PROCEDURES FOR ENTRY, RESIDENCY AND ENROLMENT AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FORSTUDENTS REQUIRING VISAS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES IN ITALY,FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR
2020-2021

ATTACHMENT I
Valid foreign qualifications for enrolment in higher education institutions
With regard to the evaluation of foreign school qualifications suitable for access to first cycle courses
in Italy (upper secondary school diplomas), it is noted that, due to the COVID-19 emergency, many
foreign countries have adopted exceptional measures in order to guarantee the completion of theschool cycles and the award of the relative final qualifications. The Italian higher education
institutions are therefore invited to apply the criteria established by the Lisbon Convention for theaforementioned cases, or the recognition of the same academic rights that a given final school
qualification officially confers in the foreign reference system, unless proven substantial differences
exist, including reference to the duration of the overall pre-university schooling required in Italy, whichis confirmed to be twelve years. All of the above also in consideration of the provisions of the recent
Law of 6th June 2020, n. 41 “Conversion into law, with amendments, of the decree law of 8th April
2020, n. 22, containing urgent measures on the regular conclusion and the orderly start of the school
year and on the holding of the state exams” where in article 1, paragraph 7 we find the following
indication: “If the exams referred to in this paragraph do not end in an appropriate timeframe, limited
to the academic year 2020/2021, the subjects referred to in this paragraph participate in theadmission tests to the limited quota degree courses as well as in other tests provided by universities,
higher artistic, musical and dance institutions and other post-diploma higher education institutions
provisionally, subject to passing the final state exam of the second cycle of schooling. The provisions
referred to in the third paragraph also apply to candidates from a foreign education system who have
not obtained an appropriate qualification for access to higher education in time to participate in therelative access tests, where required. In the period between the ordinary session of the state exams
and the conclusion of the extraordinary session referred to in the first paragraph, candidates who
have not sat the final state exam of the second cycle of schooling can also participate in public
competition procedures, selections and qualification procedures, however named, for which theupper secondary school diploma is required, subject to passing the aforementioned state exam,
without prejudice to the provisions of article 3, paragraph 6, of the legislative decree 29 May 2017,n. 95”.
1. QUALIFICATIONS AWARDED AFTER A PERIOD OF SCHOOLING OF AT LEAST 12 YEARS
These qualifications are valid for access to Laurea courses and single-cycle Laurea Magistraledegree courses at Italian universities and to Diploma accademico di primo livello courses at AFAM
institutions, as long as they allow access to universities in the country where issued and to a course
similar to that chosen in Italy. These qualifications allow the continuation of studies in Italian higher
education institutions if they have been awarded on the basis of at least the last two years ofattendance with a positive result in the foreign education system. It will be the responsibility of thehigher education institutions to perform this evaluation taking into account the entire scholastic
education followed, in line with the national and international regulations in force, and on the basisof their autonomy.
As a general principle, the Italian higher education institutions will also take into account the accessrequirements required in the foreign reference systems, including any thresholds and/or minimum

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PROCEDURES FOR ENTRY, RESIDENCY AND ENROLMENT AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FORSTUDENTS REQUIRING VISAS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES IN ITALY,FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR
2020-2021

grade requirements, the level of education achieved and the presence of curricular components
relating to specific subjects/disciplines, in consideration of their number, their nature and content, allthis without prejudice to the following specific cases in points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The Italian higher education institutions may still request additional admission requirements, in linewith their own regulations and with the chosen course of study.
In the calculation of the twelve years, the pre-school year may be taken into consideration, whereapplicable and officially recognised as an integral part of the education path at a national level, onthe condition that the attendance of this year is compulsory and an integral part of the curriculum
and that the programme foresees the teaching of reading and writing of the language of the country,
and the initial notions of arithmetic.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AWARDED AFTER A PERIOD OF SCHOOLING OF LESS THAN 12 YEARSIn order to compensate for any missing years of schooling, where it is necessary to evaluate
qualifications obtained at the end of a school education of less than 12 years, higher education
institutions may alternatively request:
1. The academic transcripts certifying the passing of all the exams foreseen for the first year ofuniversity studies in the case of the eleven-year local school system, or the academic transcripts
certifying the passing of all the exams scheduled for the first two academic years in the case of aten-year local school system.
2. An official Italian or foreign post-secondary study qualification obtained in a non-university higher
education institution in a subject related to the chosen course, lasting one year in the case of aneleven-year local school system, or two years in the case of a ten-year local school system,
respectively.
3. Certificates from other Italian universities regarding the completion of a foundation course which
compensates for the years of missing education.
4. Certificates awarded in-house relating to the passing of foundation courses, including those ofless than one academic year, which give adequate knowledge, competences and skills to attend
the chosen course of study within the same institution.
The aforementioned additional and complementary certifications to secondary school qualifications
obtained after less than twelve years of schooling allow, in Italy, only the enrolment in the firstacademic year and cannot be further evaluated for enrolment with a course abbreviation, in order toavoid the double evaluation of the same qualifications.
The certifications for passing foundation courses can also be used in order to fill those additional
requirements required for entry to the courses, which are different from the years of schooling, but
in no case can they remedy the absence of a “Diploma of upper secondary school or otherqualification obtained abroad, recognised as acceptable” (Ministerial Decree 270/2004 andPresidential Decree 212/2005) or the passing of any academic qualification test that may be required
for access to University in the Country of origin.

2PROCEDURES FOR ENTRY, RESIDENCY AND ENROLMENT AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FORSTUDENTS REQUIRING VISAS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES IN ITALY,FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR
2020-2021

3. TITLES AWARDED BY UNIVERSITY INSTITUTES OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIESLOCATED IN ITALY AND APPROVED BY THE HOLY SEE
Pending implementation of the recent "Agreement between the Italian Republic and the Holy See
for the Application of the Lisbon Convention on the recognition of qualifications relating to highereducation in the European Region" of 13th February 2019, and pending further indications in thisregard, these titles must be endorsed by the competent ecclesiastical authorities. Candidates withsuch authenticated qualifications need only present a copy of the qualification to the University inquestion and produce the original after the admission tests, at the time of a consequent actualenrolment.
4. UNITED STATES HIGH SCHOOL QUALIFICATION
Students holding a High School Diploma (HSD) who have passed at least three US "AdvancedPlacements" (APs) with a score from 3 to 5, in three different subjects and related to the university
course selected can be enrolled in the first academic year. The holding of an "AP" in Italian will be a
mandatory requirement only for students with foreign citizenship. An "AP" in Italian will not be
acceptable in the case of students with Italian citizenship or in the case of enrolment in courses
taught entirely in English. These qualifications allow the continuation of studies in Italian higher
education institutions if they have been awarded on the basis of at least the last two years ofattendance, with a positive outcome, in the foreign education system.
It will be the responsibility of the higher education institutions to perform the evaluation ofqualifications taking into account the entire education path followed, in line with the national andinternational regulations in force, and on the basis of their autonomy.
Students in possession of a High School Diploma which is followed and supplemented by two fullyears of a further "College" course (Associate degree) can also be enrolled. This enrolment will bepossible even if the attendance of the course following the award of the High School Diploma
qualification takes place in university institutions of a third country. In this case, the competentacademic bodies of the Italian higher education institutions evaluate the overall adequacy of thestudy path itself, which cannot in any case last less than one year.
5. UNITED KINGDOM QUALIFICATIONS
The final qualifications called General Certificate of Education (GCE) and International General
Certificate of Education (IGCE), issued by official certification bodies of the United Kingdom, allow
enrolment if they certify that at least three subjects have been passed at an advanced level (A level)
relevant to the course of study requested, with at least a minimum grade (passing grade). The
presence of an A level in Italian will be required only for students with foreign citizenship, therefore
it cannot be counted as part of the three A levels required in the case of students with Italian
citizenship or in the case of enrolment in courses taught entirely in English.
A combination of 3 different subjects can also be evaluated between A level and Cambridge Pre-UPrincipal Subjects. The Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, composed of 3 Principal Subjects + Global

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PROCEDURES FOR ENTRY, RESIDENCY AND ENROLMENT AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FORSTUDENTS REQUIRING VISAS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES IN ITALY,FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR
2020-2021

Perspective and Research, can be evaluated by institutions of higher education as an alternative tothe 3 "A levels" for access to first cycle degrees. It is understood that the presence of an A level ora Pre-U Principal Subject in Italian will be requested only of students with foreign citizenship, so itcannot be counted as part of those required in the case of students with Italian citizenship or in thecase of enrolment in courses taught entirely in English.
The final Diplomas awarded by the British schools listed in Attachment 2 - point 3, are valid forenrolment at Italian universities in accordance with and following the specific conditions set by theagreements signed between Italy and Great Britain.
Scottish qualifications can be accepted for enrolment if they certify the passing of at least three
Advanced Highers or, alternatively, 2 Advanced Highers and at least 4 Highers.

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