📝 Admissions — Italy

Italy is one of the strongest study destinations in Europe for international students who want a recognised degree, affordable public university fees, historic cities, English-taught master’s programmes, and access to European academic and professional networks. However, admission in Italy can be confusing because there is no single application route for every student. Your procedure depends on your nationality, residence status, degree level, programme type, university, language of instruction and whether you need a study visa.

In many cases, international students must first apply directly to the university for admission or pre-admission. If they are non-EU students living outside Italy and need a visa, they must also complete the official Universitaly pre-enrolment procedure after receiving university approval or eligibility. Some courses require admission tests such as TOLC, CEnT, university entrance tests, interviews, portfolios, or national procedures for highly regulated programmes such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.

This guide explains the main admission routes in Italy, the documents you need, how foreign qualifications are assessed, when you may need CIMEA or a Declaration of Value, how to plan your timeline, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Quick summary: how admissions in Italy work

To study in Italy, you usually need to complete several steps:

1. Choose the right type of institution and degree.
2. Check whether your previous qualification gives you access to that level of study in Italy.
3. Check the programme-specific requirements on the university website.
4. Apply to the university through its online portal or the required platform.
5. Pass any admission test, interview, ranking or portfolio evaluation if required.
6. Receive admission, pre-admission, eligibility or acceptance from the institution.
7. If you are a non-EU student living abroad and need a visa, submit pre-enrolment through Universitaly.
8. Apply for the student visa through the Italian consulate or embassy.
9. Travel to Italy, request the residence permit within the required time, and finalise enrolment at the university.

For international students, the most important thing to understand is this: university admission, Universitaly pre-enrolment and the visa are connected but separate steps. Being admitted by a university does not automatically give you a visa. Having a Universitaly pre-enrolment validated does not guarantee the visa either. The consulate makes the visa decision, while the university makes the academic admission decision.

The main types of higher education institutions in Italy

1. Public universities

Public universities are the main choice for most international students. They offer bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, single-cycle degrees, PhDs and professional courses. Public universities are usually much more affordable than private universities, and fees are often based on income or on a fixed fee band for international students.

2. Private and legally recognised non-state universities

Italy also has private universities and legally recognised non-state institutions. Some are highly reputable, especially in business, economics, medicine, design and social sciences. They usually charge higher tuition fees and may use their own admission tests and interviews.

3. Polytechnics

Polytechnic universities, such as Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, are especially known for engineering, architecture, design and technology. Admission can be competitive and may require specific tests, portfolio checks or academic background requirements.

4. AFAM institutions

AFAM stands for Alta Formazione Artistica, Musicale e Coreutica, which means Higher Education in Art, Music and Dance. This includes academies of fine arts, conservatories, design institutions and similar institutions. AFAM applications often require an entrance exam, portfolio, audition, language proof and direct contact with the institution.

5. ITS Academy

ITS Academy programmes are higher technical education programmes focused on professional and applied skills. They are not the same as traditional university degrees, but they can be useful for students looking for job-oriented training in fields such as technology, mobility, tourism, energy, fashion, agri-food, logistics and digital systems. International applicants should check recognition, visa eligibility and language requirements carefully before choosing this route.

Degree options in Italy

Laurea — bachelor’s degree

The Italian first-cycle degree is called Laurea. It usually lasts three years and requires 180 CFU credits. To apply, international students normally need a secondary school qualification that gives access to university in the country where it was issued and meets the Italian access rules.

Laurea Magistrale — master’s degree

The second-cycle degree is called Laurea Magistrale. It usually lasts two years and requires 120 CFU credits. To apply, students need a bachelor’s degree or comparable first-cycle qualification. Universities will check not only whether your degree exists, but also whether your previous studies match the subject requirements of the master’s programme.

Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico — single-cycle degree

Some degrees combine bachelor’s and master’s level into one long programme. These are called single-cycle master’s degrees. They usually last five or six years. Common examples include medicine and surgery, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, law, architecture, primary education sciences and conservation/restoration.

Master universitario

A Master universitario is not the same as a Laurea Magistrale. It is usually a professional or specialised postgraduate course. A first-level master usually requires a bachelor’s degree, while a second-level master usually requires a Laurea Magistrale or equivalent second-cycle qualification. Students should be careful because some international applicants confuse these courses with academic master’s degrees.

Dottorato di ricerca — PhD

A PhD in Italy usually lasts at least three years. Admission is normally through competitive calls published by each university. Applicants usually need a Laurea Magistrale or comparable second-cycle degree, a research proposal or project fit, academic documents and sometimes an interview. Many PhD positions include a scholarship, but not all do.

Who applies through which route?

EU students and non-EU students already legally residing in Italy or another EU country

EU students and certain non-EU students legally residing in Italy or the EU are usually assessed under procedures similar to Italian students, provided they hold a suitable qualification. They generally apply directly according to the university’s rules and deadlines. They normally do not need a study visa, but they may need registration or residence procedures depending on their situation.

Non-EU students living outside Italy who need a visa

This is the category that needs the most planning. These students normally apply first to the university. After the university confirms eligibility, they complete pre-enrolment on Universitaly. The university then validates the pre-enrolment so the student can apply for a visa at the competent Italian embassy or consulate.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, the national procedures state that visa applications for ordinary degree programmes must be submitted to the competent diplomatic-consular representation no later than 30 November 2026. However, individual universities may set earlier internal deadlines, and visa appointment availability can be limited. Students should not wait until November.

Main application routes in Italy

Route 1: Direct application to the university

Most international applicants begin by applying directly to the university or institution through its online application portal. This may be called admission, pre-admission, evaluation, assessment, application for international students, or application for degree-seeking students.

In this stage, the university checks your academic background, grades, documents, language proof and programme fit. If the programme is selective, it may rank candidates or require an interview, test, portfolio or additional documents.

Route 2: Universitaly pre-enrolment

Universitaly is the official Italian Ministry portal used by international students for pre-enrolment, especially when a study visa is required. It is not simply a course search website. For non-EU visa applicants, it is normally the official route through which the university validates the pre-enrolment needed for the visa process.

In practice, many students must first obtain admission or eligibility from the university, then create a Universitaly account, choose the institution and programme, upload documents, and wait for the university to validate the request. After validation, the student proceeds with the visa application at the Italian consulate or embassy.

Route 3: TOLC admission tests

Many bachelor’s programmes use TOLC, the online admission test managed by CISIA. Different TOLC types exist for different subject areas. Examples include TOLC-I for engineering, TOLC-E for economics, TOLC-F for pharmacy-related fields, TOLC-B for biology, TOLC-S for sciences, TOLC-SU for humanities and social sciences, and other subject-specific tests.

The university admission notice will tell you whether a TOLC is required, which TOLC type to take, whether TOLC@HOME or TOLC@UNI is accepted, the deadline, the required score and how the ranking is calculated.

Route 4: CEnT for English-taught scientific programmes

CISIA introduced CEnT, the CISIA English Test, for admission to degree courses mainly taught in English. Starting from November 2025, the previous English TOLC-E, English TOLC-I and English TOLC-F are replaced by CEnT-S for engineering, economics, pharmacy and other scientific fields mainly taught in English. Applicants must always check the university call because the accepted test, dates and validity rules depend on the programme.

Route 5: Programmed-access and nationally regulated courses

Some courses in Italy have a limited number of places. This can be at national level or local university level. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine are particularly sensitive because the rules, tests, quotas and timelines can change by academic year. Programmes taught in English may use special procedures such as IMAT or other ministerial/university rules depending on the year.

If you are applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, architecture, health professions or another regulated programme, do not rely on general admissions advice. Check the latest official ministerial decree, Universitaly page and university call for that exact year.

Route 6: AFAM, design, art and music entrance exams

AFAM and creative programmes may require a portfolio, audition, practical test, interview or artistic assessment. These applications may have earlier deadlines and may involve a direct institutional portal rather than the same process used by universities.

Route 7: PhD calls

PhD admission is normally managed through calls published by each university. Calls may be released at different times, often between spring and summer, but this depends on the institution and funding. A PhD candidate who needs a visa will still need the relevant Universitaly and consular steps after admission or eligibility.

Eligibility for bachelor’s admission: the 12-year schooling rule

International students can usually apply to Italian universities only if their secondary education qualification allows university access and was awarded after at least 12 years of schooling. If your school system is shorter than 12 years, you may need to compensate with additional university studies, a post-secondary qualification, foundation year evidence or other documentation accepted by the university.

This rule is very important for students from countries where school education is 11 years, or where the route to university access is not automatically equivalent. Always check the country-specific rules, the university website and the documents requested for your qualification.

Eligibility for master’s admission

For a Laurea Magistrale, the university checks whether your bachelor’s degree is comparable to an Italian first-cycle degree and whether you meet the programme’s curricular requirements. This can include:

• Recognition or official status of your university.
• Level and duration of your degree.
• Total credits or workload.
• Subjects studied during your bachelor’s degree.
• Specific credits in mathematics, statistics, economics, engineering, computer science, law, biology, design, or other required areas.
• Minimum GPA or final grade.
• Thesis topic or final project.
• Language level.
• Work experience, if the programme requires it.
• Portfolio, GRE, GMAT, interview or university test, if required.

One of the most common rejection reasons is lack of curricular fit. A student may have a recognised bachelor’s degree but still be rejected because they do not have enough credits in the subject area required by the master’s programme.

Documents usually required

Requirements differ by university and country, but international applicants commonly need:

• Passport copy.
• Secondary school certificate for bachelor’s or single-cycle programmes.
• Bachelor’s degree certificate for master’s applications.
• Master’s degree certificate for PhD applications.
• Transcript of records with subjects, grades and credits/hours.
• Grading scale or explanation of the grading system.
• Course descriptions or syllabus, especially for master’s applications.
• Language certificate in English or Italian.
• CV.
• Motivation letter or statement of purpose.
• Recommendation letters, if requested.
• Portfolio for architecture, design, art, music or creative programmes.
• Admission test score, such as TOLC, CEnT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, IMAT or a university-specific test, if required.
• CIMEA Statement of Comparability and/or Verification, if required or accepted by the university.
• Declaration of Value, if required by the university or consulate.
• Legalisation or apostille of documents, depending on the country of issue.
• Certified translations, usually into Italian or sometimes English, depending on the university.

CIMEA, Declaration of Value, legalisation and translations

CIMEA

CIMEA is the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre. It provides Statements of Comparability and Verification through its official digital platform. A Statement of Comparability gives information on the level and comparability of a foreign qualification, while a Statement of Verification concerns authenticity. These statements can support university assessment, but they do not automatically guarantee admission or formal recognition.

Declaration of Value

The Declaration of Value, called Dichiarazione di Valore, is usually issued by the Italian diplomatic or consular authority responsible for the country where the qualification was awarded. It describes the foreign qualification and the education system. It is not itself a recognition of the degree. Some universities still request it, while others accept CIMEA statements, Diploma Supplement, apostille/legalisation, or other documents instead.

Legalisation and apostille

Documents issued abroad may need legalisation or apostille before they are accepted. Apostille applies only if the country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. In other cases, consular legalisation may be needed. For many MENA applicants, this step can involve the Ministry of Education or Higher Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Italian embassy or consulate.

Translations

If your documents are not in Italian or English, you will normally need official translations. Some universities accept documents in English, French or Spanish, but this is not universal. Always check the university’s exact document rules before translating because the wrong translation format can cause delays.

Language requirements

Italian-taught programmes

Most bachelor’s programmes in Italy are taught in Italian. Italian-taught programmes commonly require proof of Italian language ability, often around B2 level, but the required level depends on the university and programme. Some institutions organise their own Italian language test.

English-taught programmes

Italy has many English-taught master’s programmes and a growing number of English-taught bachelor’s programmes, especially in engineering, economics, business, international relations, data science, artificial intelligence, architecture and design. English-taught programmes usually require IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, Pearson, Duolingo or proof that your previous degree was taught in English, depending on university rules.

Even if your course is in English, learning basic Italian is strongly recommended. It helps with housing, part-time work, internships, bureaucracy, health services and daily life.

Admission deadlines and timeline

Italy does not have one universal deadline. Some universities open applications as early as autumn or winter for the following academic year. Many master’s and English-taught programmes have application rounds between November and June. Some programmes remain open later if places are available, while competitive courses close much earlier.

For non-EU visa applicants, the academic application deadline is not enough. You must also leave time for Universitaly pre-enrolment, university validation, consular appointment, visa processing, travel, accommodation and enrolment.

Recommended timeline for September/October intake

1. 12 months before intake: choose programmes, check entry requirements, language tests and document rules.
2. 9 months before intake: prepare transcripts, certificates, translations, legalisation, CIMEA or Declaration of Value if needed.
3. 8 to 6 months before intake: submit early applications, book language tests, register for TOLC/CEnT or other tests if required.
4. 6 to 4 months before intake: complete university applications and respond to document requests.
5. After admission: complete Universitaly pre-enrolment if you need a visa.
6. As early as possible: book the visa appointment and prepare financial proof, accommodation and health insurance documents.
7. After arrival: apply for the residence permit within the required time and finalise university enrolment.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Public university fees in Italy are usually lower than in many other European countries. As a general guide, public university fees often range from around €900 to €4,000 per year, depending on the institution, programme and student’s financial situation. Private institutions can be much more expensive, often from around €6,000 to over €20,000 per year.

Many public universities use income-based fee systems. International students may need an ISEE Parificato, which is a certified calculation of family economic situation for students whose family income and assets are outside Italy. This can be important for tuition reductions, DSU/regional scholarships, accommodation benefits and canteen support.

Italy’s regional right-to-study scholarships are often called DSU, EDISU, ER.GO, LazioDiSCo, ADISURC or similar names depending on the region. These scholarships can be very valuable, but they are usually managed regionally and have strict deadlines, income-document rules and translation/legalisation requirements.

After admission: final enrolment in Italy

Being admitted is not the final step. To become fully enrolled, you normally need to complete enrolment with the university. This can include:

• Acceptance of the offer.
• Payment of the first tuition instalment or regional tax.
• Submission of original or certified documents.
• Submission of CIMEA, Declaration of Value, legalisation or translations if required.
• Student visa and residence permit process for non-EU students.
• Tax code, known as codice fiscale.
• Health insurance or registration with the Italian National Health Service if eligible.

If you miss the enrolment deadline, you may lose your place even if you were admitted.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Thinking that Universitaly is the first step for every applicant. Usually, you must first follow the university’s admission procedure.
• Confusing pre-admission with final enrolment.
• Assuming that a university acceptance automatically guarantees a visa.
• Ignoring the 12-year schooling rule for bachelor’s admission.
• Applying to master’s programmes without checking credit and subject requirements.
• Waiting too long to start CIMEA, Declaration of Value, legalisation or translation.
• Taking the wrong TOLC or missing the deadline for the required test.
• Assuming all English-taught programmes accept the same English certificate.
• Ignoring DSU scholarship deadlines, which may close before or around enrolment.
• Applying to medicine or dentistry based on outdated information from previous years.

Best strategy for international applicants

A strong Italy application strategy should include a balanced list of programmes. Combine ambitious universities with realistic options. Do not apply only to highly competitive programmes in Milan, Bologna, Rome, Turin or Padua. Consider smaller cities where admission, housing and living costs may be more manageable.

For master’s applicants, subject fit is essential. Read the admission call carefully and compare your transcript with the required curriculum. For bachelor’s applicants, check the 12-year rule, language requirements and entrance tests before spending money on translations or application fees.

For non-EU visa applicants, the best strategy is to apply early, secure admission early, submit Universitaly early, and book the visa appointment as soon as your consulate allows it.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources to check

• Universitaly — International students procedures
• Universitaly — First steps to study in Italy
• Universitaly — Italian higher education system
• Study in Italy — Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal
• CIMEA — Italian ENIC-NARIC centre
• CISIA — TOLC and CEnT admission tests
• Visa for Italy

This is starter guidance and changes often — always confirm on the official source before applying.