Start here: a guide for complete beginners

This page is for you if you have never applied to a university abroad and you don’t know where to start. Go through it slowly, one step at a time. You don’t need to understand everything today.

The other guides on this site give the full details. Here we only explain what each step means and what to do now.

Before you start: three things to know

Start early. Some deadlines, such as university applications and scholarships, close months before classes begin.
Always trust the official page. Rules and dates can change every year. The university’s website, Universitaly and the Italian embassy are the sources that count. Our guides link to them.
The official portal is free. Pre-enrolment on Universitaly costs nothing. Be careful with anyone who asks you for money to do it for you.

Words you will see often

Bachelor’s degree (laurea triennale): the first university degree, after secondary school.
Master’s degree (laurea magistrale): the degree after a bachelor’s.
Universitaly: the official Italian website where non-EU students fill in their pre-enrolment.
CIMEA statement or Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di valore): a document that shows what your diploma or degree is worth in Italy.
DSU: the regional scholarship. It can give you money, and sometimes a room and meals.
Study visa (type D): the visa you need to enter Italy to study.
Residence permit (permesso di soggiorno): the document that lets you stay in Italy after you arrive.
Codice fiscale: your Italian tax code. You need it for many things, like buying a SIM card.

Step 1: Decide what you want to study, and in which language

Ask yourself two questions:

What level? A bachelor’s (after secondary school) or a master’s (after a bachelor’s)?
What subject? Write down two or three subjects you like.

Then think about the language. Many programs are taught in English, others in Italian. Both usually ask for at least level B2 in that language.

Do now: write on a sheet of paper: the level, two or three subjects, and the language you can study in.

If your English is not strong yet, EngPro offers free English lessons with volunteer teachers.

Step 2: Find programs and universities

There are three easy places to look:

Universitaly (universitaly.it): its official search covers all the programs in Italy.
Our university guide and the map of cities: each university page links to its official list of programs.
The university’s own website. Once you find a program you like, open its page on the university site.

How to search on Google (tips):

Write in English, for example: master’s degree in economics taught in English Italy.
Add the name of the university and international students admission, for example: University of Bologna international students admission.
Open the university’s own website, not a random blog or video. Information on unofficial pages is often old.

Do now: make a simple table with these columns: program name, university, city, language, deadline, link. Add every program you like. Three to five programs is a good start.

Step 3: Check that you meet the requirements

On each program page, look for the section called admission requirements (or requisiti di accesso in Italian). Usually:

For a bachelor’s: a secondary school certificate after at least 12 years of school.
For a master’s: a bachelor’s degree, and your transcript (the list of your exams and grades).
A language certificate, often at B2 level.
Some programs have an entrance exam or special admission rules, for example Architecture or Medicine.

Do now: for each program in your table, write yes or no: do I meet the requirements?

Read more: How to apply and Admission tests

Step 4: Prepare your documents

Start this early, because some documents take time. Usually you need:

Your passport.
Your diploma or degree, and for a master’s your transcript.
A CIMEA statement or a Declaration of Value from the Italian embassy.
Translations where needed.
Your language certificate.

Do now: make a folder on your phone or computer and scan every document into it. Give each file a clear name.

Step 5: Think about money and scholarships

Studying in Italy has costs: university fees, rent, food. For the visa you must also show that you have enough money.

The good news: there are scholarships. The biggest one for most students is the regional DSU scholarship. It depends on your family’s income. Its deadlines are often before classes start, so check them as soon as you choose your university.

Do now: open the scholarship finder on the funding page, answer the questions and see which scholarships may fit you.

Step 6: Apply to the university, then on Universitaly

This happens in two parts:

Apply to the university, usually through its own online portal, before its deadline. The university checks your documents and decides.
Fill in your pre-enrolment on Universitaly. The university then validates it online. Without a validated pre-enrolment, you cannot apply for a study visa.

Do now: write the application deadline of each university in your table, and put a reminder in your phone’s calendar.

Read more: How to apply, sections 3 and 4

Step 7: Apply for your study visa

With your validated pre-enrolment, you apply at the Italian embassy or consulate in the country where you live. You need a type D study visa. Book your appointment early.

Step 8: When you arrive in Italy

Welcome! In the first days you have a few important tasks:

Apply for your residence permit within 8 working days of arriving.
Finish your enrolment at the university.
Get your codice fiscale, a phone number and a place to live.

If you feel lost

That is normal, and you are not alone.

Use the search box at the top of the site to find a word or a topic.
Watch our videos, in Arabic.
Send us a message on Instagram and tell us which step you are stuck on.

Official sources

This site gives general information only. Rules change often, so always check the official sources.