🌍 Application Guide for International Students – Bachelor’s Degree Programs (FIRST CYCLE)
Updated on May 26, 2026
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO ENROL IN ONE OF OUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES
📌 Step-by-Step Procedure
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1.PRE-ENROLMENT ON UNIVERSITALY by 31 August 2026
Complete your pre-enrolment on Universitaly and upload the following documents:
- Final secondary school qualification (original), obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, accompanied by an official translation and legalization/apostille, or alternatively a Statement of Verification of Authenticity issued by the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre (CIMEA);
Compensatory Years
If the diploma was obtained with fewer than 12 years of schooling, it is necessary to provide:
11-year system: Academic transcript certifying the successful completion of all first-year university exams.
10-year system: Academic transcript certifying the successful completion of all exams from the first two years of university.
Alternative options: A post-secondary qualification (1 or 2 years) in a related field, or a Foundation Year certificate (which compensates for only 1 missing year) issued by an Italian or foreign university. Foundation Year certificates will be accepted only if issued by institutions accredited by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) or the relevant Ministry of Education. If the teaching institution differs from the awarding institution, both must be accredited.
Note: These certifications are intended solely to meet the required 12 years of schooling and cannot be used for course shortening (credit recognition). All documents related to compensatory years issued by foreign institutions must be submitted in their original form, accompanied by a sworn translation and legalization/Apostille. Please verify the competent authorities for issuing the Apostille.
- Declaration of Value, or alternatively a Statement of Comparability issued by the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre (CIMEA);
- Certificate of academic eligibility, if required in the country where the qualification was obtained;
- Italian language certificate at B2 level, for programmes taught (even partially) in Italian. If you do not have it, you will be required to take a language test;
- Result of the entrance test (TOLC CISIA), if available. Check here which TOLC CISIA is required for your chosen programme;
- Identity document (ID card or passport).
Applications will not be considered if:
- submitted for the wrong academic year;
- submitted after 31 August 2026.
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2. VERIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS BY THE UNIVERSITY
After pre-enrolment on Universitaly, the University will verify:
- completion of at least 12 years of schooling;
- Italian language proficiency at B2 level (only if the programme is not entirely taught in English);
- the result of the entrance test (TOLC CISIA).
- If all requirements are met → the University validates your pre-enrolment without reservation (green light on Universitaly);
- If requirements are not fully met → the University validates your pre-enrolment with reservation (orange light on Universitaly).
The reservation will be lifted only after you regularise your position.
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3. STUDY VISA APPLICATION
You may apply for a study visa at the Embassy only if your pre-enrolment on Universitaly has been validated without reservation (green light) by 30 November 2026.
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4. ONLINE ENROLMENT
You may proceed with online enrolment in your chosen programme ONLY AFTER meeting all the following requirements:
- final validation without reservation on Universitaly (green light);
- issuance of the entry visa by the Embassy;
- completion and passing of the required TOLC CISIA test (the type of TOLC depends on the chosen programme; please check which one applies);
- passing the Italian language test at B2 level, if you have chosen a programme taught (even partially) in Italian and do not already hold a valid language certificate.
Once all requirements are met, you may proceed with online enrolment as follows:
Registration on UniCA
Register on the University of Cagliari website via the public homepage: Università di UNICA (Cineca).
Online enrolment
Complete your online enrolment by accessing:
Public homepage → Università di UNICA (Cineca) → Login → Student Records → Enrolments,
by 30 September 2026.
Upload of documents
After online enrolment, upload the following documents in your reserved area
(Menu → Student Records → Career Attachments):
- Declaration of Value of the upper secondary school diploma and any degree qualification;
- entry visa;
- residence permit.
After enrolment, the Student Office will process your application and forward it to the academic bodies.
Your enrolment will be finalised and confirmed only after approval by the Academic Senate.
Until then, you may attend classes, but you will not be allowed to take exams.
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5. DOCUMENT SUBMISSION – APPOINTMENT AT THE STUDENT OFFICE
Once you arrive in Cagliari, you must submit all original documents to the Student Office, namely:
- Original final secondary school qualification, obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, accompanied by an official translation and legalization/apostille, or alternatively by a Statement of Verification of Authenticity issued by the Italian ENIC-NARIC center (CIMEA).
- Declaration of Value, or alternatively a Statement of Comparability issued by the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre (CIMEA);
- Certificate of academic eligibility, if required in the country of qualification;
- Italian language certificate at B2 level, for programmes taught (even partially) in Italian (or take the required test);
- Result of the entrance test (TOLC CISIA), if available (check which TOLC CISIA is required);
- Identity document (ID card or passport);
- Entry visa;
- Residence permit.
To do so, you must book an appointment by writing to: segrstudsegp@unica.it
Email subject:
“International student a.y. 2026/27: request for appointment to submit original documents”
📅Appointments are usually scheduled once a week (every Thursday from 11:30 to 12:30), unless otherwise agreed.