Admission to First and Single Cycle Degree Programmes: General Criteria

To enrol in a First Cycle (Bachelor’s) or Single Cycle Degree Programme in Italy, you must hold a foreign secondary school diploma considered valid under Italian law and the regulations established by the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research (MUR). This diploma must be equivalent to the Italian high school diploma and should normally grant access to university-level studies in the country where it was issued.

Please note: if the degree programme you're applying for has an entry test, you must pass it to enroll.

Your diploma must meet the following conditions:

• It must be obtained after at least 12 years of schooling;
• It must provide access to a comparable university-level programme in the higher education system where the diploma was awarded (or in the country of reference for that system).
• If your national education system requires a final examination or university entrance test (such as the Gao Kao in China), you must have successfully passed it;
• For U.S. High School Diplomas, the final qualification must follow at least two years of full-time study completed in an accredited foreign system.

When counting the 12 years of education, a preschool year may be included only if:

• Attendance was mandatory and part of the national curriculum;
• The programme included instruction in reading and writing in the national language, along with basic arithmetic.

If your school system provides fewer than 12 years of education

In the case of school systems that offer fewer than 12 years of pre-university education, you will need to provide, in addition to your high school diploma, proof of completed university-level studies, as follows:

• At least one full year of university for systems with 11 years of schooling;
• At least two full years of university for systems with 10 years of schooling.

This academic certification, together with your diploma, grants access only to the first year of the programme. Admission to a programme with advanced standing (i.e. credit recognition) is possible only if your previous university study exceeds the duration needed to compensate for the missing school years.

Alternative Accepted Qualifications (for systems under 12 years)

In some cases, the following qualifications may also be accepted as supplementary to a diploma earned after less than 12 years of education:

• A post-secondary qualification in a relevant subject, awarded by a non-university higher education institution;
• A certificate of successful completion of a Foundation Year, issued by an Italian recognised university;
• Certificates awarded in-house relating to the passing of foundation courses, including those of less than one academic year, which give adequate knowledge, competences and skills to attend the chosen course of study.

Please note: the University of Basilicata does not offer Foundation Years. Cliking here you can check which Italian universities provide them.