Enrolment procedures and deadlines

Access requirements

Qualification required
In order to be admitted onto the degree course, the student must hold an Upper Secondary School Diploma or another recognised foreign qualification.

Knowledge required to follow the courses successfully
The knowledge required to successfully follow the courses taught during the first year is that which every Upper Secondary School graduate should have, in particular: a good knowledge of spoken and written Italian, reasoning skills, knowledge and ability to use elementary mathematics and the fundamentals of experimental science.

As far as mathematics is concerned, the following knowledge is required:

-- 1. Arithmetic and algebra. Properties of real numbers and operations on them. Absolute value. Powers and roots. Exponentials and logarithms. Literal calculus. Polynomials (operations and factorisation). Algebraic equations and inequalities of the first and second degree. Systems of linear equations.
-- 2. Geometry. Segments and angles. Lines and planes. Loci Properties of principal plane geometric shapes and solids.
-- 3. Analytical geometry and functions. Cartesian coordinates. Concept of function. Equations of lines and simple loci.
-- 4. Trigonometry. Graphs and properties of the sine, cosine and tangent functions. The main trigonometric formulae.

The degree of depth of the knowledge specified above can be verified by the student by comparing their mark in the Entrance Test (see below) with that achieved by other test takers, locally and nationally.

Entrance test

Although admission is not dependent on passing an entrance test, participation in an orientation test organised nationwide by a certified external body is compulsory. The test, to be carried out systematically and in accordance with a certified procedure, is for orientation purposes, is not selective and is compulsory for the purposes of identifying training gaps; the purpose of the test, which is not binding for enrolment, is to check the students' initial preparation, make them aware of the skills they possess and identify any training gaps to be filled, in accordance with the procedures defined by each degree course. (Formulation requested by the University Evaluation Committee).

With reference to the above, it should be noted that:
- as this is a course with no entrance test (‘open access’), there are no closed or scheduled numbers;
- the ‘orientation test’ in the text may be referred to in different ways in the University's documents, web pages and procedures that refer to engineering degree courses, e.g.: ‘entrance test’, ‘assessment test’, ‘self-assessment test’, and other similar terms, which all refer to the same thing;
- the purpose of the test is also to provide the university with an objective picture of the level of education of incoming students;
- in the case of engineering courses in Parma, the 'training gap' takes the form of an 'additional training obligation (OFA)', which is decided annually by the department to which the course belongs and specified on the website providing information on the test.

Preparatory and remedial training activities
In order to facilitate the attainment of a common preparatory foundation for all enrolled students, regardless of their secondary school of origin, the degree course organises training activities (Mathematics pre-course, CORDA Project) to remedy any learning gaps in mathematics regardless of the secondary school of origin and of the test results (see Framework B5 - 'Incoming guidance' of this sheet).

Admission procedures

Qualification required
In order to be admitted onto the degree course, the student must hold an Upper Secondary School Diploma or another recognised foreign qualification.

Entrance test

Although admission is not dependent on passing an entrance test, participation in an orientation test organised nationwide by a certified external body is compulsory. The test, to be carried out systematically and in accordance with a certified procedure, is for orientation purposes, is not selective and is compulsory for the purposes of identifying training gaps; the purpose of the test, which is not binding for enrolment, is to check the students' initial preparation, make them aware of the skills they possess and identify any training gaps to be filled, in accordance with the procedures defined by each degree course.

With reference to the above, it should be noted that:
- as this is a course with no entrance test (‘open access’), there are no closed or scheduled numbers;
- the ‘orientation test’ in the text may be referred to in different ways in the University's documents, web pages and procedures that refer to engineering degree courses, e.g.: ‘entrance test’, ‘assessment test’, ‘self-assessment test’, and other similar terms, which all refer to the same thing;
- the purpose of the test is also to provide the university with an objective picture of the level of education of incoming students;
- in the case of engineering courses in Parma, the 'training gap' takes the form of an 'additional training obligation (OFA)', which is decided annually by the department to which the course belongs and specified on the website providing information on the test.

All information on the entrance test can be found on the UniPR test site, however, a few important aspects are mentioned here.

The test is recommended for enrolment in all engineering degree courses at the University of Parma and is valid nationally, i.e. it is valid for access to engineering degree courses at all CISIA member universities (approximately 40).

The test consists of a series of multiple-choice questions on topics in mathematics, physical and chemical sciences, logic and verbal comprehension. The level of depth of each subject is that acquired in high school.

The test, called the TOLC (Test On Line CISIA), is administered on a computerised platform and takes place in a number of computer laboratories on the University of Parma Campus (“Aule delle Scienze” Complex, Science Area Park 22/A and Engineering Teaching Campus, Parco Area delle Scienze 69/A).

The test can be taken on several dates from March to July ('early TOLC'), or on one of two dates in the first half of September ('ordinary TOLC'), or on one date in October ('make-up TOLC'). The dates can be found on the UniPR test website.

The remedial test session ('TOLC remedial') is scheduled after the conclusion of the 'Maths Pre-course', which takes place every year in September for a duration of approximately three weeks. The pre-course calendar is published in good time on the website of the Department of Engineering and Architecture (course catalogue) and on other pages of the University website.

The test can be repeated up to the remedial session of the year of enrolment. However, those who, at the end of all test sessions, have not exceeded the minimum thresholds (see the website on the UniPR test) will be assigned an Additional Training Obligation (OFA), as specified on the DEA page dedicated to the test.

Transfers
In the case of transition or transfer of students from another degree course to the degree course in Computer Systems, Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering, the Course Council will recognise the previous courses based on their usefulness for the training required for the new degree. The Course Council will indicate the course year in which the student may enrol and the programme of study to be completed in order to obtain the degree.

The basic criterion in the recognition of course units in terms of credits is compliance with the requirements identified in the prospectus, with reference to the subject areas.

The recognition of ECTS credits for successfully passed course units must comply with the following criteria:
- each course unit or group of course units will be recognised for one or more courses in the same academic discipline sectors;
- any excess credits may be validated for the degree course as credits reserved for elective courses in the prospectus, possibly by setting up an individual programme of study approved by the Course Council (see the Degree Course Regulations).