University of Siena

• University library system

Students at the University of Siena can take advantage of several services offered by the University Library System, in support of their study activities. The Library system spans 5 major areas of interest (humanities technological; law-politology; economics; scientific, medical-biological pharmaceutical), each articulated in numerous sections, distributed in various University hubs, with study areas and dedicated facilities, and offers the following services:

• lending: 1.173.000 documents on loan, to be chosen from the online catalog
• inter-library loan: books made available from libraries all around the world
• e-reader loans: more than 24.500 e-books, to be read on a student’s own e-reader, or one loaned by the library
•  open-shelf reference: more than 943.000 documents available for direct consultation
• archive access: the University of Siena hosts more than 50 archive collections including the Franco Fortini Archive, the Fabrizio De Andrè Archive, and the Sandro Pertini Archive
• electronic and digital collections reference: University of Siena sub university library system 3 www.SBA.unisi.it scribes to more than 19.600 digital resources (magazines, papers, databases)
• bibliographical information and reference: more than 100 library staff are available 7 days a week
•  e-mail alerts: personal email notifications of publishing news and areas of personal interest
• training and development courses: bibliographical research tuition, and specialist digital resources training

Furthermore, during your period of study at the university, the library can provide internships, up to 150 hours of paid work, or facilitate individual Social Civil Service activities.

– Pre-enrolment academic support

The University of Siena offers several services to High Schools and Undergraduate students, to introduce them to the opportunities offered by Higher Education studies, and to support students to experience the range of study opportunities. These include:

– tutorial and information support in the choice of study programs: High School students are invited to attend various activities (masterclasses, stages, drafting of research documents) specifically designed for skills development and to enable a prospective student to have all the relevant information for their academic career choice

– placements and internships in teaching or administrative facilities: High School students can spend brief periods working in  laboratories, offices, or academic offices of the University to become familiar with the activities associated with the subject they wish to study

– guided tours of the academic premises: school classes can visit the various University facilities, buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and libraries, guided by senior students or University staff

– online chat and personal tutorials with teaching staff and student mentors: High School students can personally meet teaching staff and student mentors, to obtain accurate information, clarify any questions on the academic course they may choose, and on student life in general.

Dates for these tutorials are usually published in January, while academic support interviews are usually scheduled in February and from July until September. Online chats are usually scheduled during the student enrolment period, especially in September and October.

-Academic support and curriculum counseling

All University of Siena students who wish to improve their learning skills can access the Academic Support services. Older students, belonging to Doctorate or Secondary level courses, will mentor and support, with their experience, younger students. The services provided include:

– Help in defining the academic curriculum: each student must state the exams and activities he wishes to take and to fully understand the available choices, peer mentor students are on hand to guide their colleagues to an informed and effective choice

– Assistance in bibliographical research and drafting essays and tests: many exams require, besides an oral assessment, a written essay, and tutor students can help junior students to learn how to research subjects and employ appropriate academic language

– Individual meetings with teachers and tutors: information regarding academic careers, exam subjects, and opportunities offered by the  University, can be obtained via email, telephone, or with students and teaching staff during office hours 8

– monitoring of progression and learning support: during a student’s lifecycle there may be times when students can experience difficulties in attending a course, managing study time, or preparing for an exam. Tutor
students are on hand to give direct mentoring support to such students and help them complete their academic careers.

– Counselling and therapy support

The University of Siena offers psychology and brief psychotherapy counseling for students, open to members of other Italian and foreign universities who are taking a university course in Italy. The service aims to help students deal with psychological distress that can hinder performance during Higher Education studies.

– Student housing

Students residing outside Siena can apply for a place in student residences, in one of the 11 student DSU Toscana housing complexes. Organized in single and double rooms, one-, two-room or mini-apartments, they provide common study, reading, and free time areas. Some of the accommodations are reserved for disabled students. The grant announcement is usually published in July, expiring in September. The places are on a competitive basis according to specific criteria and means-testing, as stated in the announcement. Some of the halls offer, for a fee, a guest room service, for relatives of students successful in the allocation of a hall of residence room.

– Catering

University of Siena students can access the Local Authority for the Right to Education (DSU Toscana) dining halls, where a full meal is available, at lunch or supper, at very accessible prices. The halls are located next to all major
university buildings, and offer varied and balanced menus, with organic choices, local products, or gluten-free options. In some halls, a take-away and pizzeria service is also available.

• Facilities for special needs students

The University of Siena offers assistance to all students with special needs or disabilities, to help them with access and equal opportunities in daily academic life. Specifically:

– welcoming and professional academic support: besides travel assistance, from a student’s residence to class, disabled students can take part in vocational activities, organized jointly with local Public Sector enterprises

– processing of academic progression forms: a helping hand in dealing with the required administrative procedures, and an easy path to access all student services

– volunteering and peer mentoring involvement: disabled students can work, if they wish, to support Disabled Students Services activities, mentoring other disabled students, and are encouraged to become tutor  students themselves

– provision of technical equipment and teaching aids, in Braille or digital format: digital books retrieval, large print photocopies, Braille printed documents, in collaboration with the University Library System, and direct production of teaching aids 10

– information and assistance in practicing sports, aided by specially trained staff, in collaboration with the Informhabile desk, where a disabled student can obtain all relevant information concerning access arrangements for sports and disability policies Dyslexia support is also available, as a collaboration between the Disability Service and the University Language Centre, which provides assessments, training, and aids to remove any obstacles in a student’s progression.