SIE

Programme

The Ca' Foscari Foundation Year is a full-time year long programme that offers students the following three components.
Attendance is mandatory. All students take all three components and are required to pass all courses in order to receive the final diploma.

file pdf Programme structure 2025/2026 350 KB

1) General curriculum

Taught in English, the general curriculum provides preparation for University studies in Italy. All students take the following subjects: Modern and contemporary Italian and European history, Critical thinking and Academic skills for university preparation.

2) Study track

Each student chooses a Study Track - a group of courses that provide an elementary background in the subjects they are interested in pursuing during their undergraduate studies - taught in either English or Italian.

Students enrolled in this track will dedicate a substantial part of their study to Mathematics, providing them with the necessary basis for enrolling in any undergraduate Economics programme. They will also learn the fundamentals of Data Analysis and Financial Literacy, and will cover basic notions in Law, Business Administration and Management.

The courses in this track are offered in both Italian and English. Students will be provided with an introduction to the history and culture of the classical period of Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as an overview of Italian literature, tracing early works from the 14th century up until recent times. This track also gives insight into the principal concepts in western philosophical thought and Italian art history, with a special focus on Venice's immense cultural heritage.

Students enrolling in the Study Track in Humanities and Arts in Italian will be required to provide B1 language certification, or to enrol in the Bridge B2 language option.

This track is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in Mathematics, as well as the fundamental notions in Physics, Biology and Chemistry necessary for all undergraduate Science programmes. Students will also take an introduction to Computer Science that aims to introduce the concept of computational thinking so as to acquire fundamental skills for future studies in technology and programming.

3) Language module

Students can focus on either Italian language or Academic English, depending on their level of proficiency and the degree programme they are planning on enrolling in following Foundation Year. Each language module offers 300 hours of language instruction, including tutorials.

Bridge B1

Intensive Italian language classes aimed at preparing students for studying in Italian from beginner A1 to pre-intermediate B1 (no prior knowledge required).

Choose this option if you want to do your undergraduate studies in Italian, or if you are a native speaker of English and want to learn Italian.

Bridge B2

Intensive Italian language classes aimed at preparing students for studying in Italian from elementary A2 to intermediate B2 (A1 entry level required or registration in our online beginner Italian course).

Choose this option if you want to do your undergraduate studies in Italian, or if you are a native speaker of English and want to improve your Italian.

In order to enrol in the Bridge B2 language option, students need to have a prior knowledge of Italian at approximately the A1 level. Students who do not provide A1 Italian language certification by the deadline (see "Applications" and "Required documents") are required to register for our “online beginner Italian course offered free” to Foundation Year students specifically in preparation for the Bridge B2 language module. This course will be offered over the summer, before the programme starts.

Native Speaker

Advanced Italian and English: This module includes advanced academic Italian classes along with extra-disciplinary courses in English, at the end of which students will produce a short thesis in Italian.

Choose this option if you already have an advanced command of Italian