Program Overview

Introduction to the Sapienza Foundation Year Programme

The Sapienza University “Foundation Year” Programme is designed for international students who need to complete their basic education to pass an admission test in Italian state universities. The programme is held in Italian and primarily addresses students who do not meet the minimum schooling requirements outlined in current legislation for enrolment at Italian universities.

Programme Description

The programme is made up of three parts:

• Intensive Italian language and culture classes
• Curricular classes in either Human Sciences, Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences
• Preparatory classes for entrance exams on four groups of subjects: Applied Sciences, Management Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Human Sciences Courses are entirely held in Italian; they are aimed at complete beginners, and no previous knowledge of the language is required. Within the Sapienza Foundation Year Programme, English is also used as an administrative language to facilitate communication between students and administration, not for teaching.

Eligible Candidates

Candidates who meet the requirements indicated below are eligible to apply for the programme:

• Holding a secondary school diploma obtained abroad after 11 years of schooling
• Possessing a minimum B2 English language level or equivalent level Non-EU citizens residing abroad must request a visa for study purposes for the academic year for “University enrolment” by 30 June 2025 through the UNIVERSITALY platform.

Programme Structure

The programme includes:

• October 2025: Introductory Italian Language and Culture Online A1-A2
• November 2025–February 2026: Intensive Italian language and Culture Classroom B1-B2 (200 hours)
• February 2026–May 2026: Curricular classes (160 hours/curriculum 40 hours/class)
  • Human Sciences: Art History, Contemporary History, Italian Literature, Sociology
  • Social Sciences: Contemporary History, Mathematics, Physics, Sociology
  • Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics
• May 2026–June 2026: Preparatory classes (40 hours)
  • Applied Sciences (Engineering, etc.)
  • Management Sciences (Economics, Management, etc.)
  • Clinical Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, etc.)
  • Human Sciences (Archaeology, Art History, Classics, etc.)

Admission Criteria

Participation in the admission procedure is conditioned under penalty of exclusion on paying a participation fee of €200.00 within 16/06/2025. The participation fee is not refundable for any reason. Payment of the participation fee without following in due time the whole procedure described below at Article 6 does not guarantee inclusion in the final admission list.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance is mandatory for at least 75% of classrooms. Students who successfully complete the programme will be able to apply to Bachelors or Single-cycle degree programmes at Sapienza University without having to sit the Italian language exam for Non-EU students.

Tuition Fees

The deadline for the payment of the first instalment fee has been extended to 30 November 2025. The second instalment fee has been extended to 15 January 2026. The Sapienza Foundation Year admission ranking has been published.