Postgraduate Study in Italy
Turn your academic goal in Italy into an actionable application plan.
Plan programme selection, admission requirements, application timeline and scholarship preparation in one roadmap using verified information.
Last verified: 12 September 2026Official source links are listed at the end of the page.
- Degree
- Laurea magistrale
- Time
- Usually 2 years · 120 ECTS
- Application
- University + Universitaly
- Information reviewed
- 2026/27 verification
Who this page is for
- Bachelor’s graduates planning a laurea magistrale (master’s degree) in Italy
- English-speaking programs
- Applicants who want to understand how tuition is calculated
- Applicants who want to plan Universitaly pre-registration and the visa timeline
| Program name | Laurea magistraleMaster degree of two years, 120 ECTS |
|---|---|
| Academic year | Starting in September – OctoberVaries by university |
| Application method | Directly to the universityEach university has its own portal and calendar |
| Pre-registration | University portalVisa application |
| Fee | Income-based bands using ISEEcalculated with ISEE parificato for applicants living abroad |
| Proof of funds | €10,179.85/year2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years · MUR – circular on entry, residence and enrolment for international students (2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years) |
| Visa deadline | 30 November 20262026-2027 academic year · bachelor's and master's |
| Work permission | 20 hours a week · 1,040 hours per year |
How does the system work
Italian higher education follows the three-cycle Bologna structure: laur (bachelor's, 3 years), laure magistrale (Postgraduate, 2 years / 120 ECTS) and dottorato (doctorate). In some fields — medicine, law and architecture among them — the bachelor's and master's stages form a single combined programme (laure magistrale a ciclo unico).
Postgraduate applications are submitted directly to each university rather than through one national admissions system. For students from non-EU countries Universitaly pre-registration is a mandatory administrative step and the basis of the visa application file.
The academic application and the Universitaly pre-registration are two separate steps. An offer from the university is not enough on its own; the visa process does not start until the pre-registration is complete.
Admission requirements
Academic background
The basic requirement is a recognised bachelor's degree of at least three years. Degrees awarded in Türkiye are submitted for recognition, usually through a Dichiarazione di valore or a CIMEA statement. The required document depends on the university and the responsible consulate.
Module matching
A laurea magistrale may require a minimum number of ECTS credits in specified subject areas. Compare the programme's prerequisites with your transcript before applying.
Documents
- Bachelor's diploma and transcript (with translation and certification where required)
- Recognition certificate (where the university requires it)
- Language qualification certificate
- CV and motivation letter (by program)
- Passport
Language requirements
Many Italian postgraduate programmes are taught in English, particularly in engineering, business and design.
- English programs: IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT are widely accepted. The minimum score is determined on the program basis.
- Italian programs: A certificate at B2 level is usually required (CILS, CELI or PLIDA, for example).
What are your English program choices?
Let’s set up English programs in Italy according to your bachelor’s degree area and language document.
Assess My ProfileApplication and preliminary registration
The process has two parallel tracks with separate calendars.
| Application method | Universitaly pre-registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | Directly through the university's own portal | University portal |
| Purpose | Admission to the program | Complete the administrative prerequisite for the visa application |
| Calendar | Application period announced by the University | The period announced by the Ministry for every academic year |
| Conclusion | Acceptance Letter | Pre-enrolment record validated for the responsible consulate |
The Universitaly pre-registration window is announced separately for each academic year and the dates may change. Check the current calendar on the Universitaly portal.
Calendar
- 10–12 months beforeProgram and university researchChoose between English- and Italian-taught programmes and compare the ECTS prerequisites with your transcript.
- 8–10 months beforeLanguage testThe test date and result period should be planned according to the application period of the university.
- 6–8 months beforeRecognition and translation documentsDichiarazione di valore or CIMEA document processes take time; start early.
- Application periodAcademic application for universityEach university has its own calendar; there is no single national deadline.
- Ministry timetableUniversitaly pre-registrationIt runs in parallel with the academic admission process; it is a precondition for the visa.
- After acceptanceVisa applicationThe consular application is submitted with proof of funds, accommodation and health-insurance documents.
Tuition fees and ISEE
Public-university tuition in Italy works differently from many other countries. It is not always a fixed amount; stepped by family’s income and asset status a payment. The basis of this calculation is the financial status indicator called ISEE. The same account for students living abroad ISEE Parificato through.
- For students in the lower income bands, many universities apply a fee waiver or a very low fee.
- When the required ISEE documentation is not submitted, universities often apply the highest tuition band.
- Fee bands and amounts are published in each university’s own tuition-fee regulations.
No single fee is published on this page, because the amount depends both on the university and on the student's financial circumstances. It is normal for two students on the same programme to pay different fees. The fee regulations of your target university are what count.
Proof of funds
For an Italian student visa, you must document sufficient funds for the period of study. The ministry substantially increased the published amount for the 2026–2027 academic year.
| Annual minimum amount | €10,179.852026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years · MUR – circular on entry, residence and enrolment for international students (2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years) |
|---|---|
| Current period | 2026-2027 and 2027-2028The circular covers two academic years together |
| Nature of funds | Legal and traceableThe circular requires the funds to be lawful and traceable |
| Whose funds may be used? | The student or a family member up to the fourth degree |
| Accommodation certificate | Registered rent contract, university dormitory contract or at least 30 days hotel reservation2026-2027 · Consulate General of Italy – student visa document list |
The previous figure of €6,079.45 is not valid for 2026–2027. Many sources on the internet still publish the old amount; do not build your file on the old figure.
The form of the document (blocked account, monthly transfer, family declaration) can differ according to the consulate you apply to. The circular sets the amount; the consulate's own announcement sets the form. Before applying, work from the list on the consulate's own page.
Visa process
Education lasting longer than 90 days requires a national (type D) student visa.
- Complete and accept academic application to university.
- Complete pre-registration via Universitaly.
- Prepare your proof of funds, accommodation and health-insurance documents.
- Get visa appointment from the Italian consulate and deliver the file.
- After entry to Italy, apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 working days.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, undergraduate and master's visa applications must reach the competent consulate no later than 30 November 2026 to date. 2027-2028 for this date 31 October 2027. This is a Latest date; due to appointment density, the file must be prepared much earlier.
Visa arrangements are coordinated with our sister brand InterPASS .
Let’s create your Italy education plan together.
Let us assess your academic background, your language certificate and your timeline together and draw up a realistic application plan.
Assess My ProfileWork permission
Student residence permit according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, up to 20 hours per week and year in Total 1.040 hrs allows you to work in a way that does not exceed.
Scholarships
The most common form of support for international students in Italy is the regional right-to-study scholarship (DSU / Diritto allo Studio). These scholarships are evaluated according to academic success and financial status (ISEE) and often cover the support of exemption, food and shelter. Application is carried out in the regional institution not related to university and his calendar There are.
The amount, the number of places and the application dates for DSU scholarships vary by region and by year. No amount is published on this page; the official announcement of the region your target university sits in is what counts.
Common mistakes
- Skipping Universitaly pre-registration. Admission from the university is not enough alone for visa.
- Start the ISEE parificato process late. If the document is not completed, the highest fee band applies.
- Do not assume a single national deadline. The academic application timetable differs at every university.
- Leaving the recognition certificate to the final month. Dichiarazione di valore / CIMEA processes take time.
- Confusing the DSU scholarship timetable with the university timetable. There are two separate applications and separate dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is it necessary to pre-registration of Universitaly?
Students who come from outside the EU and do not live in Italy complete a pre-registration (preiscrizione) through the Universitaly portal as part of the university enrolment process. This step is a precondition of the visa application; it does not replace the academic application you make to the university but is completed alongside it.
How much is the Postgraduate fees in Italy?
In Italy, the fee in government universities is not a fixed list price: largely stepped according to the ISEE document showing the family’s income and asset status. For students living abroad, this account is done with a transaction called "ISEE parificato". Therefore, two students in the same program can pay different tuition. The exact amount is published in the scholarship of the university.
Can I do a master's degree without knowing Italian?
Not looking for the Italian requirement in the programs of the Postgraduates that give English education. In Italian educational programs, usually a B2 level document is desired. Learn Italian in terms of daily life and internship possibilities still provides a pronounced advantage.
Can I work while studying?
Yes. According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a student residence permit allows work of up to 20 hours per week, not exceeding 1,040 hours in the year.
How much material do I need to guarantee for visa?
Italian University and Research Ministry published for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years €10,179.85 material source required. This amount is apparently over the amount that is valid in previous years. The legal and traceability of the source is expected that the student belongs to the family members to him or the fourth degree. The exact document format varies according to the consults to be applied.
What is the visa application deadline for 2026-2027?
The visa application for licensing and higher licensing programs is late to the authorized consulate 30 November 2026 to date. 2027-2028 This date for academic year 31 October 2027 as determined. Universities can identify earlier dates in their calendar, so it is necessary to be installed according to the last date of the process, not according to the calendar of the university.
Sources
- Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) – international student circular for the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 academic years — Proof-of-funds amount, pre-registration procedure and visa application deadlines
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – consular notice — Updated proof-of-funds amount and calendar for 2026–2027 and 2027–2028
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministero degli Affari Esteri) — Student visa, proof-of-funds amount and right to work
- Universitaly (portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research) — Pre-registration for students from abroad (preiscrizione)
- Studiare in Italia — Application Procedures for International Students