DIPLOMA STUDENTS: College graduates, qualified elementary school teachers, and students with a diploma from an A.M.I. Children's House course, have priority of admission. In order to apply, a student must reach the age of 18 years by the first day of the course. The Course Director reserves the right of admission.

Please forward the following documents:
1. Birth Certificate
2. Official transcripts or records from the applicant's high school, college, and graduate school (with a notarized translation into English, if requested).
3. Photocopy of diplomas or certificates obtained from previous Montessori Courses.
These documents are not returnable.

It must be emphasised that students from all countries other than those of the European Union need a student visa and should apply for this to the Italian Consulate for their area of residence, on the basis of the official letter of acceptance from the Centre. If, for whatever reason, a student comes without the required student visa or without other required papers, the Centre cannot accept any responsibility for the length of that student's sojourn in Italy.

AUDITORS: Any persons wishing to acquaint themselves with Dr. Montessori's work may be admitted as auditors. The same non-returnable documents are required. Auditors are subject to payment of all fees. A certificate of attendance (specifying the percentage of attendance for a) Lectures; b) Observation in Montessori Classes; c) Seminars/Meetings; and d) Practice with the Montessori material) will be issued at the end of the Course. This certificate, however, does not entitle the holder to conduct classes with the Montessori Method. The Course Director reserves the right of admission.

TEXTBOOKS: The study of the following books by Dr. Maria Montessori is obligatory (and reading them prior to arrival is recommended):

1) The Advanced Montessori Method, Volume 1 (Spontaneous Activity in Education) and Volume 2 (The Montessori Elementary Material)

2) To Educate the Human Potential

3) From Childhood to Adolescence

4) Education and Peace

5) The Child, Society and the World (unpublished speeches and writings)

6) The Absorbent Mind

7) The Formation of Man

* Human Tendencies and Montessori Education by Mario M. Montessori Sr. (pamphlet in the English language only and available in Bergamo).

All other books by Dr. Maria Montessori are also recommended:

1) What You Should Know about Your Child

2) The Secret of Childhood

3) The Discovery of the Child

4) The Child in the Family

5) Education for a New World

6) Creative Development in the Child (2 volumes)

* Education for Human Development: Understanding Montessori by Mario Montessori Jr.

Please note that, in Italy, it is difficult to find Montessori books in any language other than Italian. Therefore students should bring their books with them to Bergamo.

- Students are advised to bring a dictionary that gives etymologies. It is also recommended that textbooks be brought as a source of reference for each subject. A careful reading of the Course Programme given in this site should point out why these textbook-references are important.

- To derive the fullest benefit from the Elementary School Course, it is desirable that the prospective students have an idea of the Montessori Method at the level of Children's House.

Also, we believe that the Advanced Course must be offered, not only to those who desire to teach at the Elementary level, but also to those who wish to continue teaching at the Children's House level. Knowledge of the psychology of the older child, together with an understanding of the educational approach appropriate to that age, will give the teacher of the Children's House a new consciousness of the importance of his role in the future develpment of the child.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS: In general, financial assistance can be obtained through Montessori schools which sponsor students as future teachers for their school. Also prospective students could try contacting any of the various foundations or government organizations which grant scholarships for cultural purposes, for example a Ministry of Education or of Foreign Affairs.