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Università degli Studi di Parma Università degli Studi di Parma
Degree course in
Social work
Università degli Studi di Parma
Department of Law, Politics and International Studies

Enrolment procedures and deadlines

The degree course in Social Work is open access

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Access requirements

In order to be admitted to the degree course in Social Work, it is necessary to hold a five-year secondary school diploma or another recognised foreign qualification.
Basic knowledge normally acquired in upper secondary schools is required, with particular reference to: linguistic knowledge (ability to understand and interpret texts in Italian and to express oneself sufficiently correctly in Italian) and logical-argumentative skills.
The entrance knowledge test takes place at the beginning of each academic year with schedules indicated in the prospectus. In the event that the entry knowledge test reveals shortcomings in the preparation required for admission to the degree course, the student is directed to supplementary training and tutoring activities, aimed at filling the gaps revealed by the entry test, in order to fulfil the resulting additional training obligation within the first year of the course.
The purpose of the test, which is not binding for enrolment, is to check students' initial preparation, make them aware of the skills they possess and identify any gaps to be filled through participation in various support training activities organised by the Department and/or the degree course.
Further indications on how to test the knowledge required for access, as well as additional training obligations, will be set out in the Degree Course Regulations, in compliance with the University regulations.

Prospectus

Enrolment period:

  • Enrolment: from 12.00 on 17 July 2024 to 12.00  on 9 September 2024
  • Students enrolled years after the first: from 5 September - 18 November 2024
  • Incoming transfers: until 10 October 2024,excluding transitions to the 1st Year Course, for which the September 9 deadline remains firm.
  • Outgoing transfers: until 31 December 2024

 

(Eligible non-EU students n. 10 of whom 3 of Chinese nationality Marco Polo Project)

For more information about Enrolment procedure see 2023/2024 Prospectus 

Admission procedures

The specification of the basic knowledge required for access to the degree course and the specification of the test methods is laid down in the course's didactic regulations. Additional requirements may be required by the University's Teaching Regulations.
In compliance with national legislation (Ministerial Decree. 270/2004), Art. 3 of the Didactic Regulation of the Course in Social Work stipulates that first year students who have obtained an upper secondary school diploma with a mark of less than 70/100 (or 42/60) are subject to a preliminary examination of their preparation. The test has a non-selective character, but is compulsory.
There is no ranking; the test can be either 'passed' or 'failed'.
The test is designed to ascertain the possession of an adequate study method, enabling a correct approach to understanding and analysing the text. The test consists of reading a scientific text (containing language and arguments from the disciplines of law, economics, history or sociology) of a level comparable to those of the first year of university study and performing the following tasks: highlight 3 to 5 key words, give an appropriate explanation of the meaning of the identified key words and indicate a synonym for each of them; summarise the passage by approximately 15\20 lines.
The evaluation of the test will award a score in base 10: 4 points for the explanation of key words; 2 points for the appropriateness of the proposed synonyms; 4 points for the completeness and clarity of the summary. The candidate who obtains a score of at least 6/10 will be deemed suitable. Passing the test does not lead to the acquisition of ECTS credits in the relevant teaching or Academic disciplines.
The test, before a committee of three professors/instructors appointed by the Degree Course Committee, takes place in September. A second similar test for students who were unable to participate in the first one takes place in October. The dates and modalities, in-person or online, of the tests are communicated via the Course website.
A student who does not pass the test on the first date or who is not present must appear on the second date.
The result of the test will be recorded in a special register prepared by the Student Registry Office and communicated by the Commission to the student at the end of the test. In the event of logical or lexical deficiencies demonstrated by the student in the test, the Commission will take care to point them out and explain them to the student.
Those who do not attend the test or fail it will be directed to additional educational obligations (OFAs). In particular, an 8-hour preparatory course will be organised before the winter examination session, held by Course professors/instructors and Department Tutors. The aim of the course is to enable the student to familiarise with some methods of approaching the comprehension of a specialised text, using techniques appropriate to the disciplines covered in the course, with particular reference to strategies for summarising a text, the use of mind maps and/or conceptual maps to facilitate syndissertation work, and the use of specialised vocabularies for the correct acquisition of key words and principles. The dates of the preparatory course classes are communicated via the course website. Additional training obligations are considered to have been met if at least 75% of the preparatory course is attended.
Students who have not attended this preparatory course will be directed to supplementary training and tutoring activities, for a minimum attendance of 6 hours and within the first examination session, aimed at filling the gaps revealed by the entrance test.
Students who have not fulfilled the OFA will not be allowed to take examinations. In addition, students who have not fulfilled their additional training obligations by September of the year following enrolment will be able to enrol in the second year of the course, but will not be able to sit examinations before the OFAs have been fulfilled.
Students enrolled after transfer, students transferring from other courses and students enrolled after withdrawal or forfeiture who have taken at least two examinations in their home course are exempt from the entrance test.
Graduates from another degree course are also exempt.
Students who have taken part, at secondary schools, in any incoming advising/guidance courses that include a final examination as set out in a special resolution of the Degree Course Committee are also exempt.