Courses in English for exchange students
The School for International Education offers courses on Italian history and culture in English that are specifically designed for exchange students at Ca' Foscari University. Each course awards 6 CFU/ECTS that students can add to their Learning Agreement.
Eligible students:
- Erasmus+, Overseas and other interuniversity exchange students
- Double and Joint Degree students
- Students regularly enrolled at Ca' Foscari, provided that they are authorised by the Collegio didattico (Teaching committee) of their degree programme
I semester 2026/2027 a.y.
For the first semester of the 2026/2027 academic year, students can apply for the courses listed below.
The complete syllabi are made available on each course's webpage before the beginning of classes. Students can access the syllabi of the courses offered in previous years by searching for the title or code through the University's Course search.
Venetian glass art is mentioned in documents since the 10th century but it probably goes back to Roman times. The course explores the history of Venetian art glass from its origin to the 19th century, focusing on the Renaissance period. It will also discuss the production in Renaissance style of the 19th century revival and the important role of old models in the early decades of the 20th century, when contemporary production started.
The course explores the development and the spread of the arts in Venice from the origins of the city to the fall of the Serenissima. Starting from the analysis of the peculiar geo-morphological conditions of the city of Venice, the course will consider major works of Venetian art in their historical and cultural context, from the high Middle Ages to the 19th century.
The course aims to offer students an anthropological perspective to the contemporary world and some dynamics that characterize it, such global interconnections, mobility, acceleration and new inequalities. Questioning the equation between globalization and cultural homogenization, the course critically discusses the relationships between global and local, and the ways in which global flows of culture, goods and people redefine place, belongings and imagination.
Registration
Registration is mandatory. Students cannot attend classes or take exams if they are not officially enrolled in the course.
To apply for these courses, please follow the instructions outlined below.
International exchange students need to fill out the online Application Form that they have received by e-mail from the office that manages their mobility programme (Incoming Mobility or Joint/Double Degree).
- Application deadline: August 5th, 2026
N.B. Applications Forms and Placement Tests submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. - Registration will be limited to a maximum number of students per class. Priority will be given in order of having filled out the Application Form. Applicants not added to the class will be placed on a waitlist, and will be added to the course if a place becomes available.
In early September, students will be informed via email by the SIE (cfsie@unive.it) whether the courses they have applied for have been activated and their registration can be confirmed. Students who have secured a place will then automatically receive all necessary information about the course before classes start.
International exchange students are not officially enrolled in a course if it is not in their Learning Agreement! Therefore, within the first two weeks of classes, you must contact the office that manages your mobility programme (incoming.mobility@unive.it or jointdegree@unive.it) in order to add the course to your Learning Agreement, if not already present.
Students enrolled in a degree programme at Ca' Foscari need to fill out the online Application Form that they can request by sending an e-mail to cfsie@unive.it.
- Application deadline: August 5th, 2026
N.B. Application Forms and Placement Tests submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. - Registration will be limited to a maximum number of students per class. Priority will be given in order of having filled out the Application Form. Applicants not added to the class will be placed on a waitlist, and will be added to the course if a place becomes available.
If students want the courses selected on the Application Form to be added to the Study Plan as elective or surplus credits, they must ask the Collegio didattico of their degree programme for approval. The School for International Education (cfsie@unive.it) must then receive an e-mail from the coordinatore del Collegio didattico (Teaching committee coordinator / Head of studies).
In early September, students will be informed via email by the SIE (cfsie@unive.it) whether the courses they have applied for have been activated and their registration can be confirmed. Students who have secured a place will then automatically receive all necessary information about the course before classes start.
Students are not officially enrolled in a course if it is not in their Study Plan! Therefore, within the first two weeks of classes you must add the course to your Study Plan, if not already present. If you need assistance, please contact your Campus.
Schedule
Courses will start on September 28th, 2026 and will be held twice a week for a total of 30 academic hours.
N.B. Cancelled lessons may either be rescheduled on Saturdays or moved to the following weeks, thus the final date of each course cannot be confirmed in advance.
Please note that the schedule will be available no earlier than September.
Cultural visits
The English-taught courses for exchange students at SIE include visits to museums, historic buildings, churches, and thematic explorations of Venetian history and culture. Organised by course instructors and supported by professional guides, these activities are aligned with the academic content, giving participants the opportunity to explore course topics in the unique context of Venice and its surroundings.
Cultural visits are free of charge. Students enrolled in the SIE courses for exchange students will receive detailed information and scheduling during the semester.
Attendance and exams
Attendance for the English-taught courses for exchange students at SIE is generally not mandatory. However, teachers may ask all students to attend a minimum number of lessons and/or assign some additional bibliography to non-attending students. It is therefore necessary to check attendance requirements for each course by contacting the teacher within the first week of classes.
Exams will take place approximately from November 30th and no later than December 21st, 2026.
N.B. Students are strongly advised to plan their departure from Venice following the end of the exam session in case some exams need to be rescheduled.
There is only one exam session. It is not possible to repeat the exam at a later date.
In order to be admitted to the final exams, students must be officially enrolled in the course and meet the attendance requirements which are set by each teacher (see above).