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It is possible to request the recognition of an academic title obtained abroad by producing the following documentation:

  • Academic title (original or certified photocopy)
    legalised by the competent Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation or by means of an "Apostille" or accompanied by a certificate of verification issued by CIMEA (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalences - www.cimea.it)
  • Official translation into Italian of the title
    by the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation competent for the territory, or carried out by the official translator and confirmed by the Representation itself, or validated by the Italian Court
    It is not necessary if the document is written in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese. 
    • Declaration of value (in original)
    Reported by the competent Italian diplomatic or consular Representation. Students, as an alternative to the declaration of value, may present the Diploma supplement or a document produced by a centre in the ENIC-NARIC network (www.cimea.it, Comparability certificate) or other documentation produced by the diplomatic representation in Italy of the foreign country where the qualification was obtained. Students whose qualification can be found in the database ARDI (Automatic Recognition Database Italia) provided by CIMEA will be exempt from submitting the Declaration of Value or the Attestation of Comparability.Certificate (in original) with details of the courses attended and examinations taken to obtain the academic title, duly confirmed by the Diplomatic or Consular Representation or legalised by means of an "Apostille". This certificate is not necessary if the Diploma Supplement is presented. 
  • Official translation into Italian of the certificate
    by the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation competent for the territory, or carried out by the official translator and confirmed by the Representation itself, or validated by the Italian Court
    It is not necessary if the document is written in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese. 
  • Study programmes (validated with the stamp of the University itself) of all the disciplines included in the foreign curriculum
  • Official translation into Italian of the study programmes
    produced by the Italian Diplomatic or Consular Representation with territorial jurisdiction, or by an official translator and confirmed by the Representation itself, or validated by the Italian Court

    This is not necessary if the document is written in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.

How and when to apply

Non-EU students resident abroad must apply to the Italian Representation within the deadlines set for each academic year. EU and non-EU students residing in Italy may apply to the Welcome Office exclusively from 1 February to 31 March and from 1 October to 30 November of each year, submitting:

  • the documentation indicated + a copy in .pdf format on a USB device or sent by email. In the case of submitting the application exclusively by email, the presentation of the originals will be requested following the evaluation by the competent Course Council.
  • a Euro 16.00 revenue stamp
  • an identity document and, for non-EU students, the residence permit
  • apposite forms (*see forms at the bottom of the page)

A payment of Euro 150.00 is due. The payment slip to make the contribution will be provided by the Welcome Office after verification of the correctness and completeness of the documentation.
The competent Course Council, considering the educational pathway and the curriculum, will assess the equivalence of the foreign academic qualification with the corresponding one issued by the University of Genoa or the recognition of individual examinations.
If the student obtains partial recognition, he/she can enrol in the corresponding course with a "Course Abbreviation" and take the missing exams to obtain the Italian qualification.
If the student obtains full recognition, he/she will have to pay an additional Euro 450.00 for the activities related to the procedure for the issue of the equivalence certificate.
For some courses with a programmed number of places, the student, before enrolling, must pass the admission examination, according to the deadlines and procedures set out in the relevant notice.

An exception is made for some degree courses:

  • The study courses of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, Health Professions and Architectural Sciences, for which full recognition (equivalence) is never envisaged and which are regulated by a specific notice for admission to years subsequent to the first published annually on the course page.
  • The Bachelor's degree course in Psychological Sciences and Techniques, the Master's degree course in Psychology and the single-cycle Master's degree course in Primary Education Sciences for which equivalence cannot be requested.
  • Students in possession of a foreign qualification may participate in the selection procedure (see relative announcements), and then, if placed in a useful position in the rank list, once enrolled, may apply for a course shortening.
  • The degree course in Pharmacy for which a student in possession of a qualification (or a partial course without obtaining the qualification) obtained abroad does NOT have to take an entrance test but may submit an application (with payment of € 150.00) from 15 July to 28 August.
  • The degree course in Biotechnology for which even those who already have a degree obtained abroad must first take and pass the entrance test, enrol and then apply for recognition of their previous career for the purposes of shortening their course.
  • All degree courses in Economics for which it is not possible to apply for equivalence but to study the case from 1 October to 30 November and from 1 February to 31 March.

Last update 15/09/2025