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日本語Italy is home to some of the world's oldest universities — Bologna was founded in 1088 — and today attracts students with its combination of academic prestige, design and arts excellence, and an unmatched quality of life. The Italian system requires more upfront document preparation than most European countries, particularly for non-EU applicants, who must go through their local Italian Embassy before applying to a university. Starting early is the single biggest advantage you can give yourself.
Academic Qualifications
What Italy recognizes as a valid entry qualification
Italian universities require a secondary school diploma equivalent to the Italian Diploma di Maturità — earned after 12 or 13 years of schooling, depending on your country. The key requirement is that your diploma must cover enough years of education to be considered equivalent. Students from countries with only 10 or 11 years of secondary education may need to have completed at least one year of university-level study before applying. CIMEA (the Italian ENIC-NARIC center) assesses foreign qualifications and issues official recognition statements. For Master's programs, a recognized three-year Bachelor's degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS credits) in a related field is required.
Language Requirements
| Italian-taught programs | CILS B2, CELI 3, PLIDA B2, or IT B2 minimum |
|---|---|
| English-taught programs | IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90 |
| Certificate validity | Most universities require certificates less than two years old |
| Native Italian speakers | May substitute language cert with proof of Italian schooling |
How to Apply
Non-EU applicants must start with the Italian Embassy — before contacting any university
- Contact the Italian Embassy or consulate in your home country. Non-EU applicants must request a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) for each academic document — this is issued by the Embassy and confirms the validity and equivalency of your qualifications.
- Register on the Universitaly portal (universitaly.it) and complete the pre-enrollment form. This is mandatory for non-EU students applying to Italian state universities and most private ones.
- Submit your Universitaly pre-enrollment application to the Italian Embassy along with your Declaration of Value and other required documents.
- After the Embassy confirms your pre-enrollment, apply directly to your chosen Italian university through their own admissions portal.
- Sit your Italian language proficiency test if applying to Italian-taught programs. For English-taught programs, submit your IELTS or TOEFL results.
- Once admitted, apply for an Italian student visa (visto per studio) at the Italian Embassy. After arriving in Italy, register with the local municipality (Comune) and apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 days.
Required Documents
- Original secondary school diploma (Diploma di Maturità equivalent)
- Official transcripts for all completed study
- Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) — issued by the Italian Embassy for each document
- Certified Italian or English translation of all documents
- Universitaly pre-enrollment confirmation
- Proof of language proficiency (CILS, CELI, IELTS, or TOEFL)
- Motivation letter / Statement of purpose
- CV / Résumé
- Passport copy (valid throughout planned stay)
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Proof of financial means (€6,000–€9,000 per year)
- Health insurance certificate
Financial Requirements
Proof of funds for the Italian student visa
Non-EU students applying for an Italian student visa must show proof of financial means sufficient for their stay. Italian authorities require a minimum of approximately €6,079 per year (the current Italian social allowance reference figure, which is updated annually). Most universities recommend showing €8,000–€10,000 to comfortably cover tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. Accepted proof includes a bank statement, a sponsor's declaration, or a scholarship letter. Italian public university tuition is income-based and varies widely — many students from lower-income backgrounds pay reduced fees or none at all.
Key Application Deadlines
| Universitaly pre-enrollment (non-EU) | February – April for October intake (check annually) |
|---|---|
| Italian Embassy Declaration of Value | Allow 4–8 weeks — start this process first |
| University direct applications | April – July for most institutions |
| Student visa application | Apply after admission letter — allow 4–6 weeks |
| Academic year start | October (first semester); February (second semester) |
Watch Out For
The Declaration of Value process through the Italian Embassy can take 4–8 weeks. It is the first step for non-EU applicants and must be completed before anything else.
Italian universities set their own internal deadlines for international students, which are often much earlier than the general intake deadlines. Always check the specific program page.
Some programs — particularly in medicine, architecture, and certain engineering specializations — have a numerus clausus with competitive entrance tests (test di ammissione). Seats are limited for both domestic and international applicants.
The CIMEA recognition process is separate from the Declaration of Value. Some universities require both — confirm with your target institution.
常见问题
申请在意大利学习的学生的常见问题
The Declaration of Value is an official document issued by the Italian Embassy or consulate in your home country. It certifies the authenticity and equivalency of your academic qualifications — confirming the type of institution you attended, the type of diploma you received, the duration of your studies, and the grade scale used. It is mandatory for most non-EU applicants and must be requested from the Embassy for each academic document.
CIMEA is Italy's ENIC-NARIC center — the official body responsible for recognizing foreign academic qualifications. It issues Dichiarazione di Comparabilità (comparability statements) and Attestato di Comparabilità (attestations of comparability) that many Italian universities use to assess foreign degrees. Some universities require a CIMEA statement alongside or instead of the Declaration of Value. CIMEA statements are processed faster than Embassy declarations.
Universitaly is the Italian government's online pre-enrollment portal for international students applying to Italian universities. Most non-EU students must complete their pre-enrollment through Universitaly before the Embassy confirms their application. The portal allows you to apply to up to three universities in order of preference. It is also used to upload required documents for Embassy review.
Yes, and the number has grown significantly. Italy now has over 500 English-taught degree programs, particularly at Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Bocconi University, and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. Most English programs are at Master's level. IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90 is the standard requirement.
Italian public universities use an income-based tuition model called ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente). Students from lower-income households may pay little or no tuition. The maximum tuition at most public universities is around €3,000–€4,000 per year for students who do not qualify for reductions. Private universities such as Bocconi and Luiss charge higher fees — typically €10,000–€25,000 per year.
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