Study in Italy from Iraq

Italian higher education follows the Bologna structure: a three-year first-cycle degree (Laurea), a two-year second-cycle degree (Laurea Magistrale), and a doctorate (Dottorato di Ricerca). Alongside universities, the AFAM sector covers arts, music and design institutions.

Most students attend public (state) universities, which are autonomous in setting their own admission requirements. Some programmes — particularly in medicine, architecture and a few others — use national entrance tests, while many others admit on the basis of prior qualifications and, where relevant, an interview or portfolio.

Entry to a Laurea (bachelor's) is based on your secondary-school qualification; entry to a Laurea Magistrale (master's) requires a relevant bachelor's degree; a Dottorato (PhD) is usually admitted by competitive call linked to a research project or department.

Italy offers a growing catalogue of English-taught programmes, more common at master's level and at larger or technical institutions. Italian-taught programmes usually require a certified level of Italian; English-taught programmes require English evidence instead. Always check the language of instruction on the specific programme page.

1. 1

   Choose a programme and check its entry requirements

   Admission rules are set by each university and programme, so start from the official programme page rather than a general assumption about 'Italian requirements'.
2. 2

   Apply to the university

   Submit the university's own application with your academic documents and language evidence by its stated window.
3. 3

   Complete pre-enrolment on Universitaly

   Non-EU applicants living abroad must pre-enrol through the national Universitaly portal and select the chosen programme and the Italian diplomatic mission that will handle the visa. This step is specific to Italy and is required in addition to the university application.
4. 4

   Obtain credential recognition

   Provide a recognition document for your Iraqi qualification — commonly a Statement of Comparability from CIMEA or a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) issued by the Italian mission — usually with legal translations.
5. 5

   Apply for the study visa, then enrol

   After pre-enrolment the Italian consulate handles the national study visa. On arrival you complete enrolment (immatricolazione) at the university and apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

Requirements differ by programme, but Iraqi applicants usually prepare the following. See our documents guide for what each one means.

• Passport
• Secondary-school leaving certificate (for bachelor's) or bachelor's degree and transcripts (for master's)
• Certified legal translations of academic documents
• Recognition document — Statement of Comparability (CIMEA) or Declaration of Value
• Language evidence (Italian or English, depending on the programme)
• Programme-specific items where required — CV, motivation letter, portfolio

A university place and a study visa are decided by different authorities. The university decides admission; the Italian consulate decides the visa after your Universitaly pre-enrolment. Being admitted does not guarantee a visa, so prepare for both in parallel.

For the visa stage, see our student visa preparation guide.

Tuition at Italian public universities is often calculated from family income and many students qualify for reductions or exemptions, while private universities set their own fees. Amounts vary widely — confirm the current fee and any income-based reduction on the university's official programme page before applying.

The main intake is the autumn. Universitaly pre-enrolment and university application windows are set each year and are time-limited — confirm the current dates on Universitaly and the university site rather than assuming a fixed deadline.

Living costs depend heavily on the city, with larger northern cities generally more expensive than smaller or southern ones. Budget for accommodation, food, transport, insurance and the residence-permit process, and check city-specific estimates before committing.

The study visa requires evidence that you can support yourself. The accepted amount and format are set by the Italian authorities and can change — confirm the current requirement with the Italian consulate handling your application.

Regional right-to-study (Diritto allo Studio / DSU) schemes offer scholarships and tuition exemptions, and universities and the Italian government run additional schemes. Eligibility and application cycles change each year — check the current DSU call for your region and the university's scholarship page.

See also scholarships for Iraqi students.

Non-EU students apply for a national study visa at the Italian consulate after Universitaly pre-enrolment, then convert it to a residence permit after arrival. Confirm the current document list and process with the consulate, which is the deciding authority.

• Start credential recognition early. Getting a Statement of Comparability or a Declaration of Value for an Iraqi certificate takes time and is often the slowest part of the timeline.
• Plan for legal translations of your certificates and transcripts into Italian, done by an accepted translator.
• Treat Universitaly pre-enrolment as a hard, separate step — missing it stops a visa even if the university has admitted you.

• Skipping or leaving Universitaly pre-enrolment to the last minute.
• Assuming all Italian universities share one deadline or one fee.
• Starting document recognition and translation too late to meet the visa timeline.

Can Iraqi students study in Italy?

Yes. Iraqi students can apply to Italian universities if they meet the programme's entry requirements. Non-EU applicants must also complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and provide a recognition document for their qualification, and the student visa is decided separately by the Italian consulate.

Do I need to speak Italian to study in Italy?

Not necessarily. Italy has English-taught programmes, especially at master's level, which require English evidence instead of Italian. Italian-taught programmes require a certified level of Italian. Check the language of instruction on the specific programme page.

What is Universitaly and why does it matter?

Universitaly is Italy's national portal where non-EU applicants complete pre-enrolment before the visa stage. It is required in addition to applying to the university, and missing it can prevent a visa even after admission.

Is admission to an Italian university the same as getting a visa?

No. The university decides admission; the Italian consulate decides the study visa after pre-enrolment. Prepare for both, because one does not guarantee the other.

These are the official bodies that govern the topics above and where you should confirm current details such as fees, deadlines, proof-of-funds amounts and scholarship cycles. They are pointers to the deciding authorities, not a substitute for their official guidance.

• Universitaly — national pre-enrolment portal — MUR (Italy) (opens in a new tab)
• Study in Italy — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (opens in a new tab)
• Statements of Comparability — CIMEA (opens in a new tab)