Applying to university in Italy
Applying to an Italian university is two applications, not one: the university decides whether you are admitted, and non-EU students resident abroad must also pre-enrol on the national Universitaly portal so the Italian consulate can issue a study visa. Each university sets its own dates, and many close months before the national deadline.
The process, step by step
- 1
Choose the programme and read its admission call
Each programme publishes a call (bando) with its admission route: an entrance test such as TOLC or CEnT-S, an IMAT score, or a review of your CV and transcript. The call, not this site, is binding.
- 2
Apply to the university
Most universities run their own application or pre-evaluation portal for international applicants. This is where admission is decided, and its deadline is usually the earliest one you face.
- 3
Pre-enrol on Universitaly (non-EU students resident abroad)
Once the university has accepted you, submit the pre-enrolment application on Universitaly. The university validates it and forwards it to the Italian embassy or consulate in your country. Pre-enrolment does not guarantee a visa.
Source, checked 23 October 2026 - 4
Apply for the Type D study visa
Book an appointment with the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for where you live, with the Universitaly summary, proof of funds, accommodation and health cover.
Source, checked 23 October 2026 - 5
Enrol and request a permit of stay
After arrival you complete enrolment at the university and, within eight working days of entering Italy, apply for the permesso di soggiorno for study at the Questura of the city where you will live, usually through a post office kit.
Source, checked 23 October 2026
National deadlines
| Date | What | Intake | Who | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2026 | Universitaly pre-enrolment at Ca' Foscari (university-specific example, not a national deadline) | 2026/27 | Non-EU, resident abroad | Official |
| 30 November 2026 | Last day to apply for the study visa at the consulate (bachelor's, master's, single-cycle) | 2026/27 | Non-EU, resident abroad | Official |
| 31 October 2027 | Last day to apply for the study visa at the consulate (bachelor's, master's, single-cycle) | 2027/28 | Non-EU, resident abroad | Official |
Proof of funds for the visa
10,179.85 euros per year
The amount a non-EU student must show for the visa and the residence permit. The money must come from lawful, traceable sources, preferably the student's own or a family member's up to the fourth degree of kinship; the consulate checks where the funds come from.
Source, checked 23 October 2026Documents, and when you need each one
| Document | University application | Visa | Residence permit | Enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Secondary school diploma (original) Final secondary diploma after at least 12 years of schooling, for bachelor's and single-cycle degrees. Fewer than 12 years is handled case by case under Annex 1 of the circular. Source, checked 23 October 2026 | Not needed | Not needed | ||
Provisional certificate, if you have not graduated yet If you do not yet hold the diploma when you apply for the visa, a provisional attestation from the competent authority in your country can be presented instead, where that country issues one. Source, checked 23 October 2026 | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed | |
CIMEA statements, or a Declaration of Value The diploma must come with CIMEA's statement of comparability and statement of verification, or alternatively a Declaration of Value from the Italian consulate. A Declaration of Value covers comparability only, unless it states that authenticity was verified too. Source, checked 23 October 2026 | Not needed | Not needed | ||
Bachelor's degree, for a master's An official degree at EQF level 6 (first Bologna cycle) from an institution where it gives access to further study. Universities may accept a CIMEA statement or a Declaration of Value alongside it, at their discretion. Source, checked 23 October 2026 | Not needed | |||
Proof of funds Evidence of at least 10,179.85 euros a year from traceable sources. Source, checked 23 October 2026 | Not needed | Not needed | ||
Health insurance Cover for medical care and hospital stays: a consular declaration under an agreement between Italy and your country, a foreign policy valid in Italy, or an Italian policy. Shown when you request the residence permit. Source, checked 23 October 2026 | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
Universities
| University | City | Type | Programmes | Taught in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Torino | Torino | Public | 7 | 7 |
| Politecnico di Milano | Milano | Public | 8 | 8 |
| Università degli Studi di Torino | Torino | Public | 8 | 8 |
| Università degli Studi di Milano | Milano | Public | 8 | 8 |
Find a programme
31 of 31 programmes
| Programme | University | Degree | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | Politecnico di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Mechanical Engineering | Politecnico di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Electronic and Communications Engineering | Politecnico di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Automotive Engineering | Politecnico di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering | Politecnico di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Architecture | Politecnico di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Data Science and Engineering | Politecnico di Torino | Master | English |
| Civil Engineering | Politecnico di Milano | Bachelor | English |
| Computer Science and Engineering | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Mechanical Engineering | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Management Engineering | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Biomedical Engineering | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Space Engineering | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Architectural Design and History | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Civil Engineering for Risk Mitigation | Politecnico di Milano | Master | English |
| Business Administration | Università degli Studi di Torino | Master | English |
| Medicine and Surgery | Università degli Studi di Torino | Single-cycle master | English |
| Business & Management | Università degli Studi di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Global Law and Transnational Legal Studies | Università degli Studi di Torino | Bachelor | English |
| Economics | Università degli Studi di Torino | Master | English |
| Quantitative Finance and Insurance | Università degli Studi di Torino | Master | English |
| European Legal Studies | Università degli Studi di Torino | Master | English |
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | Università degli Studi di Torino | Master | English |
| Finance and Economics (MEF) | Università degli Studi di Milano | Master | English |
| Medicine and Surgery (International Medical School - IMS) | Università degli Studi di Milano | Single-cycle master | English |
| International Politics, Law and Economics (IPLE) | Università degli Studi di Milano | Bachelor | English |
| Artificial Intelligence | Università degli Studi di Milano | Bachelor | English |
| Data Science for Economics / Data Science for Health | Università degli Studi di Milano | Master | English |
| Environmental and Food Economics (EFE) | Università degli Studi di Milano | Master | English |
| Computer Science | Università degli Studi di Milano | Master | English |
| Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | Università degli Studi di Milano | Master | English |
Common questions
Is Universitaly the same as applying to the university?
No. Universitaly pre-enrolment is the visa step for non-EU students resident abroad. Admission itself is decided by the university, through its own portal and its own deadline.
Do I need Universitaly for every institution?
No. ITS technical courses and some private, pontifical or non-MUR-accredited institutions do not use it. Check the institution's own international page.
How much money do I need to show for the study visa?
10,179.85 euros for each year of study, from lawful and traceable sources, according to the ministry circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28. Agencies often quote other figures; the circular is the one the consulates apply.
Do I need CIMEA or a Declaration of Value?
Either. The circular accepts CIMEA's statements of comparability and verification, or a Declaration of Value from the consulate. Some universities ask for one already at application, so check the programme's own call.
Can I apply before I finish school?
Yes. If you do not hold the diploma yet when you apply for the visa, you can present a provisional certificate from the competent authority in your country, where one exists.
When are the 2027/28 deadlines published?
Universities usually publish their calls between autumn and spring. Dates on this site show the intake they belong to; where a 2027/28 date is not yet published, the last published one is shown and labelled as such.
Every fact on this page was checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Deadlines change every year: the university's own call is binding.