Study in ItalyApplication procedures to study in Italy vary depending on whether you are an EU or a non-EU student and whether you would like to participate in undergraduate (first cycle) or graduate studies (second and third cycle).
[Click here to learn who an EU student is]
How to apply for university studies in Italy as a non-EU student
Undergraduate studies (first cycle)
If you plan to enroll in full time undergraduate studies (first cycle) at a higher education institution in Italy for the first time and you are not an EU student, you will have to submit your application by following the steps as explained below:
01 Search for a study program that best meets your personal expectations and academic profile.
02 Contact the institution you are interested in, and ask for a prior assessment to learn whether you might be eligible for the study program of your choice.
03 Once the institution you are interested in informs you might be eligible, you have to submit a pre-application request to the Italian embassy or consulate in the country where you are residing, by presenting the following documents:
- The filled-in application form to receive a Letter of Academic Eligibility and Suitability (in Italian, Dichiarazione di Valoro in Loco (DV)). The DV is a certificate that acknowledges your foreign studies prior to applying for university studies in Italy.
- The filled-in pre-enrollment form (Model A) (preinscrizione modello A) or the filled-in pre-enrollment form for studies at institutions of arts, deign, music and dance (AFAM) (Model A-bis)
- A copy of your school leaving certificate and the certificate of the results of the university entry examinations you have taken in your country. Please, observe these documents must be officially translated into Italian and legally authenticated by a competent authority.
- Two passport-sized photographs, one of which must be signed by you.
04 Once the Italian embassy or consulate has received all the necessary documentation, it will submit your application and documents to the Italian higher education institution you are interested in.
By the end of August, the Italian embassy or consulate will publish a list of admitted candidates.
[Learn more about application deadlines for studies at university in Italy] or [Learn more about admission requirements for studies at university in Italy]
Graduate studies (second and third cycle)
If you would like to apply for graduate studies (second and third cycle) at university in Italy, you will have to follow the same steps as explained for undergraduate, non-EU students. However, you will have to present a relevant university certificate that allows you to apply for further higher education programs and fill in the appropriate pre-enrollment form and form to receive a Letter of Academic Eligibility and suitability.
How to apply for university studies in Italy as an EU student
Undergraduate studies (first cycle)
If you are an EU student, you can apply under the same terms as Italian students by submitting the appropriate documentation directly to the higher education institution you are interested in. However, before you submit your application, you have to contact the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country to receive a Letter of Academic Eligibility and Suitability (in Italian, Dichiarazione di Valoro in Loco (DV).
Graduate studies (second and third cycle)
If you are an EU student and are thinking of studying in Italy, you can apply under the same terms as Italian students. However, you have to contact first the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country to receive a Letter of Academic Eligibility and Suitability (in Italian, Dichiarazione di Valoro in Loco (DV).
Sources: Italian National Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca)
Italian National Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministero degli Affari Esteri)
