Public universities
A wide choice of public universities and academic subject areas.
EUROPE / ITALYApplying
Applying
to universities
in Italy
We identify programmes that fit and support the application from the strategy stage through to final enrolment.
Italy combines a strong public university system, a wide choice of subject areas and programmes taught in English. Applying, though, can involve more than the university application itself: confirmation of a previous qualification, enrolment formalities and a student visa each have a procedure of their own. We set the sequence out in advance and support the applicant at every stage.
Why students consider Italy
Italy has a large number of public universities and programmes across a wide range of academic subject areas.
Fees and funding vary considerably. We therefore assess the specific combination of programme, requirements and budget, rather than the country as a whole.
English-taught programmes
You can apply to English-taught programmes without knowing Italian, unless the programme itself requires it.
Funding possibilities
Depending on the university, the region and the student’s circumstances, support or a reduction in fees may be available.
What matters is the individual programme and its entry requirements, not the country as a whole.
Universities in Italy
The types of institution and typical examples. Click a name to open the university card.
- Public universities
Large multidisciplinary universities with a wide choice of subjects and moderate tuition fees. Some programmes are taught in English.
- Polytechnic universities
Engineering, architecture and design. Many master’s programmes are taught in English.
- Private universities
Economics, management and law. Fees are higher, class sizes are smaller and links with industry are strong.
- Fashion, design and art schools
Fashion, design and fine art. The application rests on a portfolio built to the criteria of the individual programme.
The names open cards and link to the universities’ own websites. They map the academic landscape rather than form a ready-made list: the conditions of a specific programme are checked for the current year of entry.
How admission works in Italy
There is no single admissions route common to all Italian universities.
Requirements and the order of steps depend on the level of study, the university, the programme and the applicant’s nationality.
Profile assessment
We check your previous education, your results and your language level, the requirements for the level you are applying to, and anything that may restrict your options.
Programme selection
We compare programmes on requirements, language, fees, deadlines and funding.
Preparing the application
We assemble the documents and strengthen the elements that show the applicant’s profile and motivation.
Submission
We keep track of university portals, deadlines and correspondence with the admissions office.
Additional procedures
Where they apply, we factor in Universitaly, document verification and any other formalities.
Enrolment and visa
After the decision we support final enrolment and preparation for the visa procedure.
We set these stages out in advance, so that applying does not become a series of disconnected steps.
Entry requirements
Requirements are checked separately for each programme: there is no single checklist covering all Italian universities.
Academic background
The university assesses whether your previous education meets the requirements of the programme you have chosen. For a master’s degree, the subject content of the previous degree matters most.
Academic results
Grades, subject-specific study and other parts of the academic record may be taken into account.
English or Italian
Requirements depend on the language of instruction. An English-taught programme may ask for IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted form of proof.
Motivation and documents
Depending on the programme, a CV, a letter of motivation, letters of recommendation or further materials may be required.
Admissions tests
Some programmes set tests, interviews or other forms of selection.
Portfolio
Some creative subjects require a portfolio, prepared to the criteria the programme sets.
EDMONT checks the requirements of the specific programme you apply to, not only the university’s.
Documents you may need
The exact set depends on the university and the programme.
Qualification documents
A degree certificate or school-leaving certificate (attestat), together with a transcript of the study completed.
Transcript / Diploma Supplement
The subjects taken, the results and how much study they represent.
CV
Most often required for master’s applications.
Letter of motivation
Explains your academic motivation, your experience and your reasons for choosing the programme.
Letters of recommendation
May be requested by individual programmes.
Language certificate
Provided where the programme requires official proof of language proficiency.
Portfolio
Used for creative subjects, and prepared to the criteria the programme sets.
Further documents
An individual university may set requirements of its own.
We build a separate checklist for each chosen programme and check that every application is complete.
Recognition of your qualification and additional procedures
An Italian university may ask for confirmation of your previous education or for further information about it, and so may the administrative steps that follow.
Which document is needed depends on the university, on the applicant’s documents and on the procedure that applies.
CIMEA
A Statement of Comparability describes the level of a qualification; a Statement of Verification confirms that it was genuinely awarded. Whether either is needed should be confirmed with the university, and neither guarantees recognition.
Dichiarazione di Valore
An informative document issued by the Italian Diplomatic-Consular Mission. It describes a foreign qualification and does not in itself constitute recognition of it.
Universitaly
The official portal of the Ministry of University and Research, free to use. Applicants who need a study visa submit their pre-enrolment through it.
Pre-enrolment
The preliminary registration step for the visa procedure. Pre-enrolment does not replace the university application, and it does not guarantee a visa.
We establish in advance which procedures apply in each case and build them into the overall plan.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees depend on the university, the programme and other factors. At public universities in particular, no single figure describes them accurately.
When we build the list we assess academic fit and the full financial picture of each option.
- tuition fees
- compulsory additional charges
- mechanisms that reduce the fees payable
- funding options
- the deadlines for those applications
Scholarships and funding
Funding is one of the reasons international students consider Italy. The conditions, though, vary by region, university, programme and the applicant’s own circumstances.
For some applicants the amount payable may be considerably lower, and in some cases further forms of support are available.
We check
What is available at the chosen universities and programmes.
We explain
The requirements, the documents and the submission dates.
We prepare
The documents and the funding application, where that falls within the agreed scope.
Funding is considered while the university list is being built, not after admission.
When to start preparing
There is no single deadline common to all Italian universities.
Dates depend on the programme, the university, nationality and the stage of the admissions cycle.
Strategy
Choosing a field of study and assessing the profile.
Programmes
Selecting universities and checking requirements.
Language
Obtaining a language certificate, where one is needed.
Application
Preparing the documents and submitting them.
Admission
Receiving the decision and meeting any further conditions.
Enrolment
Completing the university’s own procedures.
Visa
Preparing the visa application, where required.
The earlier the strategy is settled, the more room remains for choosing programmes and preparing documents.
What we take on
Our admissions support is built around the Italian system and brings the academic application, funding, the additional procedures and the post-offer stages into one process.
Admissions strategy
We establish which programmes are suitable in terms of academic requirements, language and budget.
Programme selection
We compare universities, requirements, deadlines, fees and funding.
The application plan
We set out the sequence of steps and deadlines for every application.
Documents
We work with you on the CV, the letter of motivation, letters of recommendation, the portfolio and any other materials.
Submission
We manage each application and keep track of university portals and deadlines.
Correspondence
We manage correspondence with universities and get you the answers you need.
Funding
We check the options available and prepare the relevant documents with you.
Final enrolment
We work through the procedures that follow an offer.
Student visa
We advise on the stages of the visa procedure and the documents required.
Admission to an Italian university is one thing.Knowing every next step is another.
Applying without the chaos
Academic logic
Every programme is assessed for how well it fits the applicant’s profile.
Control of the process
Deadlines, documents and additional procedures sit in a single plan.
One route through to the outcome
Support continues after the application is sent, through to the final stages of admission.
We cannot make the decision for the university. We can make sure the applicant reaches that decision as well prepared as possible.
Questions about applying to Italy
Sources and verification date
The admission requirements on this page were checked against primary official sources. Last verified on . Requirements and amounts change between admission cycles, so we check them again before an application is submitted.
- universitaly.it
International-student procedures, Universitaly pre-enrolment and visa disclaimer for 2026/27–2027/28.
- cimea.it
Role and limits of Statements of Comparability and Verification.
- esteri.it
Informational nature of Dichiarazione di Valore and recognition responsibility.
- studyinitaly.esteri.it
Tuition depends on institution, programme and student circumstances; funding and fee rules vary.
EDMONT / ITALY
Considering university in Italy?
You do not need to have a university or a particular programme in mind. Tell us about your education, your goals and your budget. We assess your situation and identify the options worth applying to.
From choosing a programme to enrolment.