Applying to university in Italy: a comprehensive guide

The UK’s 2016 Brexit referendum led to a recent dramatic change in the European educational landscape, resulting in a growing interest in European countries beyond the UK as primary university destinations.

Germany and the Netherlands hold the lead in the number of applications from international undergraduate students. However, Italy has also seen a surge in popularity and has, over the past few years, expanded its English-language undergraduate programmes. These range from the traditionally reputable architecture, fashion, art and design degrees to STEM programmes, social sciences and medicine.

Home to the oldest university in the world – the University of Bologna – Italy has world-class public and private universities. In the private sector, creative arts schools, such as Polimoda, NABA and Istituto Marangoni Milano, offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a wide range of courses, including fashion, interior design, architecture and visual arts.

Moreover, unlike the Netherlands, Italy can still offer affordable student accommodation, thanks to its more sustainable international student numbers. At the same time, Italy’s geographical location and excellent transport links ensure its accessibility and easy connections to the rest of Europe.

By choosing Italy as their university destination, students will also be able to experience the famous Italian lifestyle, with its cultural richness, world-renowned cuisine, balmy climate and diverse landscapes.

Private universities

For students applying for economics and business degrees, Bocconi University is the Italian go-to destination. Consistently ranked among the top business universities globally, Bocconi has invested heavily in diversifying its English-language degrees and internationalising its undergraduate student body. It now offers degrees in law, international politics, economics and management for the arts, economic and social sciences, and AI and computer science.

Benefiting from an excellent public health service, Italy has also become a prime destination for medical degrees. Five private medical schools in Italy offer education to international students. Tuition fees at private universities, such as Vita e Salute or Humanitas in Milan, range in cost from €7,000 to €25,000 per year. While expensive, these fees are still very competitive in comparison with US and UK medical schools.

Public universities

From a counsellor’s point of view, however, more exciting developments have taken place in Italy’s public university sector. Many universities, including Pavia, Bologna and La Sapienza, have started offering undergraduate degrees in English. Twelve public medical schools now offer places to international students.

Fees for non-European Union students are significantly lower than elsewhere, and income-band calculations apply. This means that Italian public universities attract international talent from medium- and low-income countries, offering undergraduate degrees in English in response to the labour-market demand for IT and medical professionals, among others.

Public universities: tuition fees range from €1,000 to €4,000 per year for international students. Family income bands are applicable and are determined on the basis of the Indicator of Equivalent Economic Situation.

How to apply to university in Italy

1. Admission requirements

Each university and programme has its own specific admission requirements. Generally, the candidate will need:

High school diploma: equivalent to the Italian diploma maturita (12 years of education)

Entrance exam: some universities, especially for fields such as medicine, engineering and architecture, require entrance exams, entry tests or a portfolio. These include IMAT for medicine, and English TOLC-I or TOLC-E for STEM and economics subjects, respectively (for example, the bachelor’s in economics: behaviour, data and policy at the University of Milan). Some Italian universities or programmes accept the SAT in lieu of an entrance test (the bachelor’s in artificial intelligence at the University of Pavia is one). Places are awarded based on the ranking number, assigned according to the results of the entry test or SAT. Bocconi University requires SAT scores above 1,400, or alternatively advises candidates to take the Bocconi admission test. University admissions tutors are able to provide counsellors with informed advice on which tests to take and which results to submit.

Proof of language proficiency: for English-taught programmes: TOEFL or IELTS (typically to B2 level, according to CEFL). This requirement is often waived for candidates from schools with English as the language of instruction.

2. Submitting the application

Applications for universities in Italy are usually submitted online. Most universities have their own online application portals, but there is also a centralised platform, Universitaly (similar to Ucas in the UK, or Studielink in the Netherlands), for international students. To apply, candidates need to:

Create an account: this is done either on the university’s application portal or via the Universitaly platform.

Fill in the application form: provide personal details, academic background and the degree they want to apply for.

Upload the required documents:

• Certificate of secondary education or high school diploma. For students applying in their final year of high school (and especially with predicted grades for A levels), it may be necessary to submit an enrolment certificate from the school
• Curriculum vitae
• Academic transcripts, usually for the last two or three years of high school
• Proof of language proficiency.
• Letter of motivation and application essay, as required
• Reference letters or contact details for referees (if required)
• Portfolio (for design, architecture and arts).

Application deadlines for international students are usually between April and July. Bocconi University, however, runs three enrolment sessions throughout the academic year, with the early-bird deadline at the end of September, the regular session deadline at the end of January and the spring session deadline at the end of May.

Applying for a visa

EU citizens do not require a visa. Non-EU citizens must apply for a student visa in their home country. If offered a place at an Italian university, non-EU students must submit to the Italian consulate their admission letter, a valid passport (with at least two blank pages and valid for at least three months beyond the planned stay), proof of financial resources (at least €6,000 per year, to cover living expenses), health insurance and proof of accommodation.

It is crucial to bear in mind that non-EU students are often required to have their secondary education validated in Italy, and must submit the Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value) to prove that they have done so. This service is provided by Italian consulates or embassies in the student’s country of residence. It is a lengthy procedure, which may negatively impact on students’ visa application process and delay their arrival in Italy.

Counsellors might find it helpful to devise a timeline of the application process together with their students and their parents, with a clear focus on checkpoints and deadlines. Parents may need assistance with preparing a detailed list of required documents in certified Italian or English translation for the diploma recognition process.

Funding and scholarships

Already much more affordable than elsewhere, thanks to their income-band fee adjustments, most Italian universities also offer merit-based and needs-based scholarships (both full and partial). These often cover tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses, and are awarded on an annual basis.

Here, as elsewhere, early parental involvement is crucial in ensuring the success of needs-based scholarship applications. Many parents will need the counsellor’s guidance in preparing the required financial documents for income-band assessment and getting them translated and validated.