ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES

European Union citizens, wherever their residence may be, and non-European Union students regularly residing in Italy or in a European Union country have unlimited access to university courses if they hold a degree corresponding to the required Italian degree, provided that it is recognized as suitable according to the independent assessment carried out by the individual higher education institution.

Students must submit their enrolment application directly to the chosen higher education institution, in accordance with the procedures, deadlines and documentation provided by each institution and by the present Procedures, and are assessed on an equal footing with Italian degrees holders.

Degrees awarded by foreign authorities must be accompanied by the documents indicated by the universities in compliance with the Lisbon Convention: the student is obliged to produce the documentation that the institution deems necessary for the purposes of assessing the foreign qualification, with reference to: any translations, legalizations, Diploma Supplement, certificates of examinations, attestations issued by the Italian ENIC-NARIC center (CIMEA), any declarations of value issued by the competent diplomatic representations or other certification useful for verifying the elements of the foreign qualification.

Students who are citizens of European Union countries must apply for registration at the Registry Office of the Municipality where they intend to establish their residence.

For information on the required documentation and instructions on registration procedures, please consult the website of the University or Institution for which you intend to apply.

The application for access to first- and second-cycle courses for international students applying for visas and residing abroad must take place through a prior university pre-enrolment procedure, which precedes the subsequent enrolment phases.

In order to initiate university pre-enrolment procedures, universities will invite candidates to their courses to access the Universitaly portal to fill in the relevant "pre-enrolment application" in telematic mode. The portal will contain all the information aimed at facilitating candidates' access to university courses and related institutions, for the completion of pre-enrolment applications.

The phases following pre-enrolment will be completed at the competent diplomatic-consular Representations for the purpose of obtaining the entry Visa; which must indicate within the same portal the acceptance or refusal to issue the visa. The deadlines for procedures relating to pre-enrolment for first- and second-cycle courses are defined by each individual university and published on their respective websites.

The procedures relating to pre-enrolment for PhD courses, which must always be carried out through the Universitaly portal, do not follow the deadlines laid down for enrolment in the first- and second-cycle courses, but are carried out according to the deadlines independently set by the individual institutions, in relation to the start of the courses themselves, Once the pre-enrolment application has been completed and validated by the competent higher education institution, all candidates must apply to the competent diplomatic-consular Representations for an entry Visa.

For information on the required documentation and instructions on registration procedures, please consult the website of the University or Institution for which you intend to apply.

The evaluation of foreign qualifications for enrolment in Italian higher education courses is of exclusive competence of universities and other higher education institutions. Documentation referring to a degree and possibly produced by diplomatic-consular representations, including the Declaration of Value, is not compulsory and is not binding for assessment decisions falling within the competence of individual higher education institutions regarding admission to the chosen course.

All information on the recognition of foreign qualifications in Italy is provided by the Information Centre on Mobility and Academic Equivalences (CIMEA).. The establishment of this Centre corresponds to the commitments undertaken by our country with the signing and ratification of the Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is not competent for the recognition of foreign degrees. However, the Italian diplomatic-consular representations abroad (Embassies or Consulates) may issue the Declaration of Value of a degree or professional qualification obtained abroad in their district of competence.

The Declaration of Value is not a form of recognition of the qualification, but a document of an informative nature that educational institutions and the Administrations responsible for recognising qualifications in Italy may use to assess the qualifications themselves, for the purposes of continuing studies, exercising regulated professions, etc.

The information contained in the Declaration of Value concerns:

The nature and level of the institution that issued the foreign qualification;

The legal duration of the course of study;

The requirements for access to the course;

Any rating obtained with reference to the current evaluation system;

The value of the qualification in the country of origin for the purposes of continuing studies and, possibly, exercising a profession; any other information deemed useful for its assessment in Italy;

Any grade obtained with reference to the assessment system in force.

For further information on the recognition of foreign qualifications and the Declaration of Value, please consult the following link: Academic recognition - CIMEA

Established on 30 July 2010 jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Universities and Research, the Ministry of the Interior, ICE-Agenzia and CRUI, the Uni-Italia Association aims to promote Italian higher education abroad, to facilitate the mobility of foreign students and researchers towards Italian higher education Institutions and to encourage academic cooperation between Italy and other foreign countries.

Uni-Italia Association has a widespread presence in Third Countries through Centers located within the premises of Embassies, Consulates and Italian Cultural Institutes. Through its Centers abroad, Uni-Italia organizes several activities to promote the Italian education system and participates in promotional events organized by local and/or international entities (e.g., EU delegations). Furthermore, Uni-Italia Centers abroad offer "Study Guidance" services designed to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their academic journeys. This includes selecting appropriate courses, majors, and universities that align with their academic background, goals and expectations. Additionally, the Centers provide support with pre-enrollment procedures and aid Italian academic institutions in international cooperation activities. Collaborating with Italian Cultural Institutes and Embassies, they also actively promote the Italian language, culture, and the various strengths of Italy as study destination.

Uni-Italia Centers abroad are located in the following countries: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou); Colombia (Bogotá); India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore); Indonesia (Jakarta), Iran (Tehran); Morocco (Rabat, Casablanca), and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City). The latter Center serves as a regional hub for other countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea.

If you are a student from one of these countries, you may benefit from Uni-Italia Centres' assistance. You will find qualified staff who will answer your questions about studying in Italy and help you out with the application process and with the pre-enrolment procedures.

For more information about Uni-Italia, its Centers and contact details, please visit the following website. ABOUT US - Uni-Italia.

The tuition fees charged by Italian universities are on average lower than those in other Western European countries or North America.

In Italy, the level of university education is considered excellent and available at relatively low cost, thanks to the funding of universities by the Italian Republic.

The amount of tuition fees depends on several factors: public universities charge lower fees than private universities. However, the quality of teaching is very high for all levels of university education.

In general, the fees charged for both EU and non-EU students depend on the declared family income and the degree course for which enrolment is sought; in general, public universities charge fees ranging from €900 to €4,000 per year, while for private universities the fee can vary from €6,000 to €20,000 per year.

Please note: some universities may grant total or partial exemption from payment of tuition fees and university contributions on the basis of the legislation on university autonomy. Grant recipients must enquire at their chosen university whether they have to pay tuition fees or whether they are exempted. Regional fees are due in any case. The exemption does not apply to advanced courses in Italian language and culture for which payment of enrolment and tuition fees is required.