The Erasmus Intensive Language Courses (EILC) financed by the European Commission are specialised courses in less widely used and less taught languages organised in the countries where these languages are used as teaching languages at higher education institutions as Italian is at Università della Svizzera italiana in Canton Ticino, Switzerland.
Who can apply
Erasmus students who have been selected for a study period or placement in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, as well as Comenius assistants.
The European commission does not allow Erasmus students whose final destination is Italy to take EILC courses in Switzerland for the following reasons:
- EILC is not only a Language course but also a cultural one and focuses on the culture and "everyday life" issues of host countries
- EILC prepares students for finding their way in the Higher Education System of the host country
- Erasmus is based on bilateral mobility between two Higher Education Institutions in two countries.
Where and when
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is the only Italian speaking University in Switzerland. It extends over two campuses, one in Lugano, for the faculties of Economics, Communication sciences, and Informatics, and one in Mendrisio, approximately ten miles south, for the Academy of Architecture. USI offers EILC courses at Absolute Beginner level, A1 - A2 of the European Council reference frame, twice a year before the start of Autumn and Spring semesters.
Costs
EILC Italian Language courses are free of charge.
Information EILC Autumn Semester
Both Lugano and Mendrisio campus' offer EILC courses before the start of the Autumn Semester
Useful Information about EILC September courses in Lugano and Mendriso
Information EILC Spring Semester
Lugano campus offers EILC courses before the start of the Spring Semester
Useful information about EILC February courses in Lugano
Erasmus Grant
Apart from the Erasmus grant, a supplementary mobility grant for participating in EILC may be awarded and paid by the respective sending Higher education Institution, therefore students' Erasmus Office in the Home Institution must be informed in time.
Application
Applications shall be submitted electronically to the students' Erasmus Office in the Home Institution, which will be responsible for forwarding the application to eilc@usi.ch by the 1st June for Autumn Semesters and by the 30th October for the Spring Semesters.
EILCs - Student Application Form
EILCs Calendar for students
Selection
Università della Svizzera italiana will inform students and their Home Institution about the selection results by the 22nd of June for Autumn Semesters and by 20th November 2011 for Spring Semesters.
European Commission and Swiss National Agency
Information on courses and application forms are also available on the websites of the European Commission and of the Swiss National Agency.
Contacts
USI' EILC Italian Course
Susanne Stigen Pescia
eilc@usi.ch
USI' International Relations and Study abroad Office
Arianna Imberti Dosi and Susanne Stigen Pescia
relint@usi.ch
USI' Accommodation Office
Patrizia Bianchi
patrizia.bianchi@usi.ch