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All those who intend to enrol at the University of Genoa in degree courses taught in Italian and who do not hold a high school diploma obtained in Italy must take an Italian language test to ascertain their level of knowledge of Italian.
This provision is indicated by the Ministry of Universities and Research of the Italian Republic, which expressly states: "Each institution independently organises a test of knowledge of the Italian language, identifying the required level, at least B2, which is compulsory for all degree and single-cycle degree courses" (institutional source).

First-time pre-registered students must pass an A2 level test in order to complete enrolment. 
Those who do not obtain at least A2 level in the test will not be able to enrol in any degree course offered in Italian at the University of Genoa.

The A2 level Italian test takes place on the same dates as the TEST TE.L.E.MA.CO. (see page https://unige.it/studenti/telemaco). 

International students must take the Italian test first and then the TEST TE.L.E.MA.CO.: whoever fails the Italian A2 test cannot take the TEST TE.L.E.MA.CO.CO. test and in the following weeks will receive an e-mail from the Language Skills Development Department (clat@unige.it) to register and take the Italian Level B2 test.

To pass the Italian Level A2 test you must obtain a score of 18/25 or higher; to pass the Italian Level B2 test you must achieve at least a score of 20/25.

  • An example of Test A2 (Test DEMO Italian A2) can be found at this page 
  • An example of Test B2 (Test DEMO Italian B2) can be found at this page 

Both test demos are only accessible to pre-registered or matriculated students at the University of Genoa and have the sole purpose of showing the types of test: they do not provide the score obtained and give no indication of either the level of linguistic competence of those taking them or the errors made.

Students in possession of an A2-B1 level of Italian language certification issued by the University for Foreigners of Perugia; the University for Foreigners of Siena; the University for Foreigners "Dante Alighieri" of Reggio Calabria and, limited to level B1, by the Centro Studi Italiani of Urbania, will be exempt from the A2 level test and will be called directly to take the B2 level test.

The certificates must be sent to the address sass@unige.it at least twenty days before the scheduled dates of the TE test.L.E.MA.CO.

The test can only be taken once by students pre-registered for the first time: this means that the result of the Italian test taken is definitive and the test cannot be retaken.

If the student is favourable for A2 but not B2, he/she may enrol at the University of Genoa with an Educational Debt Fee (OFA), to be compensated for by attending a free compulsory Italian language course organised by the University of Genoa, at the end of which he/she will take an exam to check whether he/she has reached level B2. Those who do not pass the exam at the end of the course will be able to take it again up to the deadline for completing the study plan for the second year. Those who fail will be able to complete the exams for the first year, but will not be able to fill in the syllabus for the second year: they will then have to enrol in the first year as repeaters.

First-time pre-registered students not required to take TE.L.E.MA.CO (see at: https://unige.it/en/studenti/telemaco) will take the complete test (level A2+B2) on the scheduled dates (see below, Italian tests schedule a.y. 2024/25).
A demo of A2 test for new students registered in a.y. 2024-25 will be available in June.

Exemption from the Italian test

Pre-enrolled students exempt from the TE.L.E.MA.CO. test. (see the page https://unige.it/studenti/telemaco) will take the entire test (level A2 + B2) on the dates indicated (see below, Calendar of Italian language tests a.y. 2024/2025).

An example of what the Italian A2 test looks like for those enrolling in a.y. 2024/25 will be available in June.

Italian language courses to achieve the required standard (OFA)

Go to the dedicated section on the Italian language courses and tests page.

Italian tests schedule a.y. 2025/2026

I semester

Dates reserved for students enrolled in the 2025/2026 academic year who must also take the TE.L.E.MA.CO. test

  • Test A2: the test takes place on the same dates as the TE.L.E.MA.CO. test
     
  • Test B2:
    • 16 October 2025 in presence (time to be defined)
    • 27 November 2025 in presence (time to be defined)

Dates reserved for students pre-registered in the academic year 2025/2026 who do NOT have to take the TE.L.E.MA.CO. test

  • 16 October 2025 in presence (timetable to be defined)
  • 27 November 2025 in presence (timetable to be defined)

Dates reserved for all the students enrolled for the first time in the academic year prior to the a.a. 2025/2026

  • 18 September 2025 in presence (timetable to be defined)
  • 27 November 2025 in presence (timetable to be defined)

Italian tests schedule a.y. 2024/2025

II semester

Dates reserved for students enrolled for the first time in the 2024/2025 academic year

  • 31 January 2025 in person (timetable to be defined)
  • 11 April 2025 in person (timetable to be defined)
  • 27 June 2025 in person (timetable to be defined)

Dates reserved for students enrolled for the first time in the 2023/2024 academic year 2023/2024

  • 14 February 2025 in person (timetable to be finalised)
  • 11 April 2025 in person (timetable to be finalised)
  • 27 June 2025 in person (timetable to be finalised)

Dates reserved for students enrolled in the years prior to the 2023/2024 academic year

  • 14 February 2025 in person (timetable to be finalised)
  • 11 April 2025 in person (timetable to be finalised)
  • 27 June 2025 in person (timetable to be finalised)

Outcome of a.a. tests 2024/2025

Last update 23/05/2025