Find a programme

Before arriving to Italy you need to choose a program among those proposed by an Italian higher education institution. You can look for it directly on the institution website or consulting the “Find a program” section. If you need information on the structure of the Italian Higher education system in terms of institutions and qualifications needed to apply, then first have a look at the section “The Italian Higher Education Institution”.

Please, note that in Italy the standard academic year starts in the fall and runs until the next September but exams can be taken until April of the following year.

Verify programmes entry requirements

Please, note that in Italy the standard academic year starts in the fall and runs until the next September but exams can be taken until April of the following year.

Please, note that in Italy the standard academic year starts in the fall and runs until the next September but exams can be taken until April of the following year.
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Step 2: Verify programmes entry requirements

If you have just completed high school, you can enrol in a 1st cycle programme (bachelor level, 3 years), or in a single-cycle program (5 or 6 years programs available for: Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary medicine, Dentistry and dental prosthetics, Pharmaceutical studies, Architecture, Law).

If you already have a bachelor degree, you can enrol in a 2nd cycle programme (master level, 2 years).

Higher education institutions set different entry requirements for each program that depend on different aspects related above all with the subject. Entry requirements ensure that you have the right skills and knowledge to successfully complete the path, including the specific qualification needed to access to the level and type of the program. Some of these requirements may include:

• your previous qualifications, subjects and exam grades;
• your suitability in terms of skills, interests, or experience it's good to have, considering that applications can be quite competitive;
• an admissions test or an interview, generally held before the program start date;
• your language skills according to the language of the course (Italian, English, etc.).

After deciding which higher education institution and which kind of studies you are interested in and verified the general entry requirements, you must check the specific entry requirements with your “chosen” institution (visit Italian Higher Education Institutions) and contact the institution directly.

If you need information on recognition procedures of your foreign qualification in Italy and an evaluation of your diploma/degree, please visit the website of the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre - CIMEA.

If you want to enrol in one or more single courses, you have to follow the same procedure.

Italian language skills

In Italy, most undergraduate programs are taught in Italian; several graduate programs are in English. If you have chosen a course in Italian, higher education institutions will test your linguistic ability. But even if you enroll in an English one, you might need to speak Italian to integrate in the life and culture of the country. Each institution organises a test of Italian language proficiency.

Check if you need a student visa

Non-EU citizens must apply for a student visa at the Italian Embassy or Consulate of their jurisdiction. Check if you need a student visa on the “ Visa for Italy” portal.

More details on the procedure to follow in order to get a student visa are available at the “Visa for Italy - Apply for a student visa” section.
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Contact the higher education institution

If you have not yet contacted the higher education institutions you have chosen [link a Italian Higher Education Institution], now it is time to do it! Higher education institutions in Italy shall inform you on the rules for international applicants and welcome you with a set of available services for international applicants ...
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Start your online pre-enrollment application

To apply for a study programs in Italy you need to complete the “Pre-enrolment” application on Universitaly, after having created your online account on the Universitaly portal ...
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Apply for your student visa

If your application has been positively evaluated, the chosen institution will be able to issue a “Letter of eligibility for enrolment”.

The competent Italian higher education institution will validate online your application with all the evaluation details required by the competent Italian Diplomatic Consular Mission/Embassy ...
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Contact the competent
Italian Diplomatic Consular Mission/Embassy

You need to contact the competent Italian Diplomatic Consular Mission/Embassy here and book an appointment. You should have with you all the required documents in the format indicated by the competent Italian Diplomatic Consular Mission/Embassy including a copy of your “Pre-enrolment” application as validated by The Italian Higher Education Institution.

Request your Permit of Stay

Within 8 (eight) working days from your arrival in Italy on a type D “national” visa for study (university enrolment), you must make an appointment to apply for a permit of stay (Permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio) to the local Police Department- Immigration Office desk (Questura - Ufficio stranieri) responsible for the city where you are going to stay ...
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Finalise your enrolment

In order to finalise your enrolment and became an international student in Italy you now need to follow the procedures and steps indicated by the chosen higher education institution.

The competent Italian higher education institution will be able to give you all the relevant information on different services and possibilities available to international students at national and local level.