House hunting in Bologna

Finding a roof over your head is one of the first things you need to do when you arrive.

How do students nail down apartments?

SAIS Bologna works with a housing consultant, Salvatore, who has helped SAISers find apartments for more than three decades. (You may remember he helped my colleague Nelson Graves find a flat when he was a student at SAIS).

One is not required to use Salvatore's service. You can find accommodation on your own. If you decide to go that route, it's easier if you speak some Italian.

Smile and the world smiles with you

Students can start signing up to visit apartments from August 15; you have to be here in person to sign up. Raffaella at the reception will direct you to the sign-up sheet. Then starting on August 16 Salvatore will take students on tours to look at apartments.

August 15 is a major holiday in Italy -- Ferragosto -- and most bolognesi will be out of town. The city will be very quiet that day and most shops will be closed. Some will remain shuttered for longer that week or perhaps for the entire week. But don't worry because you will find places to do your shopping or to eat.

Housing works on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure you sign up for a housing tour as soon as you arrive. Salvatore normally manages to show students the available rooms within a day or two. Then the ball is in your court.

Once you find the place you like, you'll be required to sign a contract. You will be asked to pay a one-time finder's fee, a deposit and the first month's rent. Be sure you come prepared and that you also bring your passport and visa.

How do students who want to share an apartment find a housemate or housemates?

Some students already know each other, but many don't. Some will meet through the Facebook group that has been formed for the incoming class.

You'd be amazed by the number of life-long friendships that have been formed because people were standing in the line together waiting to view one of Salvatore's apartments.

Here is a video that shows how some of this year's students found accommodation last fall.

The cost of housing is spelled out in our Incoming Student Guidebook. Pretty important reading.

Amina Abdiuahab

SAIS Bologna Commencement - Part II

Here's a look at the end-of-the year ceremony that took place at SAIS Bologna on Saturday.

In yesterday's post we published two of the speeches that were delivered at the ceremony. In coming days we will publish the three papers that won their authors SAIS Bologna's highest academic awards.

The students:

The program:

The celebration (music courtesy of the BC Fuzz band, featuring Economics Prof. Michael Plummer):

If you are reading this by email, you can see the video here.

Nelson Graves

SAIS Bologna commencement - Part I

SAIS Bologna honored its students on Saturday with an end-of-the-year ceremony that mixed humor with gravitas.

Alexis Piet with her
 crown of laurel leaves

The "commencement" ceremony is a U.S. academic tradition marking the end of one's studies, hence the beginning of a new chapter in a graduate's life. Most of this year's students will be at SAIS DC next year, but those receiving either their MAIA or MIPP degree were given crowns of laurel leaves, in the Italian academic tradition.

Tomorrow we plan to publish a gallery of photographs of the day. Today we feature two of the speeches delivered to the nearly 200 students who attended SAIS Bologna in 2011-12 and the more than 160 guests who came to the ceremony.

Graham Norwood

Graham Norwood, president of the Student Government Association, delivered the student address and saluted his fellow classmates, whom he called "my path to enlightenment".

You can read Norwood's speech here.

Roberto Toscano, a SAIS Bologna and SAIS DC alumnus, delivered the main speech. Toscano is a former Italian ambassador to both India and Iran, and served also in the former Soviet Union and Chile.

Roberto Toscano

The official title of Toscano's talk was "40 Years of Diplomacy: a Profession, a Life". But he offered a substitute title in the speech itself: "To a Young Generation Suspended Between Discouragement and Hope -- With Apologies".

You can read Ambassador Toscano's speech here.

Nelson Graves

Jobs at SAIS Bologna

Graduate school is an investment -- of time, energy and money. Many students need to work a job to make ends meet financially.

There are jobs on and off campus in Bologna. We discuss some of the possibilities below. But first a brief word of caution.

While we know how important it is for many students to hold down a part-time job, it must not jeopardize your academic success.

We recommend that students limit time on a job to about 10 hours a week. Students who work more than that can have trouble keeping up with course work. Remember SAIS has a demanding curriculum that requires solid time-management skills. In addition to classes and homework, there are seminars, career planning and, why not, one's social life.

So what kind of employment opportunities are there at SAIS Bologna?

THE BOLOGNA INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH (BIPR)

BIPR employs five student research assistants and three photographers each semester.

Research assistants attend the seminar series and conduct video interviews with guest speakers. They  manage the “BIPR Research Brown Bag” series at which adjunct faculty discuss their research interests with students.

Photographers capture the seminar series and Institute events such as faculty-author book presentations held at Feltrinelli International book store. You may remember our posts on book presentations by Prof. Gilbert and Prof. Harper.

LIBRARY

The library hires students to work 8-10 hours a week. Some 4 students are hired for pre-term. Before the start of the academic year in late September, there is a second round of hiring to find around ten students to work during the academic year.

FRONT DESK
Raffaella Besola will be one of the first people you meet when you arrive. Every year she hires 4  students to work at the reception. Students normally work 6-8 hours a week.

CCSDD
The Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development (CCSDD) hires around 10-15 research assistants. Jobs will be advertized in the summer or at the start of the academic year.

RESEARCH, TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Some professors hire students as research or teaching assistants. To qualify for these jobs, you need to have a background in the subject taught by the professor.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Some offices will hire students to lend them a hand during the year. The number of students and the working hours vary from office to office. Students are hired to work with the IT office, Career Services, Communications and possibly others.

OFF CAMPUS
Some students find jobs off campus, often teaching their native language. Some have worked as au pair. Obviously the range of jobs off-campus is larger for those who speak Italian. On a student visa, one can work up to 20 hours a week or 1,040 hours in a year.

I can hear your next question: How do I apply for on-campus jobs?

Some jobs, such as openings at BIPR, are advertized through SAISWorks, the database and research tool used by the Career Services Offices on all three SAIS campuses.

Please pay attention to the welcome email from Career Services over the summer. It will include information about programming and an invitation to craft a resume or CV in the SAIS format before you come to SAIS. That can be helpful if you are interested in an on-campus job as some applications will require this format.

Other jobs, such as those in the library and at the reception, are announced via email in the summer.

The bottom line: If you want a part-time job, keep an eye on your email. There will be opportunities, but you have to seize them.

Amina Abdiuahab

FAQs we are hearing

It's been a while since our last FAQs post. We do our best to provide answers in our literature. But you may not find all of your answers in our Guidebook for Incoming Students or on the Incoming Student page.

Below are some of questions we've been tackling recently.

ECONOMICS AND PRE-TERM

Q: I received an email saying I have not met the introductory economics requirement. What do I do?
A: All students must have passed an introductory course in micro- and macroeconomics to start coursework at SAIS. If you have not taken economics before, you need to take and pass a university-level course that will give you the adequate preparation to start classes at SAIS.

Q: I missed the deadline to enroll in the SAIS Online Principles of Economics course. Can I still hope for a spot?
A: The Online Principles of Economics course offered by SAIS is now full. Remember that you can look for an alternative course offered at another institution. Be sure it is a university-level course provided by an accredited institution. Before enrolling, non-U.S. students need to send the course syllabus for approval to admissions@jhubc.it.

U.S. students should contact the Admissions Office in Washington for guidance.

Q: Can I start coursework at SAIS if I haven't taken exams in principles of micro- and macroeconomics?
A: No. All students must have passed principles of economics to start classes.

Q: Can I take pre-term economics courses instead of a course in principles of economics?
A: No. The micro and macro courses offered in pre-term are at the intermediate level. To take them, one must have already passed introductory micro and introductory macro with a grade of B- or higher. You need to learn how to walk before you can run.

Q: What pre-term courses are available?
A: Information on pre-term courses is available here. In this document you will find a link to the registration form.

VISA

Q: How long does it take to obtain a visa?
A: It's difficult to say. If you have not done so already, you should visit the website of the Italian embassy in your home country to understand what the requirements are.

Non-U.S. students should have received a visa request letter in Italian. A hard copy of the visa letter and of your letter of admission will be sent to you.

U.S. students should make use of the Italian visa service offered in Washington.

Q: Can I apply for a visa outside of my home country?
A: Requesting a long-term visa outside of your home country is not easy. In most cases your application will be denied. We strongly recommend that you make your visa application in your native country.

Q: As part of my visa application I have been asked to provide proof of address. What should I do?
A: Please contact us at admissions@jhubc.it

HEALTH INSURANCE

Q: I'm a non-European Union national. Do I need health insurance?
A: Yes. If you are not a citizen of a European Union member state, you need to make sure you arrive in Italy with adequate health insurance.

Q: I will apply for the emergency health insurance. Will that be enough?
A: No. The emergency health insurance is useful if one is taken to hospital, but it does not substitute for a general health plan.

Q: I have health insurance. Do I need to buy the emergency health insurance?
A: You are not required to buy the emergency insurance. But we strongly recommend you do. The cost is roughly 100 euros for the whole year. With this insurance you would not have to pay out of your own pocket if you were taken to hospital.

Q: I'm an EU citizen. Should I get health insurance?
A: As an EU citizen, all you need to do is to apply for an international health card in your home country. This  card will give you the same rights to health assistance as Italians.

Got more questions? You know how to find us.

Amina Abdiuahab

"Never a dull moment"

It's my pleasure today to introduce you to Margel Highet, SAIS Bologna's director of Student Affairs.

Margel holds a key post at SAIS Bologna. Students benefit from her guidance and experience in a wide range of areas: she provides academic counsel; serves as the bridge between the Student Government Association and the administration, and helps ensure each student has as fulfilling an experience as possible here.

Margel attended SAIS Bologna and then SAIS DC -- but she's keeping her graduation year a secret. She came to Bologna in February from SAIS DC where she had worked for six years, most recently as associate director of the Energy, Resources and Environment program. Before that she had worked in the environmental non-profit sector.

In the video below Margel discusses her role at SAIS Bologna and why she likes her job.



If you're reading this via email, you can see the video here.

Amina Abdiuahab

Where does the Class of 2013 come from?

Our readers will learn more about our 2012-13 class at SAIS Bologna in coming weeks. In the meantime, the map below shows where they come from.

Candidates holding passports from 42 countries have accepted our offer of admission. They come from every inhabited continent.

The range of national origins contributes to the variety of perspectives and backgrounds that distinguish SAIS Bologna and underpin the learning experience.

View SAIS Bologna 2012-13 in a larger map


Nelson Graves