Higher education landscape and international attractiveness
Italy has one of the oldest and most established higher education systems in the world. It has a long academic tradition, and nowadays operates within the European Higher Education Area. The system follows the ‘Bologna three-cycle structure’ (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate), supporting international comparability and student mobility.
In recent years, Italy has become an increasingly attractive destination for international students. This is supported partly by a fast growth of around 30% in English-taught programmes between 2019 and 2024. The comparatively moderate tuition fees, and a strong cultural and academic appeal contribute further to its popularity among international students. According to Studyportals data (2025), Italy is now among the top five most-searched study destinations globally, behind only Canada, the UK, the United States and Germany.
With a 10% growth per year in international student enrolments since 2022, Italy is one of Europe’s fastest-rising higher education destinations (Italy rises as a study destination but struggles to retain foreign graduates - ICEF Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment).
A key feature of the Italian system is its dual structure of regulation and institutional autonomy. The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) defines national policies and annually publishes the official procedures governing the entry, stay and enrolment of international students via the UniversItaly portal. These procedures establish minimum entry requirements and administrative rules applicable nationwide, providing a common framework for all institutions.
National minimum requirements for university access with foreign education
According to the procedures issued annually by MUR, access to first-cycle degree programmes (Laurea) requires applicants to hold a final secondary school qualification. This must be obtained after at least 12 years of schooling and allow access to higher education in the country where it was awarded.
Within this national framework, Italian universities are responsible for evaluating foreign qualifications for admission purposes. As set out in national legislation, higher education institutions assess whether a qualification meets the requirements for access, continuation of studies or award of an Italian qualification.
Universities may apply additional criteria (such as subject relevance, entrance exams or grade thresholds), particularly for selective programmes.
Recognition and acceptance of Cambridge International AS & A Levels
Cambridge International AS & A Levels are considered upper secondary qualifications. Under the conditions set my MUR, they meet the requirements for access to higher education in Italy.
Three A Level subjects are required, along with proof of at least 12 years of schooling. The subject combination must be relevant to the intended field of study.
Institutions make admissions decisions based on an evaluation within the national framework.
Recognition and admission procedures
Universities assess the Cambridge International A Level certificates submitted in the application process. For this purpose, they may require supporting documentation, such as:
- a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) issued by Italian diplomatic authorities, or
- a CIMEA Statement of Comparability and/or Verification, describing the level of the qualification.
CIMEA, the Italian Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalences, provides advisory services and comparability statements to support recognition decisions, although these are not binding on universities.
In the application process, students may also need to:
- complete administrative procedures via UniversItaly, including pre-enrolment (especially for non-EU students)
- provide officially translated and certified documents, proof of language proficiency (Italian or English) or results of entrance exams where required.
Key considerations for Cambridge students
If you are planning to study in Italy, you should:
- make sure you can prove you have completed at least 12 years of schooling
- check additional requirements set by individual universities
- prepare supporting documentation (e.g. Declaration of Value or CIMEA statements if required by your chosen university).
Useful resources