Italian institutions offer degree courses at three Bologna levels plus a range of shorter and specialised programmes, taught in Italian or, increasingly, in English. Choosing the right one for a study visa means matching the level to your previous qualification, the teaching language to a certificate you can obtain, and the subject to a path the consulate will find coherent. This guide explains the levels and their European Qualifications Framework (EQF) equivalents, the difference between English- and Italian-taught courses, programmed-access courses, single and foundation courses, and the often-misunderstood difference between a master universitario and a laurea magistrale.
In this guide
What degree levels exist and how do they map to EQF?
The table below sets out the main qualifications, their length, their level in the European Qualifications Framework, and the entry qualification required from a student applying from abroad for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 intakes.
| Qualification | Length | EQF level | Entry requirement for international applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurea (bachelor’s) | 3 years | 6 | Final secondary-school qualification after at least 12 years of schooling, with CIMEA comparability and verification statements or a Dichiarazione di Valore; plus any academic-aptitude test required for university entry in the home country. |
| AFAM first-level diploma | 3 years | 6 | As for Laurea, plus the academy’s practical or portfolio test. |
| Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico (single cycle) | 5–6 years | 7 | As for Laurea; most are programmed-access courses with admission tests. |
| Laurea Magistrale (master’s) | 2 years | 7 | Official foreign first-cycle degree (EQF 6) with no “substantial difference”, with CIMEA statements or Dichiarazione di Valore, plus transcript with subject programmes. |
| AFAM second-level diploma | 2 years | 7 | As for Laurea Magistrale, plus the academy’s test. |
| Master universitario (1st level / 2nd level) | Usually 1 year | Post-6 / post-7 | First-cycle degree (1st level) or second-cycle degree (2nd level). Not a Laurea Magistrale. |
| Dottorato di ricerca (PhD) | Usually 3 years | 8 | Second-cycle degree (EQF 7) and success in the institution’s competitive call. |
“Substantial difference” is assessed under the Lisbon Recognition Convention using the methodology of CIMEA, the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre. You can request a comparability statement on the CIMEA website; for countries that have adopted the Convention, one may already be available to download from the ARDI database at ardi.cimea.it. Document rules are covered in detail in the visa documents checklist.
English-taught or Italian-taught?
The teaching language determines which language requirement applies and therefore which certificate or test you must plan for before the visa application.
- Italian-taught Laurea, Laurea Magistrale and single-cycle courses. You need Italian at B2 or above. The institution tests you, preferably remotely and before the visa application, and records the result in your Universitaly pre-enrolment so the consulate does not test you again. Holders of recognised B2 or higher certificates (CELI, CILS, PLIDA, IT, and C1/C2 CLIQ certificates), of diplomas from Italian schools abroad, and of Perugia or Siena diplomas are exempt.
- Courses taught in English or another language. You need a certificate at B2 or above in that language covering all four skills, from an internationally recognised body or an equivalent certification issued by a university. The institution records it in the pre-enrolment and the consulate may verify it.
English-taught programmes are most common at Laurea Magistrale level and in engineering, economics and management, computer science, international relations, medicine (a limited number of English-track single-cycle courses) and the natural sciences. Fewer first-cycle degrees are in English. Use the course search on Universitaly, which lets you filter by language, and confirm on the institution’s own page that the entire course, not just some modules, is delivered in English. Full details are in our guide to language requirements.
Programmed-access courses
Most Italian courses have open admission subject to the entry qualification and language level, with places for non-EU applicants limited only by the reserved-place numbers. A minority are “programmed access” (accesso programmato) at national level, with places fixed centrally and compulsory admission tests. There are two groups:
- Architecture and Primary Education. Compulsory admission tests organised by each university. Dates and formats are set by the institutions; check them early because they may fall before the general pre-enrolment windows.
- Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine. Admission to these courses is being reorganised under Law 26 of 14 March 2025, and the arrangements for international students will be notified separately. They have not yet been announced, so if you are planning to apply for one of these courses, treat every description you read as provisional and watch the universities’ international admissions pages for the notice. Pre-enrolment deadlines for programmed-access courses are set nationally rather than by each institution, so confirm the current dates before you plan around them.
If you are admitted to a programmed-access course only after sitting a test in Italy, the pre-enrolment may be validated “with reservation” and you may travel on a 100-day type D visa to sit the test and, if successful, enrol. The mechanics are explained in the admission process guide.
Single courses and foundation courses
Single courses (corsi singoli)
Many universities allow students to enrol in individual teaching units without being registered for a degree, for example to fill gaps before a Laurea Magistrale application or for professional updating. For visa timing, single courses are treated like master’s, PhD and foundation courses: there is no fixed visa deadline, but the visa application cannot be submitted after teaching has started. A single course is not a route to a full study permit for a degree; if your aim is a degree, apply for the degree.
Foundation courses
Foundation courses (foundation year or corso propedeutico) are preparatory programmes offered by some institutions for students whose school system provides fewer than 12 years of schooling, or who need to strengthen language and subject preparation before a degree. You need at least B1 in the course language for a foundation course. Completing a foundation course does not by itself guarantee a place on a degree; check the institution’s rules on progression, and remember that a new visa is issued only for first-year enrolment (immatricolazione), so understand how the institution handles the transition from foundation course to degree before you commit.
Master universitario versus laurea magistrale
Because the English word “master’s” is used for both, applicants frequently confuse these two qualifications. They are different in level, length, cost and visa treatment.
| Laurea Magistrale | Master universitario | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Second-cycle academic degree (EQF 7); the Italian equivalent of a Master of Science or Arts | Post-degree specialising course (first level after a Laurea, second level after a Laurea Magistrale) |
| Length | 2 years, 120 ECTS | Usually 1 year, often 60 ECTS |
| Leads to | PhD eligibility, regulated professions, academic recognition abroad | Professional specialisation; does not give access to a PhD by itself |
| Fees | Set under the university’s general fee rules | Usually a fixed course fee set by the department |
| Visa deadline | 30 November 2026 (AY 2026/27) / 31 October 2027 (AY 2027/28), or earlier if the institution says so | No fixed date, but before teaching starts |
If you want a qualification recognised as a master’s degree internationally, you almost certainly want a Laurea Magistrale. A master universitario can be a good choice for targeted professional training, but check carefully how it will be recognised in your home country.
How to choose a course the consulate will find coherent
Consulates must assess “migratory risk”, and one of the elements they weigh is the coherence of the chosen study path with your previous education. The university also checks that a Laurea Magistrale applicant’s prior degree shows no substantial difference from the required background. A few practical principles follow:
- Choose the level that follows directly from your last qualification: school-leaving certificate to Laurea, bachelor’s to Laurea Magistrale, master’s to PhD or second-level master universitario.
- Stay in or adjacent to your subject area. A change of field is possible but needs a clear, documented explanation, and some universities will require extra credits.
- Avoid a course that looks like a step backwards, for example a Laurea after completing a bachelor’s elsewhere, unless there is a strong, explainable reason.
- Be able to explain, in one or two sentences, why this course, at this institution, fits your previous studies and your plans afterwards. You may be asked exactly that at the visa interview.
- Check that the course is on Universitaly and that the institution has reserved places for non-EU students on it (see universities).
For help assessing whether a shortlist of courses is coherent with your transcript, our university admission guidance service reviews your background against the entry requirements before you pre-enrol.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Laurea Magistrale with a three-year bachelor’s degree?
Usually yes, provided the degree is an official first-cycle qualification at EQF level 6 and the university finds no substantial difference between its content and the required background for the course. The comparison is made under the Lisbon Convention using CIMEA’s methodology. A CIMEA Statement of Comparability or a Dichiarazione di Valore and a full transcript with subject programmes are required.
Is a master universitario the same as a master’s degree?
No. The Italian equivalent of an academic master’s degree is the Laurea Magistrale, a two-year second-cycle degree at EQF level 7. A master universitario is a shorter post-degree specialising course that does not on its own give access to a PhD. Check how each would be recognised at home before choosing.
How do I apply for medicine in Italy as an international student?
Admission to medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine is being reformed under Law 26/2025, and the arrangements for international students will be announced separately. Until the universities publish that notice, no description of the process should be treated as final. Prepare your documents and language certificates in the meantime, and we will tell you as soon as the route is confirmed.
Can I change course after I arrive in Italy?
The visa and residence permit are issued for the single course in your validated pre-enrolment, and the double-enrolment law does not change this. A later change of degree course is a matter for the university and, for the permit, the Questura; the permit can be renewed for a different course if the academic authorities approve and you have not renounced your studies. Do not plan to use one course as a stepping stone to another.
Do I need a B1 or a B2 certificate for a foundation course?
You need at least B1 in the language of the foundation course. The institution verifies this and records it in the pre-enrolment. Remember that the degree you progress to afterwards will require B2, so a foundation year is also the time to raise your level.