International Students and Foreign Qualifications

Enrollment with Foreign Qualifications

1 Verification of the Access Qualification

Before enrolling in a bachelor’s degree or a single-cycle master’s degree (for example, Law), it is necessary to ensure that the foreign qualification is recognized as equivalent to the Italian upper secondary school diploma, which is the minimum requirement for university access.

General requirements:

• The qualification must allow access to university in the country of origin.
• It must meet the minimum criteria indicated by the MUR, such as a total of 12 years of upper secondary education (or 11 years of secondary education plus one full year of university studies, or 10 years of secondary education plus two full years of university studies).

Required documents:

• Certificate of comparability or Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore – DoV) (CIMEA-ENIC-NARIC), issued by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the country where the qualification was obtained.
• Sworn translation into Italian of the academic record (if the original document is not in Italian).

If the course you wish to enroll in is taught in Italian, you must demonstrate knowledge of the Italian language at least at B2 level through:

• Official language certifications
• Italian language exam organized by our University
  Enroll

To enroll in a non–single-cycle master’s degree, you must hold a foreign qualification recognized as equivalent to an Italian bachelor’s degree, submit the required documents listed above, and meet any additional requirements set by the specific master’s program you wish to enroll in.

2 Recognition of the Qualification

For possible validation of exams or for greater accuracy in verifying the academic recognition process, additional documentation may be required, such as:

• Certificate of exams passed, sworn translation (Transcript of Records).
• Detailed study programs (syllabi).
• Degree certificates or university diplomas, where applicable.

Enrollment with a Pontifical Qualification

If you hold a pontifical qualification and wish to enroll in an Italian university, you must follow specific procedures. A pontifical qualification, issued by university institutions recognized by the Catholic Church, such as Pontifical Universities, may not be automatically recognized as equivalent to a qualification issued by an Italian public or private university.

To enroll in an Italian university with a pontifical qualification, it is necessary to follow a series of administrative steps, including qualification verification, translation, legalization (through apostille or certification), and obtaining the Declaration of Value. Although the Lisbon Convention simplifies academic recognition among participating countries, the legalization process remains essential to guarantee the authenticity of the qualification. The apostille represents a fast and efficient method for countries that adhere to the Hague Convention, while certification is required for countries that are not part of this agreement.

To facilitate recognition between the Italian system and that of the Holy See, as well as to verify the authenticity of academic documentation, you may contact CIMEA, which provides support in these procedures.

1 Steps for Enrollment

1. Qualification Verification: Ensure that the qualification comes from an institution recognized by the Catholic Church.
2. Translation of the Qualification: If the qualification is not in Italian or English, an official sworn translation is required.
3. Legalization of the Qualification: The qualification must be authenticated through apostille or certification to be valid internationally.

2 Legalization of the Qualification: Apostille vs Certification

To ensure that a pontifical qualification is recognized in Italy, a legalization process is required to certify the authenticity of the document. There are two main methods: apostille and certification.

Apostille

What it is: The apostille is an international certification that authenticates a document, applicable to countries that adhere to the 1961 Hague Convention (The 1961 Hague Convention is an international treaty that simplifies the legalization process of public documents among participating countries. This convention establishes that documents issued in a member state can be recognized in other participating countries without having to undergo complex legalization procedures, such as those carried out through embassies or consulates).

The document is authenticated through a stamp called an apostille, which certifies its authenticity. The Hague Convention is particularly useful in ensuring international recognition of legal documents, including academic qualifications, and applies to over 120 countries.

In summary, the apostille simplifies the circulation of public documents among countries that adhere to the Hague Convention, avoiding additional bureaucratic steps.

When to use it: If the qualification was issued in a country that adheres to the Hague Convention, the apostille is sufficient to validate the document internationally, avoiding the need to go through consulates or embassies.

Procedure: The apostille is affixed by a governmental authority in the country of origin of the qualification (court, competent authority), or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Prefectures in Italy.

Certification

What it is: Certification is another form of legalization that requires authentication of the document through diplomatic authorities (embassy or consulate).

When to use it: Certification is necessary if the qualification was issued in a country that has not adhered to the Hague Convention. In this case, the document must be legalized through the Italian diplomatic representations in the country of origin.

3 Complete Enrollment Procedure

If you have a pontifical qualification and wish to enroll in an Italian university, follow these steps:

1. Verify that your qualification is issued by an institution recognized by the Catholic Church.
2. Translate the qualification into Italian (or English) through a sworn translator, if necessary.
3. Obtain the apostille or certification:
   • If the qualification comes from a country that adheres to the Hague Convention, obtain the apostille.
   • If the country does not adhere to the Hague Convention, proceed with certification through the Italian consulate or embassy.
4. Request the Declaration of Value: Once legalized, request the Declaration of Value from the Italian embassy, certifying the equivalence of your qualification with an Italian qualification.
5. Prepare any language assessments: If required, demonstrate your knowledge of the Italian language, especially if the course of study you wish to enroll in requires specific language skills.

Useful Tips

1. Prepare the documents in advance, as some procedures take time.
2. Consult the MUR website or the Universitaly website for regulatory updates.

A fee of €150 is required for any recognition of foreign/pontifical exams.