Fifty-four universities, 1,658 programmes — but the outcome is decided by four things: the admission window you aim at, the document trail of the student's country, the language proof, and the money. Here is each of them, with a short video.
A file that is on time for the university can be late for Universitaly, and on time for Universitaly can be late for the consulate. We plan backwards from the visa.
| Clock | Typical window | What decides the date |
|---|---|---|
| 1. University admission | First round Nov → Feb Second round Mar → May | The university's own call. Competitive programmes and merit scholarships close in the first round. |
| 2. Universitaly pre-enrolment | Opens spring, closes May → September | Each university sets its own closing date. Pavia closed 25 May 2026; Pisa 30 September 2026. |
| 3. Visa | From the day pre-enrolment is validated | The consulate. Up to 90 days stated processing time, plus appointment availability. |
Observed pattern across recent cycles. Exact dates are republished every year — confirm on the current call before committing a student.
| University | Applications open | Main closing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | October | Feb (round 1) · May (round 2) | Two rounds, different scholarship pools |
| Bocconi | October | March (rolling rounds) | Merit awards decided round by round |
| Sapienza (Rome) | November | April | Country-band fees; separate scholarship call |
| Bologna | November | March | Income documents due October for fee banding |
| Padua | December | March | Fixed non-EU fee, not ISEE-based |
| Turin | December | February | Early close on competitive programmes |
| Pisa | November | May | Pre-enrolment closed 30 Sept (2026/27) |
| Pavia | November | January | Pre-enrolment closed 25 May (2026/27) |
| Florence | December | March | Country grade floor — hard exclusion |
| Federico II (Naples) | January | May | Large intake, later cycle |
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and Sudan sit on four different document regimes. The grades are comparable; the verification route is not — and it decides the timeline.
| Country | Apostille | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | YES — since 7 Dec 2022 | Documents apostilled locally, then DoV at the Italian Embassy (Riyadh) or Consulate (Jeddah). Fastest of the four. |
| Jordan | NO | Consular legalisation through the Italian Embassy in Amman instead of an apostille. Works, but adds weeks. |
| Yemen | NO | No apostille and consular legalisation is often impossible locally. Route: CIMEA comparability, started months ahead. |
| Sudan | NO | No apostille, and originals are frequently unavailable since 2023. CIMEA comparability is the only realistic path. |
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Secondary credential | Saudi: Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma · Jordan: Tawjihi · Yemen: Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma · Sudan: Sudan School Certificate. All 12 years, and all need a DoV or CIMEA statement. |
| Diploma status | Already obtained. A student still completing the final year is inadmissible for a Master's. |
| Transcripts | All years. For Master's, the credit split by subject matters more than the average. |
| Grades | No national minimum, but some universities publish a country floor — a hard exclusion. Florence, for example, sets 15/20 for several Arab countries. |
| Language | B2 minimum in the language of instruction. |
| Funds | €10,179.85/year — bank statements of 3 to 6 months depending on the consulate. |
The binding constraint is document verification. Begin the CIMEA comparability statement before choosing the programme; it is the longest item in the chain.
Since 2023 many students cannot produce original certificates. Build the file on certified copies plus CIMEA comparability, and expect the university to ask for additional verification.
An MOI letter is a statement from the previous institution that the degree was taught in English. Some consulates accept it. Others do not. In practice, a recognised B2 certificate always outperforms it.
| Consulate | Position |
|---|---|
| Kolkata (India) | MOI accepted — explicitly listed as equivalent to a B2 certificate |
| Islamabad (Pakistan) | MOI not enough — IELTS/TOEFL or an Italian university B2 certificate |
| Abu Dhabi (UAE) | B2 certified by a recognised institution required |
| Riyadh / Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) | Set locally, reviewed each cycle — confirm in writing before the file opens |
| Scheme | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Regional DSU grant | €5,000–8,000 | Need-based, on ISEE. Covers allowance, fee exemption, meals, and — separately — a residence place. |
| Tuition exemption | Full / partial | Automatic below the university's ISEE threshold. |
| MAECI (government) | €900 / month | Merit and country quota, through the embassy. Very competitive. |
| University merit awards | Partial → full tuition | Merit only, no income test. |
| Situation | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Below the “no tax area” threshold | €0 + ~€140 regional tax + €16 stamp |
| Intermediate income | €300 – €2,500 |
| High income, or no income documents submitted | up to ≈ €3,900 |
| Income abroad, country-band fee (Sapienza) | €300 / €700 / €1,500 by country band |
| Income abroad, flat rate (Pisa) | from €290 to €2,900 by country of origin |
| Institution | Bachelor | Master |
|---|---|---|
| Bocconi (Milan) | ≈ €17,000 | ≈ €18,550 |
| LUISS (Rome) | ≈ €15,000 | ≈ €16,000 |
| Cattolica | €3,300 – €11,800 | same brackets |
The consulate requires confirmed proof of accommodation. We handle it as a document, in parallel with the admission — not after the visa is granted.
| Service | Detail |
|---|---|
| University residences (EDiSU) | Application filed alongside the scholarship. Places ranked, not first-come. |
| Private market | Verified shortlist by city, budget and distance to campus. |
| Lease review | Duration, deposit, utilities, tax registration, notice period — read before signature. |
| Visa-proof document | Hotel booking of at least one month, rental contract, or hospitality declaration — matched to the consulate checklist. |
| Arrival | Residence permit within 8 days, tax code, bank account, SIM. |