The achievement of a B1 Italian language certification is required by the Degree Program regulations. Students who are not native Italian speakers and who do not already possess the minimum level of Italian required for admission must attain at least a B1 level in Italian. This is necessary to ensure effective learning and communication during professional activities involving Italian-speaking patients, beginning in the third year of the program.
Students who already hold a B1 level certification in Italian are not required to attend any additional language courses.
The University of Messina organizes Italian language courses for all international students enrolled in the Medicine and Surgery degree program. The course begins in the second semester of the first year and continues throughout the second year, following a schedule designed not to interfere with academic activities. At the end of the second year, students will take a final examination certifying the achievement of the B1 level according to the CEFR standards.
For further information, please visit:
Learning Italian – University of Messina
For additional enquiries, please contact Prof. Fabio Ruggiano at: fabio.ruggiano@unime.it
Unime Stone
Dear Students,
Since December 2020, the University of Messina has provided its students with free access to Unime Stone, a foreign language learning platform.
Your Degree Program requires you to achieve a B1 level in Italian by completing a minimum of 75 hours of online attendance (25 hours for each ECTS credit), corresponding to 3 ECTS credits.
The platform can be accessed at any time and is designed to support effective language learning, particularly in preparation for professional activities with patients starting from the third year of the program.
Upon first access, students are required to complete a placement test in order to assess their initial language proficiency before beginning the study program.
After logging in, students can set their learning goals by selecting the goal specifically created for them:
ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSE.
It is essential to complete the placement test carefully, dedicating approximately one uninterrupted hour in a distraction-free environment. An inaccurate placement may negatively affect the entire learning path.
Please note that the placement test is not an examination and does not contribute to any formal evaluation. Therefore, it is important to complete it honestly in order to ensure the effectiveness of the learning process. Any attempt to cheat would ultimately compromise your own progress.
The test consists of four sections and includes multiple-choice questions aimed at assessing grammar, reading comprehension, and listening skills.
At the end of the test, the platform assigns each student to an appropriate level based on their results, from which they will begin their learning journey toward the required B1 proficiency.
To optimize learning outcomes, students are strongly advised not to use the platform for more than one hour per day and to study in a quiet and suitable environment.
The platform is divided into two levels:
- Foundations, which includes structured beginner activities and should be followed sequentially starting from Lesson 1;
- Fluency Builder, a more flexible level that allows students to select topics according to their interests.
Students placed in the Foundations level must complete all the required Learning Units before requesting an upgrade to Fluency Builder by contacting the support group.
Once admitted to Fluency Builder, students are strongly encouraged to choose courses related to Health and Medicine. These courses present realistic clinical scenarios and everyday professional situations that will be particularly useful when interacting with patients in hospital settings.
For technical or academic assistance, students may contact the support group at: supportounimestonebiomorf@unime.it. Please use only your institutional university email address.
After completing the required number of hours, students must inform the support group and request verification of their attendance. They will then be eligible to take the final examination during the first available session held in a university laboratory, according to the procedures established by the department.
Students who successfully pass the final test will receive recognition of 3 ECTS credits by their Degree Program Council.