Why Study in Italy?
Italy is the perfect destination for international students. World-class universities, low tuition fees, a safe environment, and a quality of life that is hard to match anywhere else. Yet far fewer students consider it compared to the UK, the US, or Australia.
Beyond the degree itself, Italy offers something harder to quantify: the experience of living in a country with thousands of years of history, art, and culture, where the pace of life is human and the food speaks for itself.
How the Pathway Works
The academic system is fully integrated into the European framework through the Bologna Process and the ECTS system, which means your degree will be recognized across Europe. Many degree programs do not require entrance exams, but admission requirements vary by university and course. With a certified B2 in Italian and the required academic documents, you can apply to your chosen program, following the university’s admission procedure.
Working during and after your studies: once you hold a valid student residence permit, you can work part-time up to 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year, helping you cover part of your living expenses and gain real work experience in Italy. After graduation, eligible students may be able to apply for a residence permit to look for work or convert their study permit into a work-related residence permit, subject to legal requirements.
Language requirement: we recommend having at least an A2 level of Italian before applying for the visa, as some Consulates may ask for proof of basic Italian.
→ Starting from zero? Prepare entirely online with us before arriving in Florence
What We Offer
Included in the Program Fee
Extra Fee
Not Included in the Program
Our Language Pathways
Choose among three intakes per year, designed for different needs and timelines.
All three include 20 Italian classes per week (Mon–Fri, 9:00–12:40), weekly Florence walking tours and evening activities, monthly day trips outside Florence (€50 per trip), and monthly university orientation workshops.
Every month, you can choose to join a full-day guided tour to one of six destinations: Cinque Terre, Lucca & Pisa, Val d’Orcia, Umbria (Orvieto & Assisi), Venice, or Siena & San Gimignano – at an additional cost.
Two of the three intakes also include 5 European Cultural Weeks: optional trips to European cities organized by us, at extra cost and subject to a minimum group size. Pricing and details are provided closer to the date based on the number of participants.
All three lead to the same goal: a B2 certificate and a place at an Italian university.
Intake 1
September Intake: Balanced Path
- Start: 7 September 2026 / End: 16 April 2027
- 24 weeks of Italian classes + 5 European Cultural Weeks + 3 weeks Christmas break
- 🎓 CELI exam: March 2027 (on-site at our School)
- 🏛️ University: September 2027
September 2026 — Full Calendar
| Dates | |
|---|---|
| 07–11 Sep 2026 | 📚 Week 01 |
| 14–18 Sep 2026 | 📚 Week 02 |
| 21–25 Sep 2026 | 📚 Week 03 |
| 28 Sep–02 Oct 2026 | 📚 Week 04 + 🚌 Full day trip to Cinque Terre |
| 05–09 Oct 2026 | 📚 Week 05 |
| 12–16 Oct 2026 | ✈️ European Week 1 — Barcelona |
| 19–23 Oct 2026 | 📚 Week 06 |
| 26–30 Oct 2026 | 📚 Week 07 |
| 02–06 Nov 2026 | 📚 Week 08 + 🚌 Full day trip to Lucca & Pisa |
| 09–13 Nov 2026 | 📚 Week 09 |
| 16–20 Nov 2026 | ✈️ European Week 2 — Paris |
| 23–27 Nov 2026 | 📚 Week 10 |
| 30 Nov–04 Dec 2026 | 📚 Week 11 + 🚌 Full day trip to Val d’Orcia |
| 07–11 Dec 2026 | 📚 Week 12 |
| 14–18 Dec 2026 | 🎄 Christmas Break |
| 21–25 Dec 2026 | 🎄 Christmas Break |
| 28 Dec–01 Jan 2027 | 🎄 Christmas Break |
| 04–08 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 13 |
| 11–15 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 14 |
| 18–22 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 15 + 🚌 Full day trip to Umbria (Orvieto & Assisi) |
| 25–29 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 16 |
| 01–05 Feb 2027 | ✈️ European Week 3 — Berlin |
| 08–12 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 17 |
| 15–19 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 18 |
| 22–26 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 19 + 🚌 Full day trip to Venice |
| 01–05 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 20 |
| 08–12 Mar 2027 | ✈️ European Week 4 — Vienna |
| 15–19 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 21 — 🎓 CELI Exam (March session) |
| 22–26 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 22 |
| 29 Mar–02 Apr 2027 | ✈️ European Week 5 — Dublin |
| 05–09 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 23 + 🚌 Full day trip to Siena & San Gimignano |
| 12–16 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 24 — End of Programme |
🎓 Exam: CELI — March 2027 (on-site at our School)
🏛️ University: September 2027
🚌 Full day trips: €50 per person.
✈️ European Cultural Weeks: Pricing and full details are provided based on the number of participants.
Intake 2
January Intake: Fast Track
- Start: 11 January 2027 / End: 9 July 2027
- 24 intensive weeks of Italian classes + 2 weeks of public holiday breaks
- No European Cultural Weeks (focused on progress)
- 🎓 CILS exam: June 2027 (on-site at our School)
- 🏛️ University: October 2027 or February 2028
January 2027 — Full Calendar
| Dates | |
|---|---|
| 11–15 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 01 |
| 18–22 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 02 |
| 25–29 Jan 2027 | 📚 Week 03 |
| 01–05 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 04 + 🚌 Full day trip to Cinque Terre |
| 08–12 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 05 |
| 15–19 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 06 |
| 22–26 Feb 2027 | 📚 Week 07 |
| 01–05 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 08 + 🚌 Full day trip to Lucca & Pisa |
| 08–12 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 09 |
| 15–19 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 10 |
| 22–26 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 11 |
| 29 Mar–02 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 12 |
| 05–09 Apr 2027 | 🐣 Easter Break |
| 12–16 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 13 + 🚌 Full day trip to Val d’Orcia |
| 19–23 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 14 |
| 26–30 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 15 |
| 03–07 May 2027 | 📚 Week 16 + 🚌 Full day trip to Umbria (Orvieto & Assisi) |
| 10–14 May 2027 | 📚 Week 17 |
| 17–21 May 2027 | 📚 Week 18 |
| 24–28 May 2027 | 📚 Week 19 + 🚌 Full day trip to Venice |
| 31 May–04 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 20 — 🎓 CILS Exam (June session) |
| 07–11 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 21 — 🎓 CILS Exam (June session) |
| 14–18 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 22 + 🚌 Full day trip to Siena & San Gimignano |
| 21–25 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 23 |
| 28 Jun–02 Jul 2027 | 📚 Week 24 — End of Programme |
🎓 Exam: CILS — June 2027 (on-site at our School)
🏛️ University: October 2027 or February 2028
🚌 Full day trips: €50 per person.
Intake 3
March Intake: Relaxed Path
- Start: 1 March 2027 / End: 8 October 2027
- 24 weeks of Italian classes + 5 European Cultural Weeks + 3 weeks summer break
- 🎓 CILS exam: December 2027 (on-site at our School, after independent exam prep)
- 🏛️ University: September 2028
After the program ends in October, students have approximately two months of independent exam preparation before sitting the CILS exam in December. Our team will provide study materials and guidance for this period.
March 2027 — Full Calendar
| Dates | |
|---|---|
| 01–05 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 01 |
| 08–12 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 02 |
| 15–19 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 03 + 🚌 Full day trip to Cinque Terre |
| 22–26 Mar 2027 | 📚 Week 04 |
| 29 Mar–02 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 05 + 🚌 Full day trip to Venice |
| 05–09 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 06 |
| 12–16 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 07 + 🚌 Full day trip to Val d’Orcia |
| 19–23 Apr 2027 | 📚 Week 08 |
| 26–30 Apr 2027 | ✈️ European Week 1 — Paris |
| 03–07 May 2027 | 📚 Week 09 |
| 10–14 May 2027 | 📚 Week 10 + 🚌 Full day trip to Umbria (Orvieto & Assisi) |
| 17–21 May 2027 | ✈️ European Week 2 — Berlin |
| 24–28 May 2027 | 📚 Week 11 |
| 31 May–04 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 12 + 🚌 Full day trip to Lucca & Pisa |
| 07–11 Jun 2027 | ✈️ European Week 3 — Barcelona |
| 14–18 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 13 |
| 21–25 Jun 2027 | 📚 Week 14 |
| 28 Jun–02 Jul 2027 | 📚 Week 15 |
| 05–09 Jul 2027 | 📚 Week 16 |
| 12–16 Jul 2027 | 📚 Week 17 |
| 19–23 Jul 2027 | 📚 Week 18 |
| 26–30 Jul 2027 | ☀️ Summer Break |
| 02–06 Aug 2027 | ☀️ Summer Break |
| 09–13 Aug 2027 | ☀️ Summer Break |
| 16–20 Aug 2027 | 📚 Week 19 + 🚌 Full day trip to Siena & San Gimignano |
| 23–27 Aug 2027 | 📚 Week 20 |
| 30 Aug–03 Sep 2027 | 📚 Week 21 |
| 06–10 Sep 2027 | ✈️ European Week 4 — Vienna |
| 13–17 Sep 2027 | 📚 Week 22 |
| 20–24 Sep 2027 | 📚 Week 23 |
| 27 Sep–01 Oct 2027 | ✈️ European Week 5 — Dublin |
| 04–08 Oct 2027 | 📚 Week 24 — End of Programme |
October–November 2027: independent exam preparation
🎓 Exam: CILS — December 2027 (on-site at our School)
🏛️ University: September 2028
🚌 Full day trips: €50 per person.
✈️ European Cultural Weeks: Pricing and full details are provided based on the number of participants.
Programs Timeline
Since you will already be living in Italy with a valid residence permit, you may not need to use Universitaly for a new visa pre-enrolment.
However, admission procedures vary by university, and each institution sets its own requirements and deadlines.
The general steps are:
- Obtain your CILS or CELI B2 certificate
- Contact the international admissions office of your chosen university
- Submit your application with your language certificate and secondary school diploma
- Complete enrolment and begin your studies
Our team will guide you through every step of this process during the program.
6+ Months Before Arrival
- Assess your current Italian level
- If starting from zero, begin online Italian preparation to reach the A2 level, as most Embassies and Consulates may ask for proof of basic Italian for the student visa.
- Upon reaching A2, receive a language certificate issued by our school
4–6 Months Before Arrival
- Submit your enrolment request to our School
- Pay the program fee (required to obtain official visa documentation)
- Search for accommodation in Florence for at least the first 30 days (we can help)
- Arrange health insurance if required by your local General Consulate
- Apply for your student visa (Type D) at the Italian Embassy or General Consulate in your country
We recommend checking directly with the relevant General Consulate or Embassy for the most up-to-date list of required documents and application requirements.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Student Visa, you can consult our dedicated page.
Month 0 — Arrival in Florence
- Begin your Italian language course
- Apply for your residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 days of arrival
- Get to know Florence and your fellow students
Months 1–3 of the Program
- Study 20 Italian classes per week, reaching the B1 level
- Take part in weekly cultural activities: Florence walking tours and evening activities
- Explore part-time work opportunities once you hold a valid residence permit for study
- Start researching Italian universities and degree programs with our guidance
- Attend monthly university orientation sessions and application workshops
Months 4–6 of the Program
- Reach B2 level and prepare for the official CILS or CELI certification exam
- Sit your exam at our School, no need to travel to another city
- Finalize your university choices and prepare your application documents with our full support
Why Choose Europass
Europass is a reference point in the European education sector.
Our Italian Language School laid the foundations for Europass Teacher Academy, now the largest network of high-quality teacher training providers across Europe. From our base in Florence, we set and monitor quality standards for more than 400 professional development courses delivered in 30 different locations across Europe.
Every year, over 5,000 European schools choose us to enhance their skills and enrich their teaching practices.
FAQs
Which intake is right for me?
It depends on your timeline and study style. The September intake is the most popular: it follows a balanced rhythm with European Cultural Weeks and leads to university in September of the following year, about 12 months after arrival. The January intake is for those who want to move fast: intensive study with minimal breaks, leading to university as early as October. The March intake is ideal for those who want more time to settle in, work part-time, and explore Italy, including a full summer break, before sitting the exam in December and starting university the following September.Do Italian universities have entrance exams?
Most Italian public universities do not require entrance exams for international students. In most cases, a certified B2 level in Italian is all you need to apply. Some competitive programs — such as Medicine or Architecture — may have specific requirements, but for the vast majority of degree courses the process is straightforward and accessible.Do I need an official Italian language certificate to apply to university?
Yes. Most Italian universities require a certified B2 level in Italian. The two most recognized certifications are CILS (issued by the University of Siena) and CELI (issued by the University of Perugia), both fully accepted by Italian and international universities.At Europass, both exams are held directly at our school in Florence, so you can prepare and sit your exam in the same place, without travelling to another city.
Exam sessions at Europass:
• CELI — March
• CILS — June and December
How does university enrolment work?
Since you will already be living in Italy with a valid residence permit, you can apply directly to your chosen university, a much simpler process than applying from abroad. You do not need to go through the Universitaly portal. Our team will support you in preparing your application documents and guide you through the enrolment process.Which type of visa should I apply for?
You will need a Type D long-stay student visa, issued for the duration of your language program. Once you are admitted to a university, you will renew your residence permit for study directly in Italy, with no need to return home to apply for a new visa. We will guide you through the entire process.Will you support me with visa documents?
Yes, we provide full guidance and assistance with the documentation required for your student visa (Type D) and your residence permit once you arrive in Italy. In the unlikely event that your visa application is refused, we will refund your program fee minus a €150 administrative fee.Can I work while studying in Italy?
Yes, international students with a valid residence permit for study are allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year. After completing your language programme and enrolling at university, you can continue working part-time throughout your degree, as long as you hold a valid residence permit for study. After graduation, eligible students may be able to apply for a residence permit to look for work or convert their study permit into a work-related residence permit, subject to legal requirements.What does the course fee include?
Our Pathway fees cover Italian language preparation and personalized guidance for university applications and residence permits. Accommodation and living costs are not included, but we can help you find suitable housing in Florence.Where will I live during the program?
We can assist you in finding accommodation in Florence, ranging from homestays and shared apartments to private options.What cultural activities are included?
Every week you will join a guided walking tour of Florence: with 16 different rotating routes, you will discover a new side of the city each time. You will also take part in a weekly evening activity with your fellow students, and once a month you will join a full-day tour to one of six destinations outside Florence: Cinque Terre, Lucca & Pisa, Val d’Orcia, Umbria, Venice, or Siena & San Gimignano.For the September and March intakes, the program also includes European Cultural Weeks: optional trips to European cities organized by Europass, at extra cost and subject to minimum group size. Students on the January fast track intake are free to organize their own travel during public holiday breaks.
Is Italy a safe country for students?
Yes. Italy is consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates and a welcoming environment for international students. Families can feel confident that students will live and study in a secure environment.Ready to take the next step?
If you have questions about which intake is right for you, the visa process, or anything else, book a free 20-minute call with our team: