Frequently Asked Questions

The University Centre for Inclusion (CAI) is structured around two main services: the Inclusion Service and the Psychological Counselling Service. You can find the full list on the All CAI Services page.

To access CAI services, the following documents may be submitted:

• INPS reports certifying the recognition of civil invalidity (invalidity equal to or greater than 66%) that are not subject to review, or those whose review date has not yet expired;
• INPS reports certifying recognition under Italian Law 104/1992 that are not subject to review, or those whose review date has not yet expired;
• SLD/SEN certifications issued after the age of majority, or with an issue date no more than 3 years prior. If issued earlier, the student must obtain an updated certification within one year of enrolment. Certificates in a foreign language must be accompanied by a validated translation;
• A caregiver certificate issued by the district support desks of the student's and the assisted person's place of residence;

If you have other certificates not listed above, please write to cai@unipr.it for an individual assessment.

The INPS website has a dedicated section where, by logging in with your SPID credentials, you can download your certificate.

You should arrange to renew your certification as soon as possible, informing the CAI at cai@unipr.it of the review date (scheduled appointment at INPS).

You may access various types of benefits:

• financial: a valid INPS report indicating invalidity equal to or greater than 66% and/or a certificate confirming recognition under Italian Law 104/1992 entitle the holder to exemption from the payment of university tuition fees;
• academic: during the initial meeting we can together identify the most appropriate solutions for you, such as compensatory tools (additional time in examinations, use of a laptop, concept maps, etc.), exemption measures (greater weight given to content over form in written examinations, etc.), assignment of a peer tutor, equipment loan of laptops, tablets and voice recorders, and more;
• logistical and personal assistance: you may activate a transport service to reach lecture rooms from the station or your local accommodation, and a personal assistance service to access university spaces.

For more information, please visit the Inclusion Service page.

By the enrolment deadline, and in order to access the applicable financial benefits, you must upload your valid certificate to the ESSE3 platform.

Certificates uploaded after the deadline will entitle you to the applicable benefits only from the subsequent tuition fee payment instalments.

Yes, all services are completely free of charge.

Yes! Each year, generally in the first semester of the academic year, a call for peer tutors is issued, open to regularly enrolled students who meet the requirements set out in the call. The peer tutor supports fellow students with invalidity certification, Italian Law 104/1992, SEN and SLD in their study methods and in the effective use of compensatory tools and exemption measures for university examinations.

The role involves a contract and a fee of €12.50 per hour for a maximum of 200 hours.

In addition to being included in one's curriculum vitae, the experience is particularly valuable for developing transversal and interpersonal skills that will prove useful in the future.

In accordance with Regional Law No. 2 of 28 March 2014, the University implements a range of psychological, informational and financial support initiatives for caregivers. For more information, please visit the Caregiver page.

ESSE3 is an online platform that provides student administration functions. You can manage your academic record, enrol on a degree programme, book examinations, view your grades, check your tuition fee status and upload your SLD, SEN, civil invalidity and Italian Law 104/1992 certificates.

In order to obtain recognition of compensatory measures and, where applicable, tuition fee exemption, it is mandatory to upload your certificates and reports to ESSE3.

The Regional Agency for the Right to Higher Education of Emilia-Romagna (ER.GO) is the body of the Emilia-Romagna Region that provides support measures and services for students enrolling at a university or institution of higher arts and music education based in Emilia-Romagna.

We recommend checking the ER.GO website regularly for calls for applications and financial benefits available to students with disability, Italian Law 104/1992, SLD, SEN and caregivers.

Once logged in to ESSE3, you can upload your disability, invalidity, SLD or SEN certificate by following the procedure described in the attached file.

The tuition fee exemption is automatic only if you have a civil invalidity equal to or greater than 66% and/or a duly certified recognition under Italian Law 104/1992.

It is essential to check whether the INPS civil invalidity and Italian Law 104/1992 report/certificate is DEFINITIVE or has a REVIEW DATE, because:

• if it is not subject to review, i.e. DEFINITIVE, no further report needs to be submitted;
• if it is subject to REVIEW, in order to maintain your tuition fee exemption you are required to promptly upload the new report to ESSE3.

Each University Department has a faculty member serving as Referent for disability, SEN and SLD, whose name is listed on the Who We Are page.

The adapted minibus transport service can take students with mobility impairments on the following routes within the city of Parma:

• a route departing from the student's place of residence/domicile or another location indicated by the student, with destination at a university facility;
• a route departing from a university facility, with destination at the student's place of residence/domicile or another location indicated by the student;
• a route departing from one university facility, with destination at a different university facility.

The personal assistance service enables students with mobility impairments to access the following forms of support:

• accompaniment to the bathroom/toilet facilities (without the need for personal hygiene assistance);
• accompaniment to the bathroom/toilet facilities (including personal hygiene assistance);
• accompaniment within University premises (lecture rooms, study areas, libraries, refreshment areas);

For any additional needs, please contact cai@unipr.it, who will assess their feasibility.

By requesting an equipment loan, you can borrow IT equipment free of charge for the duration of your studies, to be used for your academic needs.

The equipment must not be passed on to other individuals, and must be used and kept with due care and attention. It must be returned to the CAI upon obtaining your qualification, or in any case upon termination of your relationship with the University.

Peer tutors are University students who wish to support fellow students with certified invalidity and/or a certificate under Italian Law 104/1992, SLD or SEN.

Peer tutors are selected through dedicated calls for peer tutoring activities and attend specific training courses; they carry out a paid collaboration of a maximum of 200 hours per student.

You may write to cai@unipr.it.

The CAI is located at Piazzale San Francesco 2 (historic city centre, behind Piazza Duomo). You may visit in person on working days or by appointment.

It is a free service for those experiencing moments of distress, emotional, relational, academic or existential difficulty. It helps individuals to better understand themselves and their own ways of responding, and to find or rediscover personal and social resources for coping with challenging situations. It also offers support to caregivers.

The service is open to: students of the University of Parma (including postgraduate students); academic and administrative staff, specialisation students, doctoral students, research fellows and all those who, in any capacity, belong to the university community of the University of Parma.

Simply send an email to counseling@unipr.it and identify yourself as a student, member of staff or otherwise affiliated with the University of Parma.

Within four days you will receive a form to complete and return, along with information about the first available dates for your initial appointment.

For any queries or concerns, please write to counseling@unipr.it.

Counselling is a short-term psychological process. The maximum number of sessions provided is 5.

Sessions are conducted by professionals who are duly registered with the professional register and have experience in the field of university psychological support. The team includes psychologists dedicated to sessions in English and a psychiatrist. Particular attention is also given to the world of sport, with a specialist sports psychologist on the team.

Difficulties may relate to the academic context as well as other areas of one's life. Among the most frequently addressed topics: performance anxiety or generalised anxiety (non-pathological), stress, academic block or study difficulties, low mood, dissatisfaction and lack of motivation, doubts about one's academic path or difficult decision-making situations, difficulties in managing emotions (anger, sadness, fear, etc.) or certain life events (painful losses or separations, moving to a new city, distance from family, friends or a partner, problems in family, romantic or personal relationships).

Some difficulties may fall within the scope of recognised psychological disorders. In such cases, we will help you find the most appropriate public service, supporting you through the transition.

Absolutely not — unless you choose to share them yourself. All sessions are confidential and subject to professional secrecy, in accordance with the code of ethics of the professionals involved (psychologists and psychiatrists). Requests, forms and any questionnaires are stored in compliance with current privacy and data protection regulations (you will receive full disclosure before your first session).

Counselling is a brief psychological intervention focused on identifying existing or potential resources to draw upon when facing specific, yet natural, moments of difficulty in our lives. It serves to improve self-awareness and wellbeing, and to build resilience for life's challenges.

If the process reveals the need for more in-depth and ongoing work — to understand the roots of one's distress, to achieve deeper change, or in cases where the difficulties already constitute a diagnosis of a psychological disorder — you will be provided with information about the public services where psychotherapy is available.

If in doubt, or on your own initiative, you may also arrange an appointment with the team's psychiatrist for a medical assessment and, if appropriate, a pharmacological recommendation — also free of charge and confidential.

The first session is used to better define the difficulties and distress experienced, and the goals that can be achieved through counselling.

If the service is appropriate for addressing the issue, further sessions are scheduled directly with the psychologist who has taken on your case.

If the service is not suited to your needs, you will be directed to other appropriate public services in the area, or offered assistance in finding services in your home area.

Sometimes the difficulty can be resolved in the first session.

Sessions may take place in person, online or in a hybrid format.

In person, you may choose between the CAI premises at p.le S. Francesco 2 (historic city centre area) or the Centro Sant'Elisabetta at the University Campus on Via Langhirano (opposite the Engineering buildings).

Online sessions are held via the Teams platform; please ensure it is active with your university account. For this format, you will need a private space free from interruptions and a stable internet connection.

Sessions are scheduled from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 and 18:00, depending on the availability of the professionals.

No, the service also offers group counselling on topics of shared interest, such as study methods, emotional management, assertiveness and self-esteem. The service also organises webinars and seminar sessions. Keep an eye on the newsletters sent by email and the Events Calendar on www.unipr.it.

Yes, we have psychologists dedicated to sessions in English.

The CAI team includes an Italian Sign Language (LIS) interpreter available to students and staff, who may request the service by writing to cai@unipr.it. The service will be activated based on requests and available resources.

Yes, the CAI organises introductory LIS courses for students who have participated in the peer tutor call promoted by the CAI, and organises courses included in the Elective Educational Activities (ADE) at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery for students enrolled from at least the third year of their programme.

No, the LIS courses for peer tutors do not provide academic credits (CFU); a certificate of attendance is issued, which may be submitted to one's Degree Programme Council for possible recognition of academic credits.

Yes, they entitle students to 2 CFU.

To enrol on a LIS course, please send an email to monica.marazzini@unipr.it specifying whether you are a peer tutor (introductory language courses) or enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery from at least the third year of your programme.