Three Ways to Study in Italy as an Undergraduate

Although Italy is not a large country, that does not stop it from being highly developed overall. Its healthcare system and education system are both very well established, and the cost of living is much lower than in Europe and the United States. For many students, it is an ideal study-abroad destination.

Chinese students who want to study in Italy generally apply through three routes: the Marco Polo Program, the Turandot Program, and the international student route. Students who go through the first two programs are also referred to as international students. For public universities in Italy, these program routes and the international student route are the standard pathways for admission.

Among the program routes, the Marco Polo Program has a broader application range and is intended for students who want to apply to comprehensive universities. It is worth noting that comprehensive universities in Italy also offer art-related majors, such as fashion design, product design, interior design, and architectural design. The Turandot Program, by contrast, has a narrower scope and is mainly aimed at students who want to apply to Italian academies of fine arts or conservatories.

【Marco Polo Program】

The Marco Polo Program is an educational initiative designed to promote study and further education for Chinese students in Italy. It was launched by the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) and aims to strengthen academic exchange between Italy and China from the end of 2005 onward, while consolidating the stable relationship that already exists between the two countries. To study in Italy through the Marco Polo Program, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must have passing Gaokao and academic proficiency test results. If the maximum score is 750, your Gaokao score must be at least 400. If the total score is not based on 750, the score will be converted proportionally.

2. You must hold the original high school graduation certificate, or an equivalent qualification from a vocational high school or similar institution. However, if you graduated from a vocational high school or technical secondary school, you must also provide additional documents, including the enrollment record and graduation record stamped by the school, as well as an academic qualification verification report issued by the local provincial education department.

3. Your primary school, middle school, and high school education must total 12 years or more. Most students meet this requirement. However, if your local education system has been reformed, such as changing from a 5-3-3 structure to a 6-3-3 structure, resulting in only 11 years of primary, middle, and high school education, you must provide the Italian embassy with proof of one year of university enrollment, along with your freshman transcript and course descriptions.

【Turandot Program】

The Turandot Program was jointly launched in 2009 by Italian universities and the Italian government. It is a government program aimed primarily at Chinese students majoring in art, music, and design, providing them with the opportunity to study at Italian institutions of art and music. To apply for the Turandot Program, you must also meet the following requirements:

1. You must have a certain level of professional foundation in art, music, or a related arts field, and must provide relevant works or a portfolio.

2. You must have graduated from high school or hold an equivalent qualification, and must have taken the national college entrance examination. The formula is: 【Gaokao score + (art score ÷ total art score) × 750】 ÷ 2 ≥ 400, and your Gaokao academic score must be above 300.

3. You must provide academic proficiency test results. If your province did not organize such an exam, this is not required.

4. Your primary school, middle school, and high school education must total 12 years or more. Other cases are handled as above.

The requirements above are the mandatory criteria for program applicants. If you do not meet even one of them, you cannot study in Italy through these program routes. In that case, you can apply as an international student and then enter an Italian university by taking its entrance examination.

【International Student Application Requirements】

There is no limit on Gaokao scores for international student applications. No matter what score you received, you can apply. However, you must have taken the Gaokao, or an art entrance examination if you are applying to an academy of fine arts or a conservatory.

Note: Shanghai applicants are an exception. For students under the Shanghai consular district, Gaokao scores are subject to a minimum requirement, and they must meet the local junior college admission cutoff.

Of course, this only determines whether you qualify for the program routes or the international student route. It is not yet the full set of requirements for applying to an Italian undergraduate program. We will continue explaining that in the next article.