credits (autumn 2025 and spring 2026: GIT2TP – Culture and Society, Central Italy)
Italian A: Text Analysis, 7.5 credits (autumn 2025 and spring 2026: GIT2TQ – Text Analysis, a literary journey in central Italy)
For Undergraduate Level B (30 credits), you must take:
Italian B: Grammar and Written Production, 7.5 credits (offered in autumn only)
Italian B: Italian Language, Past and Present, 7.5 credits (offered in autumn only)
Italian B: Oral Proficiency and Cultural Knowledge, 7,5 credits (offered in spring only)
Italian B: History of Literature with Text Analysis, 7.5 credits (offered in spring only)
For Undergraduate Level C (30 credits), you must take:
Italian C: Italian Linguistics, 7.5 credits
Italian C: Italian Old Literature with Language Analysis, 7.5 credits
Italian C: Essay in Italian, 15 credits (This course requires completion of the other two Level‑C courses first and is only offered once they are completed.)
Must I take all four sub‑courses simultaneously (30 credits), or may I choose how many to take each term?
To facilitate flexible study planning, you may choose your study intensity freely: 100% (4 courses), 75% (3 courses), 50% (2 courses), or 25% (1 course). This allows you to adapt your pace to the time you realistically have available.
From a pedagogical perspective, it is advisable not to enroll in more courses than you can realistically complete. Overextending yourself may lead to loss of confidence and potentially to dropping all courses.
Now that you can freely choose sub‑courses across levels, is there a recommended sequence from a didactic perspective?
You can take sub‑courses in any order and study intensity you prefer. However, our recommended sequence is:
Level A:
- 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
Level B:
- Autumn term:
• Italian B: Grammar and Written Production, 7.5 credits
• Italian B: Italy Past and Present, 7.5 credits - Spring term:
• Italian B: Oral Language Proficiency and Cultural Knowledge, 7.5 credits
• Italian B: History of Literature with Text Analysis, 7.5 credits
Level C:
‑ First:
• Italian C: Italian Linguistics, 7.5 credits
• Italian C: Older Literature with Language Analysis, 7.5 credits
‑ Then:
• Italian C: Bachelor’s Thesis, 15 credits (offered every term)
Does a 7.5‑credit sub‑course correspond to five calendar weeks of lessons?
No. Our 7.5-credit (or 15-credit) sub‑courses run continuously throughout the entire term. We believe this system best supports language learning—engaging consistently over several months rather than in short, intensive blocks.
Timetable, Schedule and Attendance
At what times are the lessons?
All Italian lessons and seminars take place in the evening, from 18:00 onward. Should there be a very large number of students, we may divide them into smaller groups, in which case some lessons might be scheduled in the morning.
Lessons run continuously from Monday to Thursday evenings. Fridays and public holidays are always free from teaching.
When we create course schedules, we ensure that sub‑courses at the same level (e.g. all courses beginning with “Italian A”) do not overlap. However, we cannot guarantee that courses at different levels will not clash.
Is attendance mandatory for all lessons?
Yes. Active attendance in mandatory online lessons is essential. During these sessions, you can ask questions, receive instructions and feedback, share ideas and challenges, and get to know fellow students and teachers. Isolation can undermine motivation and enjoyment, so participation is vital—and all lessons are therefore compulsory.
I missed one of my mandatory seminars—what now? Can I make it up?
To receive a grade of Pass (“G”), you must attend a specified number of sessions (see each course’s overview). If you miss more sessions than allowed, you must complete the missed seminars in the next term. Online seminars missed for any reason—just as on campus—cannot be repeated. It is therefore crucial to attend all scheduled lessons.
Can I manage my study time independently?
No, not completely. Your teacher sets the deadlines for assignments and homework (generally one or two weeks), tests, and classes. Of course you can decide when you want to study. As described above, classes and seminars are scheduled for evenings, Monday to Thursday.
May I record the seminars?
No. For privacy reasons, recording is not permitted.
Can I change my chosen study intensity during the course?
Not entirely. Typically, you have one or two weeks to submit assignments and homework. You decide whether to study late at night, early morning, or on weekends. However, online seminars—as previously stated—are only held in the evenings. The teachers determine the submission deadlines for written tasks, as well as the seminar schedule.
Required Technical Equipment and Software
What technical equipment do I need for an online course?
You need a computer (laptop or desktop), no more than 4–5 years old. We do not recommend using mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones for lessons. You also need a headset with headphones and microphone, a webcam, and an internet connection. For written exams, a separate webcam is required.
We recommend a USB headset with microphone—Bluetooth or mobile phone headsets are not recommended.
What system requirements are needed for online seminars?
You need at least 800 kbps/1 Mbps (upload/download), though 2.5 Mbps or higher is recommended. A wired (Ethernet) connection is preferred. You can check your connection speed via Bredbandskollen.
What software must I have installed on my computer?
For online seminars, you need the Zoom application, available via Zoom download. Although browser-based use is possible, the app is more stable.
The university offers Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), which can be downloaded or used online at www.office.com.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) is recommended for reading PDF files.
How can I test that all my equipment works?
It is important to test your equipment—especially microphone and webcam—before the first Zoom session, to avoid technical issues.
Dalarna University offers technical support via a Zoom “tech café” where you can test your setup and receive assistance. Technicians are available on weekdays from 08:00 to 16:00 Zoom support café
I’ve never used Zoom before. How can I learn to use it?
Zoom is intuitive and user-friendly. If you feel uncertain, you can consult Zoom guides here:
www.du.se/en/study‑at‑du/study‑tools2/zoom/
Who do I contact if technical problems arise?
For technical issues, always contact our technicians via email support@du.se. Write clearly and concisely in the subject line about the issue (e.g., email login, Zoom, etc.).
Course Reading Lists: Books and Course Packs
Do I have to purchase all the books on the reading list?
Yes—all printed books listed on the reading list are mandatory. They must be available at the start of the course—whether purchased new, second‑hand, borrowed, or otherwise. Free downloads of public‑domain works (e.g., Divina Commedia, I Promessi Sposi) from websites such as liberliber.it are permissible.
Reference books are recommended but not compulsory; the choice is up to you.
Can distance‑learning students borrow books from the university library?
The library at Dalarna University holds at least one copy of each required book. These can be mailed within Sweden for free on a three‑week loan (postage return is at your expense). The borrower who reserves first has priority; others join the waitlist.
For more information on library services for distance students, please refer to:
https://www.du.se/sv/bibliotek/lana-och-bestalla/biblioteket-pa-distans/fjarrlan-och-inkopsforslag/
I already own one of the required titles, but it is not the latest edition. Can I still use it?
Usually this is acceptable for dictionaries and grammar guides. For other works—especially exercise books and anthologies—it is best to use the edition listed in the course literature, as editions may differ significantly. If unsure, contact your course teacher.
Which Swedish bookstore should I use to order required books?
You may choose how to acquire your books—whether from a trip to Italy, a Swedish store, or online.
Contacting Teachers
May I use my personal email address to contact teachers?
For privacy and security reasons, we recommend using the university‑issued email address you received upon enrolment.
If I email a teacher, can I expect an immediate reply?
No. Teachers work scheduled hours and are not constantly online. Sometimes they reply immediately, but otherwise you must wait until they can read and respond. Our policy is to reply to all enquiries requiring a response within three working days (excluding weekends and holidays).
Once I submit an essay or assignment, how long will correction take?
Typically, teachers have fifteen working days to return graded assignments (excluding weekends and holidays). If you have not received feedback after fifteen working days, please first contact your teacher (they may be absent), and if still unresolved, contact the subject coordinator.
Temporary or Permanent Residents Abroad
I live abroad permanently. Is there anything special I should consider?
First, order your course literature well in advance, as delivery may take longer. If you reside in a time zone significantly different from Sweden, lessons may occur at inconvenient times, such as late at night for you.