How to apply for a Professional Master’s Programme if you are a non-EU citizen

If you have an Italian qualification

You are eligible for a first-level Professional Master's Programme if you already hold, or will hold before the start of the programme, one of the following qualifications:

• Laurea (Italian first-cycle degree programme);
• first-level academic qualification issued by AFAM (Advanced Artistic and Musical Training) institutions;

You are eligible for a second-level Professional Master's Programme if you already hold, or will hold before the start of the programme, one of the following qualifications:

• Laurea Magistrale (Italian second-cycle degree programme);
• Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico (Italian single-cycle degree programme);
• Laurea Specialistica (Italian second-cycle degree programme);
• Laurea vecchio ordinamento (pre-1999 reform);
• second-level academic qualification issued by AFAM (Advanced Artistic and Musical Training). institutions.

If you have a foreign qualification

• your foreign qualification must be eligible in accordance with the principles enshrined in international conventions. To check this, you can contact the institution that issued your qualification or consult online databases such as those of the ENIC-NARIC centres;
• plan ahead because, in case of admission, you may have to translate and document the value and authenticity of your qualification: the time required may depend on the country where you obtained it.

• See the list of Professional Master's Programmes available and choose the one you are interested in;
• Carefully read:
• the call for applications;
• the Professional Master's Programme data sheet;
• the language requirements;
• the deadlines;
• the documents required to sit the entrance exam (indicated in art. 3 of the call for applications).

Find all the information in the overview of your chosen Professional Master's Programme

Fees

Professional Master's Programmes provide for a non-refundable registration fee for participating in the selection, and, in the event of admission, for different tuition fees depending on the programme.

Check the fees in the data sheet of the relevant Professional Master's Programme

Exemptions and Reduced Fees

As outlined in the guidelines for professional courses, professional master's programmes are funded through student tuition fees. However, certain exemptions or reductions may be available in specific cases:

• Exemptions for individuals with disabilities: While professional master's programmes do not typically qualify for exemption from tuition and university fees (as per Legislative Decree 68/2012, art.9, paragraph 8), arrangements can be made, in agreement with the professional master's programme management, to admit one or two individuals possessing certification of civil disability equal to or greater than 66%, or certification pursuant to Law 104/92, provided they meet the selection criteria. In such cases, enrolment is in excess of the standard number and exempts payment of the tuition fee, excluding fixed charges and the selection registration fee, which remains payable. Availability of such exemptions is indicated in the details of each professional master's programme.
• Exemptions for University of Bologna staff: Two additional places beyond the maximum number specified for each professional master's programme are reserved for Professional (TA) staff and Collaborators and Foreign Language Instructors (CEL) of the University, with exemption from tuition fees, excluding fixed charges (regional tax, stamp duty, and insurance). Access is limited to part-time professional master's programmes identified by the Personnel Division in relation to the University's training needs for various professional roles. Interested staff must participate in the selection process, pay the required fee, and be deemed eligible in the ranking, in addition to following the Personnel Division's guidelines to benefit from the exemption. For more information, you can contact apos.master-ta@unibo.it.
• Exemptions due to funding from third parties or other resources available to the professional master's programme: The professional master's programme management may offer full or partial exemptions based on funding from third parties or other available resources. In such cases, a fee of €184.54, covering the regional tax, stamp duty, insurance and parchment remains payable. Availability of these exemptions is indicated in the details of each professional master's programme.
• Reduced fees for members of the Almae Matris Alumni Association: One or two reduced fees (20% less than the tuition fee) are available for members of the Almae Matris Alumni Association. These places are additional to the maximum number specified. Availability is indicated in the details of each professional master's programme. To apply for the benefit, you must submit the To apply for the benefit, you must submit the self-certification form [.pdf 127 KB] on Studenti Online during the application phase by the deadline specified in the call for applications. on Studenti Online during the application phase by the deadline specified in the call for applications.

Start looking for a place to live in the city where you are going to study well in advance.

Discover the support services available

Check if you need a visa for Italy.

Ask the Embassy or Consulate about how you can get:

• a Postgraduate student visa;
• an Italian tax code, if the service is available;
• any translation, legalisation and declaration of value of your qualification;
• an appointment as soon as possible.

Documents required

Only qualifications submitted on the deadline indicated in the call for applications will be considered.

Please attach:

1. front and back copy of a valid identity document
2. degree certificate, i.e. a self-certification of degree detailing the exams taken with the corresponding grades or, for those who have not graduated yet, the exams taken with the corresponding grades and the expected graduation date
3. curriculum vitae

For Professional Master's Programmes in the area of health (medicine, dentistry, nursing, health professions)

You must register with the competent Italian Professional Board (or Register) or you will not be able to carry out practical work during your curricular internship. If you have a foreign qualification, in order to do your internship, you must obtain full recognition of your licences by the Italian Ministry of Health.

Further information

Documents required

Only qualifications submitted on the deadline indicated in the call for applications will be considered.

Please attach:

1. front and back copy of a valid identity document
2. degree certificate
3. curriculum vitae

Degree certificate

You must attach a translated and legalised copy of your degree certificate with the corresponding declaration of value or a certificate of comparability issued by an ENIC-NARIC centre.

Some exceptions:

• No translation is required for qualifications issued in English, French or Spanish.
• No legalisation or apostille is required for qualifications issued by institutions based in Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Latvia (Brussels Convention 1987), Germany (Rome Convention 1969) and Austria (Vienna Convention 1975).
• For academic qualifications issued by institutions of countries in the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process), the declaration of value can be replaced by a Diploma Supplement issued by the relevant institution based on the European Commission form.

Learn more about translation, authenticity and value of foreign qualifications

For Professional Master's Programmes in the area of health (medicine, dentistry, nursing, health professions)

You must register with the competent Italian Professional Board (or Register) or you will not be able to carry out practical work during your curricular internship. If you have a foreign qualification, in order to do your internship, you must obtain full recognition of your licences by the Italian Ministry of Health.

Further information

Applicants must register for the selection online by 23:59 on the deadline indicated in the data sheet of the relevant Professional Master's Programme.

In order to register for the selection, you must pay a €60 registration fee. Failure to pay will result in the rejection of your application.

In order to register for the selection, you must log in to Studenti Online using your institutional credentials name.surname@studio.unibo.it or your SPID digital identity.

Institutional credentials @studio.unibo.it

Create your credentials to access Studenti Online, your personal profile where you can find information on your university career and carry out all the paperwork, including enrolment in the programme.

If you have participated even once in a selection procedure or attended a programme at the University of Bologna, you already have your credentials. If you have forgotten your password you can reset it using the credentials recovery service, also using your SPID or CIE digital identity.

If you have a disability

Professional Master's Programmes do not entitle to exemption from tuition fees (Legislative Decree 68/2012, Article 9, paragraph 8). However, subject to agreement with the Professional Master's Programme director, the call for applications may provide for the enrolment of one or two students with a certified legal disability of 66% or more or with a certification under Law 104/92 in excess of the maximum number, provided they are eligible for the selection. Such student(s) will be exempted from paying tuition fees, net of any fixed costs and of the selection registration fee.

In order to apply for a reserved place, you must submit a request to that effect by the closing date for applications, accompanied by the legal disability certificate issued by INPS, to be attached to your application.

Applicants with disabilities pursuant to Law no. 104 of 05/02/1992, applicants with legal disability and applicants who need to use adaptations to overcome certified difficulties in taking the entrance exam may request them by completing the document (Request for adaptation form) available in the pre-enrolment procedure on Studenti Online.

How to apply

• Log in to Studenti Online using your institutional credentials
• Click on "Admission application"
• Choose the type of Professional Master's Programme you are applying for between: First-level Professional Master's Programme; Second-level Professional Master's Programme
• Click on "Continue"
• Follow the instructions to fill out the application, attach all required and any additional documentation
• If you have a certified disability, request the necessary adaptations
• Pay the €60 selection registration fee via the PagoPA system. Read the instructions for using PagoPA [.pdf 314 KB]
• Upload the required documents
• Click on "Send request"

Applications completed but not sent by the deadline will not be admitted to the selection.

After sending the request, your application will display the following status: "Request sent: your request was sent successfully". You can check the status of your application on Studenti Online. You will not be notified by email about the successful submission of your application.

If the exam is in person, check whether you need an entry visa to Italy.

If you need to apply for a visa, you can contact the Ufficio Master at master@unibo.it. You will be issued with a declaration of admission to the exam, indicating the dates and the compulsory attendance requirement. You can use this declaration to apply for an entry visa from the relevant Embassy or Consulate of Italy.

Make an appointment at the Embassy and ask which visa you need and what documents are required.

In order to be admitted to a Professional Master's Programme, you must pass the selection.

Admission will be granted to eligible applicants, within the limits of available places, based on the final ranking list.

The ranking list will be based on the total score awarded, as specified in the relevant data sheet.

The examination committee will be appointed by the Professional Master's Programme scientific board. The selection procedure supervisor is the Professional Master's Programme director.

The results of the selection for admission will be published on Studenti Online.

If you are admitted to the Professional Master's Programme, you may enrol:

• log in to Studenti Online using your name.surname@studio.unibo.it credentials or SPID credentials
• click on "Enrolment (Enrol in a programme)"
• choose the type of Professional Master's Programme you are enrolling in between First-level Professional Master's Programme; Second-level Professional Master's Programme
• click on "Continue"
• follow the instructions provided by the system (enter, update, confirm your data)
• upload a passport size photo
• pay the first instalment of tuition fees by the enrolment closing date stated in the data sheet of the Professional Master's Programme you are enrolling in, as instructed on Studenti Online
• If the cost of enrolment in the master's programme is covered by third parties (public bodies, foundations, companies, etc.), download the form "Enrolment - Data entered" from Studenti Online and send it signed to master@unibo.it with a passport-size photograph.
• send a copy of your (Postgraduate) student visa and the receipt confirming that you have applied for a student residence permit to the Ufficio Master (master@unibo.it).

Enrolment of applicants next on the ranking list

Should any successful applicant withdraw, the next eligible applicant on the ranking list will receive a notice via email at name.surname@studio.unibo.it, indicating the deadlines for enrolment. Replacement applicants who fail to enrol by the deadline provided will be deemed as having tacitly withdrawn.

After enrolling:

• read the information about the visa for Italy, by choosing as reason for your stay: "STUDY - POSTGRADUATE";
• pre-register online via the Universitaly website. In your application, you must indicate the University of Bologna and choose the Professional Master's Programme you are enrolled in. You must also indicate the Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for a visa to enter Italy;
• contact the Embassy or Consulate well in advance to find out the requirements for obtaining an entry visa.

Make an appointment at the Embassy or Consulate and take with you:

• the summary of your pre-enrolment application via Universitaly, validated by the University of Bologna;
• the document certifying that you have sufficient funds to stay in Italy (minimum required for 2026: € 10.179,85);
• your health insurance, if any;
• the Italian Revenue Agency forms to apply for the Italian tax code. The forms can be found in the website of the Embassy or Consulate, if they offer this service;
• your qualification, in order to translate, legalise and authenticate it, if required and if they offer this service;

You will need to obtain a "Study - Postgraduate" visa, the required documents and possibly an Italian tax code from the Embassy or Consulate.

From your arrival in Italy and throughout your stay, you must be covered by private health insurance or by the Italian National Health Service. You can only register with the Italian National Health Service after your arrival in Italy. If you intend to do so, you may consider purchasing short-term private insurance to cover the trip and the first period in Italy (unless otherwise specified by the Embassy for the purposes of obtaining your visa). If you do not intend to do so, you may consider buying a longer private insurance policy (at least 1 year).

Find out more

If the Embassy or Consulate did not issue you with an Italian tax code before your arrival in Italy, you can find information on how to obtain one on the Italian Revenue Agency portal.

You will need this code to register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN).

If you want to register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN), pay the annual fee

For those applying for or holding a residence permit for study purposes, the minimum cost is € 700.00 per year. Registration is per calendar year only (e.g. from 1 January to 31 December) and it is not possible to pay reduced fees for shorter periods.

It is possible to pay to register for the current year and also for the entire following calendar year (e.g. 2026 and 2027). This possibility grants health coverage for one academic year and is useful for students who arrive, for example, in September and intend to apply for a 1-year residence permit for study purposes.

To cover of any dependant family members, the minimum fee is € 2,000 per year.

To request information about voluntary registration and to verify your eligibility, you can contact an AUSL “Sportello Unico” (CUP) office. Consult the list of “Sportello Unico” (CUP) in Bologna and Romagna (Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini).

Start the registration procedure:

• pay the annual fee via the ordinary F24 form. If you want to register for two consecutive years (for example 2026 and 2027), you must make two separate payments. You must fill in the following sections:
• “Contribuente” (taxpayer) entering your personal data;
• “Sezione regioni” (regions section) indicating: “codice regione” (region code) 06 (Emilia-Romagna) and “codice tributo” (fee code) 8846;
• “Anno di riferimento” (reference year): the calendar year for which you want to register with the SSN, for example 2026;
• “Importi a debito versati” (amounts paid): €700, if you have no other income besides your scholarship and you do not want to include your family members in the coverage.
  You can pay in various ways. For example, if you have an Italian bank account that offers home banking services, you can fill out a digital F24 form and pay online by debiting your account; you can also pay at any bank in cash or with Pagobancomat cards;
• make a copy of your payment receipts and attach them to your application for initial issuing or renewal of your residence permit.

Apply for a residence permit

Within eight days of arrival in Italy, apply for a permit. You can do this on your own or with our help.

Send the receipt for the residence permit application to master@unibo.it.

Activate your health coverage and choose a general practitioner

After submitting your application for a residence permit, return to the Local Health Authority Desk (CUP) as soon as possible to activate your health coverage and choose a general practitioner. See the list of Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) in Bologna and Romagna (provinces of Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini).

Take with you:

• your passport;
• your official Italian tax code;
• your certificate of enrolment in the University of Bologna;
• the annual fee payment receipts;
• the residence permit application postal receipt (or your residence permit itself, if you already have one);
• for Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) in Bologna, the voluntary registration form [.pdf 346 KB] [.pdf 967 KB] for non-EU citizens; here is an example with instructions on how to fill in the form [.pdf 659 KB].

Payment alone does not imply activation of the coverage. You must complete the registration at an AUSL office and choose a general practitioner (family doctor).

If you are paying for two consecutive years, remember that at the end of the current year you must return to the CUP with the payment receipt for the following year, and ask for the service to be activated.

Always check the coverage end date.

Those registered with the Italian National Health Service will receive a Health Card by post. The card is sent to the address provided to the Italian Revenue Agency; you can contact the Italian Revenue Agency to update your address and to have the card reprinted.

For information about attendance, teaching and internship, visit the website of your Professional Master's Programme.

All students enrolled in Professional Master's Programmes for medical doctors or orthodontists, as well as any other students required to do so, need to submit the infectious disease screening form of the Wellbeing, Health and Safety Division – Occupational Medicine Unit, available as an annex to the data sheets of the Professional Master's Programmes.