How to apply as an exchange student, deadlines, visa and residence permit, insurance, housing and living expenses at the Florence, Turin and Mantua campuses.
At Unicollege, international students have the unique opportunity to shape their own academic experience by choosing from a wide selection of specialized and interdisciplinary courses taught in English or Italian (depending on the selected campus) across multiple subject areas.
In our Student Guidebook, you will find a diverse course catalogue that allows you to tailor your semester abroad to match your academic objectives, personal interests, and future career plans. For the actual list of courses that will be activated during your academic semester/year, please refer to the detailed course list provided by the Unicollege Erasmus Office after your nomination.
Erasmus and exchange students apply to Unicollege (UC) through the International Office at their home institution. To be eligible, a formal agreement - such as a bilateral agreement, Erasmus+ partnership, EEA cooperation, or a Memorandum of Understanding - must exist between UC and the student's home university. To find out if your institution has an active agreement with Unicollege, please consult our list of partner universities.
The application deadlines are final. We recommend students requiring a student visa/permit to submit the documents in good time before 15 June/December, in order to be sure they get a study permit before the start of the semester.
All international students must first be officially nominated by their home university before applying to Unicollege (UC). Once your nomination has been received, you will get an email with detailed instructions on how to complete your application. Please follow these steps carefully, fill in all required fields, and submit the necessary supporting documents. To ensure your application is valid, all forms and documentation must be submitted by email (incoming@unicollegessml.it) within the given deadline.
A complete application must include the completion of the Online Learning Agreement and the submission of the documents listed below:
Contact: incoming@unicollegessml.it
Accommodation is offered in the Unicollege student residences (Florence and Mantua campuses only). Places are limited: contact the Housing Coordinator of your campus well in advance. See Housing for details.
Exchange students who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA must obtain a student visa or residence permit before arriving at Unicollege. We strongly recommend that you contact the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country as early as possible and begin the visa application process immediately after receiving your official Acceptance Letter from Unicollege. Please note that only students with a valid Acceptance Letter are eligible to apply for a student visa. For more details and official information, please visit vistoperitalia.esteri.it.
Studying abroad, whether on exchange or pursuing a full degree, can present various challenges. To support incoming students, the International Relations Office at Unicollege has created a comprehensive guide covering essential topics such as student permits, accommodation, transportation, financing, and insurance. In addition, the International Office is always available to assist with any questions or concerns you may have throughout your stay.
EU/EEA citizens do not need to apply for a visa/residence permit, but must register with the immigration authorities after arrival in Italy.
Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for a student residence permit/study permit as soon as possible after admission and before entering Italy. Students admitted to UC should contact the nearest Italian embassy and start the residence permit application as soon as possible. For more details about student residence permits, please visit vistoperitalia.esteri.it.
Students from outside the EU/EEA zone will have to pay tuition fees unless they fulfil one of the requirements to be exempt. Incoming exchange students from partner universities are exempt from paying tuition fees.
Students on exchange from Erasmus partner universities may inquire at their home university if it is possible to get an Erasmus+ or other grant for their study period at UC. At the moment, there are no general scholarships/grants or financial aid opportunities offered by Unicollege.
Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for a student residence permit prior to coming to Italy. In order to be eligible for a student visa/residence permit, non-EU/EEA citizens need to guarantee they have enough money to cover the cost of living in Italy. This means transferring an amount of approximately €6,500-€7,000 per year to an Italian bank account. You can read more about this financial requirement on the official website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistoperitalia.esteri.it) or by contacting the Italian consulate in your home country.
EU/EEA students are not required to apply for a residence permit or to prove financial eligibility, but must also finance their stay in Italy with their own funds.
Students from EU/EEA countries are required to obtain and bring a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an equivalent health insurance policy. Possession of an EHIC is mandatory for acceptance as an incoming exchange student at Unicollege, and it is also highly recommended for international students enrolled in full degree programmes. The EHIC grants access to public healthcare services in Italy under the same conditions as for Italian citizens.
Please note, however, that the EHIC typically does not cover services such as dental treatment, private healthcare, prescription medications, or medical repatriation (e.g. return travel due to serious illness or injury). For this reason, we strongly recommend that all students secure additional private travel and health insurance to ensure full coverage throughout their stay in Italy.
Non-EU/EEA students staying in Italy for more than 90 days are required to apply for a student residence permit (permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio) and must have valid private health insurance that covers medical expenses throughout their stay.
The insurance must be valid upon arrival and remain active for the entire duration of the visa or residence permit. Students can either purchase international health insurance in their home country before departure or obtain a policy from an approved Italian provider after arrival.
Proof of health insurance - either a valid EHIC or private policy - must be submitted to the Unicollege International Office by email at the time of application and must cover the entire period of the exchange or study programme.
Note: while registration with the Italian National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale - SSN) is not mandatory, it is available to international students upon registering their residence and paying a yearly fee. Enrolment in the SSN is highly recommended for long-term stays, as it grants access to public healthcare services under the same conditions as Italian citizens.
For further details, please consult the Italian Ministry of Health or contact the International Office at Unicollege.
Compared to many other Western European countries, Italy is relatively affordable, but international students should still budget carefully - particularly if they plan to live in larger cities. Living expenses can differ widely based on location, lifestyle, and the type of housing selected.
Unicollege advises international students to allocate around 700 to 900 euros per month to cover essential costs such as accommodation, food, transportation, and personal expenses. While some students may be able to take on part-time jobs during their studies, it can be difficult to find work without a solid grasp of the Italian language, and opportunities may be limited. Therefore, it is recommended that students rely primarily on their own financial resources rather than expecting income from part-time employment.
Unicollege campuses are situated in smaller towns and cities, where students often have the convenience of walking or biking to class and around town, helping to reduce transportation expenses. As a result, although thoughtful financial planning is necessary, studying at Unicollege can offer a high standard of living at a relatively manageable cost.
Unicollege has three campuses located in Florence, Turin, and Mantua (Verona). Below you will find directions and transport tips for reaching each location.
If you need assistance planning your journey or would like airport pick-up information (if available), please contact the Unicollege International Office.
Unicollege offers accommodation in single, double, and triple rooms within its on-campus student residence. Given the limited availability of places, prospective residents are advised to contact the Housing Coordinator well in advance to ensure the possibility of securing a room. In the event that on-campus accommodation is fully occupied, the Housing Coordinator remains available to support students in forming housing groups for the purpose of renting full apartments off campus.
Degree courses are usually structured in credits (crediti formativi universitari - CFU). A university credit generally corresponds to 25 hours of global work per student, time for personal study included. The average workload of a full-time student is conventionally fixed at 60 credits/year.
Marks are awarded out of 30: therefore 18/30 corresponds to a "pass" and the maximum mark is "30" or "30 with praise" (30 cum laude).
