The Study Office provides information and advice for enrollment in Schools and Universities in Italy and issues the necessary declarations of value for degrees obtained from Schools and Universities in the consular district so that interested parties can obtain the equivalence of primary and secondary degrees with similar Italian degrees, enrollment in Italian schools and Universities, recognition in Italy of university studies and the awarding of scholarships.
The University in Italy
News of general interest on the organization and functioning of Italian universities can be found in the section of the Ministry of University and Research website.
In order to facilitate the choice on the part of international students who wish to carry out part of their academic course in Italy, we inform you that on the Universitaly website it is possible to consult the study courses taught in English at Italian universities.
For the purpose of easier consultation of course offerings by interested students, CRUI has published on its website various lists drawn up in English and by course type.
Equivalence of degrees
Foreign degrees are not automatically recognized in Italy. Non-Italian citizens interested in the recognition of the equality of value and effectiveness (“equivalency”) of their foreign degrees (obtained in officially recognized educational institutions) to the corresponding Italian degrees may submit an application through the Consulate’s Student Office. Italian citizens, on the other hand, must apply directly to an Italian Proveditorato agli Studi, but always after applying to the Consulate’s Student Office for the issuance of the “Dichiarazione di valore.”
Educational qualifications obtained abroad, once declared equivalent to Italian qualifications of corresponding value (third grade, high school diploma or degree), have legal value in Italy; this means, for example, that the person holding Italian citizenship has the right to participate in competitions announced by the Italian Public Administration.
The documents that it is necessary to submit to the Consulate to request the declaration of value and equivalence of the degree are:
– diploma or certificate in original or duly made official, bearing the seal or embossed stamp of
– Translation of the document into Italian, true and faithful to the original text. The translation may be performed by the person concerned or by a translator; the Consulate may reserve approval of translations exhibited by the applicant.
Declaration of value
Foreigners and Italians living abroad can gain access to Italian universities by submitting an application to the Consulate, which must be accompanied by the prescribed documentation. This documentation must be approved by the competent Italian authorities, based on the evaluation of degrees earned abroad. The Consulate’s Student Office must also ascertain and certify that high school diplomas allow admission to university courses in the system of the country in which they were obtained (“Declaration of Value”).