About the Program
In the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence, study international and comparative law at the European University Institute. This international law school boasts a long tradition of European legal studies and continues to be a strong leader in the field, attracting students and scholars from around the globe.
Up to two NYU Law students may participate per year. Students must be second or third year and have spent at least one full year at the NYU School of Law. The majority of courses are conducted in English.
The European University Institute Law program is international in nature, specifically focusing on the interaction among European national and cross-national legal systems. The areas of human rights, economic, environmental, and governmental law have a strong history at EUI. Additional information about the EUI Department of Law can be found here.
Over fourteen renovated historic buildings scattered about the Tuscan hillside of Florence compose EUI’s campus. The library holds the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) and half a million volumes on its area specializations – attracting researchers from around the globe. Heads of state, leading politicians and visiting professors regularly come to speak at EUI.
Most, if not all, postgraduate and research legal institutes in Europe are very international in terms of the composition of the staff and student body, but few are as diverse as EUI, hosting a community of more than 1000 scholars from over 60 countries. It is a thriving intellectual climate, rich in seminars, conferences, and other academic events.
Famous for centuries as one of the main centers of art and learning in Italy, Florence is now important not only for its collection of art, its museums, and its architecture, but also as the commercial and administrative capital of Tuscany. The city, with approximately 400,000 inhabitants, is extremely active with regards to music, theatre, cinema, sports and recreation. There are two resident orchestras, and several music festivals are held each year.
Walking around the streets of Florence is like taking a walk through medieval Italy. At every turn there is an architectural marvel, such as the iconic Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore, more popularly known as Il Duomo (“The House”), its adjacent Campanile (bell tower), and its Baptistery. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, a pilgrimage to one of the greatest art museums of the world, the Uffizi, is a must for every visitor. Scattered throughout the city are numerous churches and equally impressive museums and galleries that also house important pieces of art by the greatest Renaissance painters and sculptors of Italy. Throngs of visitors crowd the streets and piazzas of Florence year-round to take in its sights and indulge in la dolce vita. One of the most common past-times in Florence is La Passeggiata, a pre-dinner stroll through town to build up an appetite for a hearty Tuscan dinner. And of course, no meal would be complete without a scoop or two of gelato.
When you need a little peace and quiet, the surrounding countryside is dotted with preserved historic towns such as San Gimignano, Lucca, Assisi, Orvieto, and Siena. You are also in the heart of wine country and may wish to indulge in a tour of this great Chianti region. The seaside is just over an hour's drive away, and winter skiing at Abetone or Corno alle Scale is just 80 km northwest.
Dates
Fall only. The academic calendar of the European University Institute consists of three trimesters: September to December; January to mid-April; mid-April to June. Only the first trimester is suitable for NYU students because that is the only semester during which seminars are offered.
August 30: Student registration
September 2: Start of fall semester
December 20: End of fall semester
The detailed academic calendar is available here.
Courses and Credit
EUI’s curriculum is organized around seminars. Seminars meet once a week for two hours per session over the course of ten weeks. NYU students are expected to take five seminars in order to earn up to 12 credits towards their JD degree. In order to ensure compliance with all ABA regulations, NYU School of Law requires that all courses be approved by our office before your schedule has been finalized.
Course information for Fall 2013 is not available yet. For a list of seminars currently being taught at EUI, visit their website.
NYU Law exchange students will receive credit for courses taken at EUI. However, these courses will not count towards the student's GPA. They will only appear on NYU transcripts as credits earned through the exchange program, rather than as individual courses at EUI.
Tuition and Living Expenses
Because this is a revenue-neutral exchange program, participating NYU Law students will pay New York University the normal tuition for a 12 credit-hour semester at NYU Law. Florence is considered to be one of the more expensive Italian cities due to the city's importance as a tourist center year around and its deficiency of residential housing. Transport and service costs are comparable to those in the rest of Italy, but rental property, hotels, restaurants, food and clothing are generally more expensive compared to other Italian cities.
The following table shows what might be the typical monthly expenses for essential services and commodities for a person occupying a single room in a flat-share situation in Florence. €1 is approximately US$1.30.
- Rent per month: €450 ($588 USD)
- Electricity per month: €40 ($52 USD)
- Gas & Heating: €40 ($52 USD)
- Bus pass: €35 ($45 USD)
- Supermarket, food, drink, essentials: €250 ($326 USD)
- EUI lunches: €70 ($91 USD)
- Breakfast/coffee bar: €50 ($65 USD)
- Shoes, clothing: €60 ($78 USD)
- Other expenses: €80 ($104 USD)
- Leisure: €200 ($261 USD)
Inexpensive meals can be had on the EUI campus for €4 ($5.30 USD). To live comfortably you will probably need about €1,000 – €1,300 ($1,307-1,700 USD) per month.
Housing Information
Students may rent Institute apartments short-term. Alternatively, the EUI Housing Office provides information for students seeking private accommodation. Visit the housing site for more information.
Overview of offers & prices
- Rooms with landlords or families with monthly rent generally all-inclusive: €350–450 ($457-588 USD)
- 1-room studio flats, with kitchenette and bathroom, for 1 person or a couple: €550–650 ($719-849 USD)
- 2-room flats (1 bedroom, separate kitchen and bathroom): €750–850 ($980-1,111 USD)
- 3-room flats (1 bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom), which can convert to a 2-bedroom): €850–950 ($1,111-1,242 USD)
- 4-room flats (2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, which can convert to a 3-bedroom): €950–1,200 ($1,242- 1,569 USD)
- •5+-room flats/houses (i.e. at least 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom for 3–4 people): €1,300–1,500 ($1,700-1,961 USD)
Prices generally refer to rents for furnished accommodation, with or without utility costs.
Contact
Giovanni Ugolini
Badia Fiesolana
European University Institute
via dei Roccettini, 9
I-50014 San Domenico di Fiesole
ITALY
Tel. : +39 055 4685218
Fax : +39 055 4685344
Email: housing.office@eui.eu
Passport, Visa, and Permanent Resident Requirements
Visa
Please visit the Consulate General of Italy’s website for more information about student visas and a list of documents required. Since the documents required to apply for a visa may take some time to gather and the visa itself may take some time to be processed, we recommend students to apply for it as soon as possible to avoid possible delays.
There are Italian consulates located throughout the US: Washington D.C., Detroit, New York, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and honorary consulates in Kansas City, Denver, St. Paul and St. Louis. Each consulate is designed to service a particular part of the country. Based on your state of residence, be sure to make your application to the appropriate consulate.
Permesso di Soggiorno
(Residence Permit)
As a visiting exchange student, you will be required to obtain this permit from the Central Police Headquarters (Questura) in Florence within days of your arrival. Before you depart, please register with Eduitalia who liaise with EUI regarding this matter.
Codice Fiscale
(Tax Number)
During your stay in Florence, you will have to get, sooner rather than later, a Codice Fiscale or tax-code number. It is, in fact, obligatory for all citizens, whether Italian or foreign, to have this number, even though you may not be subject to Italian taxes. You will need a Codice Fiscale for:
- opening a bank account
- signing any official contract, e.g. the lease for a flat (if the lease is going to be registered)
- taking out an Italian insurance policy
- taking up employment of any kind
- signing contracts with the gas, electric and telephone companies (including mobile phones)
To obtain your tax-code number, simply go to the provincial tax office in Florence (Ufficio Imposte) with your passport or national identity card and ask for a Codice Fiscale. You will be given a card with your number.
Access for Persons with Disabilities
If you are interested in the program and will need some special assistance due to a disability, please contact the Office of Global Programs who will contact EUI to obtain information about the availability of needed services.
