University of Calabria

The University of Calabria (UniCal) is a university named for the region in southern Italy, where it lies in the hamlet of Arcavacata, in the town of Rende. Sometimes, Calabria is called the “toe” of Italy’s “boot” shape.

The University of Calabria was Italy’s first residential campus university, and remains one of few in a country dominated by university towns. Its campus office is responsible for providing residential services. On campus, students can access numerous facilities, including a sports centre, a health centre, theatres and museums.

Some 780 slots are on offer to international students wishing to enrol in one of its bachelor’s or master’s degree programmes. The university language centre offers Italian courses for any foreign attendees wanting to brush up on their lingua, but the centre is also a place to pick up a new language such as Spanish or German.

The University of Calabria offers six academic areas of study: engineering; economics, political and social sciences; humanities; education; sciences; pharmacy, nutritional and health sciences. They are arranged into 14 departments offering 80 degree courses.

Rende is a small town with 36,000 residents. The university prides itself on the warmth of its staff and students, and the spirit of friendship extended to newcomers by townspeople.

The area is notable for its outstanding natural beauty. The nearby Sila, Pollino and Aspromonte mountains offer hiking trails, while ski slopes are just 30 minutes away on the heights of Camigliatello. Local beaches offer the chance for a more relaxing day of sunbathing or swimming in the warm Tyrrhenian waters, just 30 minutes away from the campus.