Oriental Languages

Who?

Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at UNIL

When?

10-19 July 2025

Where?

Venice International University, Venice, Italy

For whom?

All audiences

How many?

Students and PhDs: 280 CHF / Auditors: 460 CHF

ECTS?

6 ECTS

Language?

French

The Summer School in Oriental Languages is organised by Professor David Hamidovic of the University of Lausanne, in collaboration with Matteo Silvestrini.

In 2025, our courses are offered by the following speakers:

• Hamidovic David, Université de Lausanne
• Aloosh Mustafa, Université de Lyon 2
• Hutzli Jürg, Université de Lausanne
• Arkhipov Ilya, Université de Moscou
• Khchoum Salem, Université de Lyon 2
• Belkheir Nadia, Université de Paris 10-Nanterre
• Bohas Georges, ENS de Lyon
• Piras Andrea, Université de Bologne
• Bonfiglio Emilio, Université de Hambourg
• Shafiei Saeed, Université de Lyon 2
• Boranian Arminé, Université de Lyon 2
• Shilo Dorit, Université de Tel Aviv
• Brelaud Simon, Institut français du Proche-Orient, Erbil
• Silvestrini Matteo, Université de Lausanne
• Burlingame Andrew, Wheaton College, Chicago
• Neven Laurence, Université de Mayence
• Motte Aurore, Université de Liège
• Ghadiani Nazanin
• Weldu Helen, Université de Lausanne
• Colonna d’Istria Laurent, Université de Liège
• Torres Prieto Susana, Université de Madrid – Instituto de Empresa
• Crégheur Eric, Université Laval, Québec
• Zudini Claudia, Université de Rennes
• Lucca Paolo, Ca'Foscari University
• Georgelin Hervé, National and Capodistrian University of Athens
• Payne Annick, Ca'Foscari University
• Desset François, Université de Liège
• Swennen Philippe, Université de Liège
• Halawi Wissam, Université de Lausanne
• Casey Christian, Freie Universität Berlin
• Strauch Ingo, Université de Lausanne
• Prioletta Alessia, CNRS Paris
• Akgönül Samim, Université de Strasbourg
• Tyam Nolubabalo, University of Cape Town
• Makhubu-Badenhorst Lolie, University of Cape Town

Bachelor, master and doctoral students in linguistics, humanities, social sciences, religious sciences, theology. The Summer School offers a range of language levels depending on students' abilities. The courses are open to everyone. Advanced level courses are renewed every year.  Courses are supposed to be given in French but teachers can change the language of instruction depending on the composition of the group and the wishes of the students.

• Development of skills for student·e·s
• Training students of rare languages
• Intensification of scientific and educational exchanges between partner institutions

Lessons are all given in French and in the language taught. Teachers may change the language of instruction according to the composition of the group and the wishes of the students.

The registration fee allows students to take one major course during the day (40 hours) and one minor course (12 hours) in the evening. If necessary, participants will be assessed during the first course to determine their level of language proficiency.

Practical arrangements for the session:

Kick-off meeting (follow room signage) then start of classes: 10 July at 2.00pm
End of classes: 19 July at 12.30pm
Major courses: from 9:00am to 12:00pm and from 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Minor courses: from 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Cultural visits at the Basilica of San Marco and at the Marciana Library. The definitive programme will be published in the tab « Programme »

There will be no classes on Sundays.

Exceptional lectures by Claude Rilly (Centre national de la recherche scientifique - École pratique des hautes études) on Meroitic, Wednesday 16 July (9am-12pm)

Programme

The University of Lausanne grants an official certificate of equivalence of 6 ECTS for the completion of a major course and a minor course, following successful completion of the proposed tests and examinations

Students·e·s and doctoral students·e·s: 280 CHF
Auditors·trices: 460 CHF
Students·e·s and doctoral·e·s UNIL and étudiant·e·s and doctoral·e·s Facultacute; protestante de Théologie UNIGE ;: free*

Thank you for paying by credit card

The registration fee includes:

• The tuition fee for a major course
• The tuition fee for a minor course
• Two cultural excursions

*Doctoral students and UNIL students do not pay registration fees, provided that the consistency of their choice is recognised by the student advisers.

When signing up for the Summer School in Oriental languages, you confirm that you have read and understood the "Rules & Regulations", valid for all our summer schools. 

Enrolment is only valid once the registration fee has been paid. Please register as soon as possible, as insufficient numbers will result in cancellation of the course. We therefore ask registrants to pay the registration fee directly by credit card, to confirm their willingness to take part in this school.

When registering, you can choose up to three major courses and two minor courses. If, due to lack of enrolment, the course indicated as choice 1 cannot open, you will automatically be enrolled for the course indicated as choice 2, and kept informed.

Courses will open as enrolments permit.

If none of the courses indicated in your registration is able to open, we undertake to refund your registration fee

Accommodation in multi-bedded rooms is offered on the San Servolo island by San Servolo Servizi (Municipality of Venice) at a fixed price of 58 euros per night. Please contact reception@servizimetropolitani.ve.it directly for bookings, mentioning “UNIL” in the subject line.

There are also numerous possibilities for accommodation, Airbnb type, on the great island of Venice.

The Summer School in Oriental Languages can advise you but does not manage student accommodation.

NB. You must check that you meet the entry requirements for Italy and Veneto for the duration of your stay in Venice.

For information in English, please follow this link. 

Venice International University is located on the island of San Servolo. It can be reached by boat from Piazza San Marco with the Vaporetto n°20 (stop “San Zaccaria San Marco” as far as the stop “San Servolo). The journey takes 10 minutes.

Tickets for the Vaporetto

A single journey San Zaccaria San Marco to San Servolo costs 5 euros.

You also have the option of buying a monthly or annual season ticket, or individual tickets named « Venezia Unica Card ». This card entitles you to special fares. It is valid for 5 years.

How to benefit

Directly on site : boat stops : Rialto and Piazzale Roma, by presenting your ID card.

Online, via the following link : https://www.veneziaunica.it/fr 

You can find more information about public transport here. 

General description

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact program coordinator Matteo Silvestrini.