FAQ
Q: How do I get an application form?
A: Application forms are available online
or they may be sent to you by e-mail upon request at info@polimoda.com
Q: What qualifications do I need?
A: Polimoda is a dynamic school that is continuously evolving and
the most up-to-date information about the programs can be found on
the internet. We offer a wide range of courses from undergraduate
and summer courses to postgraduate studies. All of the undergraduate
and Master courses require an admission test. Please see individual
course information on the program pages.
Q: What are the admissions tests like?
A: The admissions tests differ depending on the program you choose.
For the design programs, there is a drawing aptitude test in order
to evaluate the applicants' creativity, graphic expression and taste
in the choice of colors.
For the marketing programs, there is an aptitude test, as well as
a brief essay commenting on an ad campaign.
For all of the programs, you must have an interview.
Some of the courses require a graphic design test given by an instructor
at one of our laboratories.
The English test does not in any way determine or negatively influence
your chances of admission; its sole purpose is to help place accepted
applicants in their proper levels.
Intermediate knowledge of English is required only for the Masters
programs.
Q: Do international students have to travel
to Polimoda in order to take the entrance exam?
A: Most of our programs require that applicants take the entrance
exam at our main campus in Florence. However, for the programs that
we offer in English, we give students the possibility to take the
test at home and have a phone interview with the course coordinator.
Q: What are the aptitude tests for the Marketing
programs like?
A: The aptitude tests are multiple-choice tests with questions on
logic, numerical sequences to be completed and codified, algebraic
figures to be grouped or excluded. There is also a linguistic segment
of the test where words need to be taken apart or altered with the
use of prefixes or suffixes. Tests are timed, so promptness of response
is also important.
Practice Test books are available in bookstores or major libraries,
as they are the same ones that are used for state University exams,
etc.
Q: What about students who have to take state
exams at the same time as the admissions test to Polimoda?
A: This is the situation of the majority of our applicants! For this
reason, we strongly urge high-school graduates to take our tests early,
either before or after Easter, so as not to have to take them in June,
which is exactly when students are usually preparing for the state
exams.
Q: Are the courses held in English?
A: Most of our courses are taught in Italian and require an intermediate
knowledge of the language. However, Polimoda is an international school
and we constantly create new programs to meet the needs of the international
market. We currently offer the following programs in English
·Orientation course
·Master in Fashion Merchandising and Management
·Master in Luxury Management
·Master in Fashion Design
·Master in Fashion Footwear Design
·Summer School
Q: Do you provide Italian language courses for
international students who wish to apply to your undergraduate programs
in Italian?
A: Polimoda offers an Intensive
Italian Course, which aims at preparing foreign students for our
admission exams. This training allows them to acquire specific linguistic
skills related to fashion, design and marketing. The course takes
place in June and July and is divided into two levels
- First level: for students who do
not speak any Italian. This class starts in June.
- Advanced level: for students who
already have some knowledge of the Italian language and who would
like to acquire some specific vocabulary related to fashion, design
and marketing. This class starts in July.
Therefore, depending on your knowledge of the Italian language, you
may either start in June (first level) and take a two-month course,
or attend only the July program (advanced level). At the end
of the course, there will be a simulation of the admission exam.
Otherwise, for students wishing to apply to our undergraduate Design
programs, we offer an Orientation Course which is taught entirely in
English.
The course lasts one semester with lessons held from Monday through
Friday including two hours of Italian language lessons and three hours
of fashion design.
Q:I am enrolled in another university, what
courses will prepare me for the design undergraduate programs at Polimoda?
A: Students transferring from other fashion institutions/universities
must meet Polimoda’s entrance requirements. To transfer into Polimoda’s
design department you are required do the following steps
1. Fill out the application
form and submit it along with the following
2. Certified copy of high-school diploma
for undergraduate courses or certified copy of college degree for
Masters’ programs. For international students, the certified copy
must be translated with a declaration of the degree’s value, to be
issued by Italian diplomatic or consular authorities in their area
3. Two passport photos
4. Photocopy of passport or identity
card for international students
5. A transcript from the institute/college
previously attended (amount of hours per subject, study programs)
6. A resume
7. A portfolio. There are no restrictions
on the content of the portfolio, but it should reflect the student's
graphic capabilities, as well as their creativity and technical skills.
We will notify you regarding your admission status after we review
the applications.
Q: What kind of diploma is issued?
A: Polimoda is a private institute and as such, the diplomas issued
are valid for all of our programs, with the exception of our Foundation
courses and summer programs which are shorter than normal one-year,
two-year and three-year courses.
Q: How are the end-of-program internships organized?
A: Company demand is so high that Polimoda has established a permanent
office that selects students for the internships currently being offered,
and organizes interviews with companies. Hands-on training in the
field is an important step that allows the student take stock of his
or her own capacities as well as the realities of the job market.
Company internships are unpaid and for this reason, we give maximum
leeway to student preferences. The companies give a formal evaluation
of student performance, which becomes a part of the student’s resume.
The duration of the internship is three months.
Q: What percentage of graduates find employment
after attending your programs?
A survey of Polimoda alumni found that the employment rate is very
high (87% of graduates are employed), but even more importantly that
a large percentage of Polimoda graduates work in the fashion field.
Many of them work for famous fashion houses, such as Valentino, Dolce
e Gabbana, Krizia, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Prada, Hugo Boss,
Gucci, Benetton and other prestigious industrial and commercial businesses.
Q. Do you provide evening courses for applicants
who have full-time jobs?
A: Polimoda has also launched a service industry company, Polimoda
Srl, that works with the institute and provides consultancy for the
fashion industry at the very highest level. Most of the companies
associated with Polimoda Srl are giants in their sectors (Gucci, Tod's,
La Rinascente, Salvatore Ferragamo, Balducci...).They tell us what
kind of job the fashion market is looking for. This corporate division
has launched a series of Multiclient courses geared to professionals
already working in the field who wish to acquire or practice the specific
skills they will need in the fashion sector. Polimoda
Srl also provides tailor-made training for both students and professionals
who cannot (or do not need to) attend the regular undergraduate and
postgraduate courses offered.
Q: Are materials included in the annual fees?
A: Many materials, hand-outs and readers are given to students free-of-charge.
Students also benefit from discounts and agreements we have with shops
regarding the most frequently-used materials.
Polimoda students may freely have access to the library or Research
Center, Color and Fabric Archive and have the chance to use the computer
and design labs when there aren’t lessons, in order to prepare projects
and presentations for their classes.
Q: Are international students eligible for financial
aid?
A: Financial aid is offered to students who are permanent Italian
citizens. International students are required to provide us with the
contact details of an Italian citizen who would stand as guarantor
for them, which often makes it quite difficult. The best option is
probably to apply for a loan in your home country.
Q: Do you have a FAFSA Federal School Code for
U.S. students?
A: Polimoda does not have a school code, as we are not part of the
list of Italian schools that are recognized by the U.S. Ministry of
Education.
Q: Do you offer any scholarships?
A: We offer on average one scholarship every year. I invite you to
check our website on a regular basis to have all the necessary information
on the current scholarships being offered.
Q: As an international student, do I have to
have a visa to come and study at Polimoda?
A: Yes, if you are not a EU-citizen, you are required to apply
for a student visa. To apply, you will have to go to the Italian embassy
or consulate in your country. Amongst the required paperwork, you
will have to submit a certification of enrolment issued by Polimoda.
This certification will be sent to you after admissions and once we
have received confirmation of the payment of your first instalment
for the course you’ve chosen.
Q: What is the “permesso di soggiorno”?
A: Within 8 working days
of their arrival in Italy, all international students, including
EU citizens, need to apply for permission to stay in Italy
("Permesso di Soggiorno").This
is a Government request for people staying more than three months.
The necessary forms can be collected at all Italian
post Offices. Incoming international students are given
all the necessary information on how to start the procedure.
Q: What do the majority of international students
do for health insurance? Does the school have a program set up already?
A: Polimoda does not provide health insurance to its students. However,
it is true that in order to process your permit of stay in Florence,
you are required to submit proof of health coverage in Italy.
There are two case scenarios
1) The Italian embassy does not request
that you buy it before leaving your country: in that case, you may
purchase Ina Assitalia International coverage upon your arrival in
Italy. It is valid for a year. This policy is limited to emergency
care. Doctor's appointments and hospital coverage for pre-existing
conditions are not covered in this plan.
2) The Italian embassy requires you to have a medical insurance in
order to obtain your student visA: in which case, you must purchase
a private policy in your home country.
Please make sure that your policy documents clearly state the following
points
a) the effective dates of the policy,
b) that you are covered while overseas,
c) that you have either unlimited coverage or a minimum of 30.000,00
(thirty thousand) Euros (approximately equivalent to $37,500.00 as
of November 1, 2004).
Q: Does Polimoda provide student accommodation?
A: For the moment, no, but plans are underway. We are looking into
this possibility because our aim is to give our students as a complete
service as possible so as to facilitate them in terms of both cost
and time.
Q: How do you help newly enrolled students in
their search for an apartment?
a) we provide a list of rental agencies to contact
b) we recommend certain magazines specialized in rentals;
c) we put up a bulletin board in which apartment owners directly offer
available rooms or apartments.
Q: How much does it cost to rent an apartment
or room, on average?
a) for a studio, the prices range from 500 to 1000 euros a
month, including expenses. It also depends on the location because
if the apartment is located in the centre of Florence, the cost will
obviously be higher;
b) for a room in an apartment, landlords usually charge from 250 to
450 euros a month, including expenses, depending on the agreement
reached with the landlord.
Q: When is the best time of the year to look
for an apartment?
A: The best times of the year are June-July and early September because
courses begin around the middle of September. Florence is one of the
cities of art with the highest number of foreigners studying or vacationing
here for short periods of time...So the demand for housing is always
higher than supply.
Q: Is it common to pay a deposit?
A: Yes, in most, if not all cases, a damage deposit will be required
by the landlord/agent. This money is held by the landlord to offset
any damage done to the property or pay for any cleaning which may
be required, or pay any rent owned at the end of your stay. Provided
all rent has been paid by your group and, following a satisfactory
inspection of the property once your tenancy has finished, your money
should be refunded in full.
For more information: info@polimoda.com
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