Parma, 25 August 2026 – September at the University of Parma is the month of Welcome Days & Night, an opportunity to welcome both new and returning students.
Welcome Days
Welcome Days begin on 10 September, with introductory sessions marking the start of courses. Every degree programme – Bachelor’s, Master’s and single-cycle Master’s degree programmes – will begin the academic year with a Welcome Day, conceived as a “lesson zero”.
During these welcome sessions, first-year students will be guided in discovering the University and its services, helping them understand how the University is organised and, in particular, how their degree programme works.
The initiative is not only for first-year students: each Welcome Day will be tailored to the specific year of study. Students beyond their first year will therefore also attend a “lesson zero”, focusing on the services and deadlines most relevant to them, including Erasmus, internships, graduation applications and post-graduation services.
The initiative aims to provide useful information and guidance, helping students organise and make the most of their studies while feeling supported. It will also present the benefits, opportunities and services available to them.
The schedule of meetings is currently being finalised.
Information on the date and venue of each “lesson zero” is, or will soon be, available in the Student Agenda under “Class timetable” and on the websites of the individual Departments. It can also be accessed through the dedicated webpage, where guides and other useful materials can be downloaded. The webpage is currently being updated.
Welcome Night
On 17 September, following the great success of its debut in 2025, Welcome Night returns: the special celebration organised by the University and the Municipality of Parma for everyone studying in Parma.
It will be a kind of “beginning-of-the-year night” for those arriving at the University and those returning to it. The celebration is intended for first-year students enrolling for the first time, as well as those already studying and already part of the University of Parma community. It will be a major celebration for everyone and will also be open to members of the wider public who wish to take part.
The welcome will come not only from the University but also from the Municipality, reflecting a strong partnership fully aligned with the spirit of Parma Città Universitaria. Parma is the city these students have chosen for their studies and, in many cases, as a place to live; their presence is a valuable asset to the city.
The evening will run from 7.30 to 11.30 p.m. and will first and foremost be a celebration, featuring music and a DJ set. Piazza Ghiaia will be “open” for the occasion: participating businesses in and around the square will offer special discounts and dedicated packages to those attending the evening.
The renewed choice of Piazza Ghiaia also has strong symbolic significance because of its central place in the urban fabric. The University’s ParmaUniverCity Info Point, providing information, communication and welcome services, is located in the square, in the pedestrian underpass beneath Ponte Romano.
The ParmaUniverCity Info Point will remain open throughout the evening, providing information about the University, the city, and the services and opportunities available to University of Parma students. Alongside University staff, there will be staff from the Municipality of Parma, representing Informagiovani, Il Punto – Hub Creativo, youth centres and libraries, as well as from ER.GO – the Emilia-Romagna Regional Authority for Higher Education Funding and Services. Together, they will be able to respond to a wide range of requests for information.
Full information on Welcome Days & Night is available on the dedicated webpage
