ADMISSIONS IN ITALIAN UNIVERSITIES AND VISA GUIDE

2020
This guide will help you step by step from admission to scholarship
and visa process and after arrival requirements.

Admissions are open from January to March/April.

THIS GUIDE HAS 6 SECTIONS

 Shortlist University
 Getting admission in Italian university.
 Verification process of all educational documents
 Getting appointment in embassy for filing your case.
 Documents you need to take to embassy.
 Applying for scholarship
 After arrival requirements
 Section 1
SELECT A UNIVERSITY
Step 1: FIND UNIVERSITY (PROGRAM)

Following are some website where you can filter your desired universities.

Ph.D/MS/BS: https://www.universitaly.it
MS: https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/1615/how-to-apply-to-an-international-
university-in-italy-in-2019.html
BS: https://www.bachelorsportal.com/
https://europe.graduateshotline.com/it.html

Some top universities in Italy you should consider for your study abroad adventure:

 University of Rome Tor Vergata (www.uniroma2.it)

 Sapienza University of Rome (www.uniroma1.it)
 Siena university (www.unisi.it)
 Polytechnic di Torino (www.unito.it)
 University of Milan (www.unimi.it)
 University of Cassino (www.eng.unicas.it)
 Ca’ Foscari university Venezia (www.unive.it/english)
 University of Pisa (www.unipi.it)
 University of Florence (www.unifi.it)
Search for other Universities on google by simply typing “Italian Public Universities”

Step 2: CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY

For each university check their eligibility criteria & admission requirements on the official website
of university/faculty.

Step 3: IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

Every Program has its own deadline and dates. Most of the Italian universities have one intake in
a year for foreign students. Admission Opens from January to March/April. However better to
Check Date on official site of university.
Most Universities application process is online and with or without application fee, in some
cases you might have to send some documents to respective university. Following are the
required documents which you upload on online portal of university.
 Educational Docs
 Motivation Letter
 Passport Copy
 Language Proficiency Certificate/IELTS
 Letter of Recommendations
 CV
 Job Certificates (Optional)
STEP 4 APPLY FOR ADMISSION
You can select any university according to your need, choice and course. Once you select a
university. You must create your own ID on their website, look for the words “Sign up”,
“Register” or “Apply”. After creating your ID, you will be able to apply for the course of your
wish. Upload all (scanned) required documents and click done. You will receive a confirmation
mail from your university (the email id on which you have registered yourself) confirming that we
have received your documents etc.

Step 4 WAIT FOR RESULT

Apply in 2-3 Universities and Program for your better chances in Italy. Some universities also take
Admission test and Interview (online). But it varies from university to university. After university
evaluate your documents and if you are eligible for the admission, they will send you the Offer
Letter or Letter of Acceptance. Usually they take 15-30 days.

Question 1: My documents are not verified, will university issue “letter of acceptance”?

Answer: Yes, university will issue you “Offer letter” or “letter of acceptance” with non-verified
educational documents. However, before going to embassy for interview and filing your via
application you must verify all your educational documents from concern board, IBCC,
university and HEC.

Question 2: I don’t have my IELTS certificate, will university give me admission?

Answer: Yes, university will grant you admission, IELTS is not required by most of the Italian
universities. But for visa purpose, you need IELTS because it is required by Italian embassy.

Question 3: How much bands do I need in IELTS?

Answer: Embassy requires min 5.5 for bachelor and 6.0 for master. However, I have seen master
students getting their visas on 5.5 and bachelor getting it on 5 bands if your educational
background is good.
 Section 2 POST ADMISSION PROCEDURES
STEP 1: Verification of the Educational Documents

1. BOARD: Attest Original and 4 copies of Matric/FSc Degree and Transcript from your
respective board. The cost of verification depends on the board and it takes 5-10 days.
Usually, Rs. 200 rupees per document. You might be given one photocopy of each above
mentioned documents in sealed envelope of board. You don’t have to open that
envelope, it’s for the IBCC record.

2. IBCC: Once your board verifies your education document you need to attest same
documents from IBCC (http://www.ibcc.edu.pk/). You can find location of the offices and
timings from this website. Usually it is located inside the board office building.
Note: Usually board and IBCC keeps 1-1 copy for their own record, so it’s better to take 5
copies of each document. So, in the end you should have 3 copies of each document.

3. University: Take your bachelor/master’s degree + transcript (DMC) + 3,3 copies of each
document and verify it from your university (fee and time required for verification differ
university to university).

4. HEC: After verifying degree and transcript from university. Book an appointment on HEC
website for universities’ degree verification. Though HEC attests it in one day. However,
appointment date takes much time, depending on the availability. You can attest it from
HEC head office Islamabad or your regional HEC office. (HEC fees are usually 800/- PKR
for original and 500/- PKR per copy). One thing you should know that HEC will verify
your degree and transcript if your Matric and Fsc certificates and DMCs are already
verified.

5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): After verifying all your documents from Board, IBCC,
University and from HEC, you should take all you document to foreign office or their
regional office (CAMP Office) for attestation. Usually it is in Civil Secretariat office. They
attest it in one day. But before going to Secretariat office. You should purchase postal
stamp from post office (nearby MOFA Office), it will be paced on your educational
documents.
 Rs 25 Postal Stamp for university’s degree/Transcript
 Rs 5 Postal Stamp for Matric/Fsc Degree and Transcript

Recently, MOFA started QR CODING system. In this case postal stamps might not be required.

6. After attestation, you need to translate these documents to ITALIAN TRANSLATION.

Translation is done from approved agencies; embassy won’t accept your translations if
you translate it from somewhere else. Approved translator is mentioned below.
STEP 2: PRE-ENROLLMENT PROCESS

This process is different for students from Balochistan/Sindh and Punjab/KPK/Gilgit.

 Students from capital, Punjab, KPK and Gilgit.

After that you have your offer letter and your documents are fully and completely ready.
You will have to take appointment in embassy for an interview and submit your file.
Embassy issues appointment from April – July and apply for appointment as soon as the
portal on Italian embassy Islamabad is open. The web address of Italian embassy is simple
and easy. The Italian embassy website is www.ambislamabad.esteri.it
Once you apply for appointment, embassy will notify you on your email/phone number.
Your time and date of appointment. Sooner you apply for appointment sooner will you
get the appointment. On the day of appointment, you will have your interview and apply
for DOV. Both will be done in same day. DOV requirement will be explained below. So,
you need to prepare documents for both DOV and VISA in 30-45 days.

 Students from Sindh/Balochistan.

Apply for visa from Italian Consulate Karachi. This process is done in 2 steps. At first,
student apply for DOV through Gerry. When DOV is received, then apply for visa. So, once
student has received his/her admission letter. Student must write an email to Italian
consulate Karachi asking for DOV (Declaration of Value) documents requirement.
Consulate email address is: segreteria.karachi@esteri.it
NOTE: Consulate will provide updated checklist. But usually these documents are as
follow.

CHECK LIST FOR DECLARATION OF VALUE – It is required for all students

 Passport Copy
 Admission Letter Copy
 FORM A, C (SAMPLE IS ATTACHED IN LAST SECTION)
 BACHELOR’S DEGREE/ MASTER’S DEGREE ORIGINAL + 3 COPIES
ATTESTED BY: MOFA + HEC + Respective University and Translated in ITALIAN LANGUAGE
 TRANSCRIPT ORIGINAL + 3 COPIES
ATTESTED BY: MOFA + HEC + Respective University and Translated in ITALIAN LANGUAGE
 HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL + 3 COPIES
ATTESTED BY: MOFA + IBCC + Respective Board and translated in ITALIAN LANGUAGE
 SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE ORIGINAL + 3 COPIES
ATTESTED BY: MOFA + IBCC + Respective Board and translated in ITALIAN LANGUAGE

DOCUMENTS TRANSLATION: It must be done from Authorized Person/Agency Only. It will be

mentioned on DOV Checklist or embassy website.
Students from Sindh/Balochistan - DOV and Visa: Prepare above mentioned documents of DOV
as soon as possible, once all documents are ready. Submit these documents at Gerry Office. Gerry
will forward your application to Consulate. Once your DOV is ready. You will receive a call/email
from Gerry to collect it – Usually it takes one month or maybe more or less sometime.
Meanwhile student can prepare documents for visa and when DOV is ready for collection and
visa documents are also prepared submit a visa file at Gerry office. Again, Gerry Office will
forward student’s application to Consulate. After some time, student will receive a call from
Consulate for Visa Interview.

Step 3: PREPARE CONSULATE/EMBASSY DOCS FOR VISA

1. Visa application form + Data form (SAMPLE IS ATTACHED IN FILES SECTION OF GROUP)
2. CNIC copy
3. Admission letter/ Acceptance letter
4. D.O.V (Declaration of Value)
5. Attested Educational Documents + Copies + Translation
6. FORM A & FORM C (SAMPLE IS ATTACHED IN FILES SECTION OF GROUP)
7. Polio Certificate
8. IELTS (Minimum 6 Bands)
9. Ticket (one way towards Italy) – DUMY TICKET
10. Hotel/Accommodation Proof (– DUMY BOOKING. At least one month – It can be done
through booking.com)
11. Insurance - Applicant should not obtain Travel Insurance for a single destination country
but for the Schengen States. You are required to contract a full Schengen Travel Insurance,
covering – for a Minimum amount of 30,000.00 Euros (Thirty Thousand Euro’s). It will cost
approx. Rs. 8,000-11,000.
12. Sponsor Affidavit of Support (SAMPLE IS ATTACHED IN FILES SECTION OF GROUP)
13. Sponsor ID
14. Sponsor Bank Statement and Account Maintenance Certificate (standard amount is 8000
Euro or Rs. 15 lac)
15. Family Registration Certificate (issued from NADRA)
16. Original Passport & Photocopies
17. CV
18. Course contents you studied, verified by university (optional)
19. Pictures (White background)

Students from Sindh/Balochistan will submit these documents at GERRY OFFICE. Visa fee is
approx. Rs. 14,200/- for one-year multiple student visa and students from other
provinces will take these documents + DOV documents to embassy on day of interview. They
will call you most probably after 30-45 days to appear for interview. On day of interview, take fresh
bank statement, not minimum 15 days old.

Step 4: WAIT FOR PASSPORT COLLECTION CALL

After submitting your passport, visa form and visa interview wait again for Italian
embassy/consulate to call you for passport collection.

NOTE: This whole process will take 6, 7 months. So,

don’t be panic. Usually students get their passport back from
August to October with visa sticker or rejection letter.
 Section 3
SCHOLARSHIP
Mostly Scholarships are need base withot any marit. Scholarships are with different
names so first check university region then apply for scholarship. I explained 2
regions scholarship which covered almost all universities.
SCHOLARSHIP & VISA are two different processes. “DO NOT MIX IT” For visa purpose you must
prove you have enough finances to cover your studies and meet your expenses.

Mostly students ask about scholarships in Italy So I am trying to provide you very brief but effective details
about this. I think in European Union only it’s now Italy which is providing you all benefits of living and studying
without any merit. So charming thing to notice is that Education is ABSOLUTELY FREE neither (Neither Tuition
fee nor any charges of Living).But important thing is how to get this Scholarship. So my purpose is to introduce
Prospective Students with this scholarship.
Every region in Italy has government funded scholarship with different names. Scholarship amount is same for
all region. However, there is a little variation in how to apply for scholarship.

LAZIO region (Rome and Surrounding cities). In Lazio region, it is LazioDisco

scholarship. It is announced in June – July.

STEP 1: APPLY ONLINE through this website when scholarship is announced in June – July
http://www.laziodisco.it/

STEP 2: Once your online application is completed you will get a receipt in the end. You just need to print
that receipt. Sign it and courier it to ITALY (Scholarship Office) along with your passport copy. If you have
enough time, then send it through PAKISTAN POST. It will save your money. Instead of paying a lot of
money to private courier services. IMPORTANT: Do not send your document with another friend’s
document. In one envelope there should be only one applicant’s documents.

STEP 3: When your receipt and passport copy is received in LazioDiscu Office, they will send a PIN on your
Pakistani phone number. You need to login again on your scholarship portal and insert this PIN number in
application. And your scholarship application process will be completed. This is very important and
essential step. Until you do not insert your PIN, your application is still considered incomplete.

STEP 4: LAZIODISCU will publish a scholarship winner list in August – September. You need to login in your
laziodiscu account. If you’re eligible for scholarship. It will be written WINNER for you. It is a confirmation
that you’re eligible for scholarship. BUT you need below mentioned documents.

STEP 5: Before coming to ITALY, you need following documents for scholarship purpose.

1. Property certificate issued by tehsildar or DC or MUKHTIARKAR office or whoever deals

property in your province. (SAMPLE IS ATTACHED IN FILES SECTION OF GROUP)
 2. Income certificate on FBR letter head (SAMPLE IS ATTACHED IN FILES SECTION OF GROUP)
P.S : students from tax free zone are requested to prepare income certificate on simple white A4
paper (specimen is available in files section of group) and attest it from tehsildar of their area and
foreign office.

3. FRC "family registration certificate” which you can get from NADRA Office or on their online
portal.

Above 3 documents must be duly attested by MOFA. Postal Stamp of Rs. 10 will be paced on all. Recently, MOFA
started QR CODING system. In this case postal stamps might not be required.

NOTE: Don’t submit DiscoLazio scholarship documents in Italian embassy Pakistan. You must submit these
documents here in DiscoLazio Office, Italy after verification from Pakistan Embassy Rome, Italy. By
verification I mean. Once you reach Italy, you will take these 3 documents to Pakistan Embassy, Rome for
translation of document. Embassy will issue you a certificate. It is a one pager certificate which is summary
of all 3 documents. Then you will take this certificate to Prefettura office with €16 Marco di Bollo Sticker.
They will legalize it and paste that sticker on the back. After that you can submit these scholarship
documents at LAZIODisco Office.

IMPORTANT:
You will not get scholarship amount immediately. It takes 4-5 months to release first installment. So, you
should have minimum €2000-2200 with you in the beginning. It will cover your university tax fee (if you
are scholarship winner), annual transportation card, Permesso di Soggiorno fee, and your monthly living
and mess cost, and other small expenses required.

Scholarship will be released in 2 installments.

 First Installment will be worth €2600.
 Second installment of €2600 will be released after 10 months.

So, spend your money wisely.

If you get university accommodation in any LAZIODISCU hostel. And you don’t want to move to that
hostel. Then you need to submit the house contract, proving where you are living. Because DSU always
ask the copy of the Contract to proceed your accommodation money, if you don’t provide the contract
they will not give you full scholarship, they will give you half money because they don’t have your contract
OR if you move to laziodiscu hostel. You won’t be given complete
€5200 in both cases. Accommodation amount will be reduced, and remaining amount will be paid. Which
will be approx. €3000-3500.
However, if you’re not provided university accommodation by laziodiscu, then in this case you
will get complete scholarship of €5200.
(Monthly living cost ranges from 300-350 Euro minimum, depending on your living standards)
 For second year, you must have passed minimum 30 CFU in your first-year exams. And you
also need 3 required documents which has been mentioned above.

DSU SCHOLARSHIP
Italy is divided into Regions and each region has its own governance system. Sometimes rules are totally
changed. Regions in the north of Italy are strict (Turin and Milan etc.) as compare to regions in south (Tuscany,
Rome and more) of Italy. Every region is giving students the benefits to study. These benefits are commonly
known as DSU scholarship which is for every student including EU or non-EU students. It covers all the expenses
of students if he/she is too poor to meet the study expenses in Italy. It gives (Food+Tution fee waiver+ Monthly
stipend) to enable poor students to focus on their studies.
THING IS THAT EVERY PAKISTANI STUDENT CAN GET THIS SCHOLARSHIP!!!!!!
DSU bodies in each region need some documents from students from their home country to show their
family financial status. This is the only requirement.
For Tuscany region DSU need three documents attested from Foreign office and then translate and attest
from Pakistan embassy in Rome. These are the following:
1. Family Registration Certificate (FRC) from NADRA

2. Income certificate of your father from FBR on FBR letter head showing annual
income earned for last year. (Specimen is available in files section of group)
NOTE : students from tax free zone are requested to prepare income certificate on
simple white A4 paper (specimen is available in files section of group) and attest it
from tehsildar of their area and foreign office.

3. Assets declaration, if you don’t have any property you can submit Rent agreement of
house in which you are living along with property certificate attested by tehsildar (Specimen
of Property Certificate is available in files section of group)
REMEMBER THAT THESE DOCUMENTS MUST BE ATTESTED FROM FOREIGN OFFICE
IN PAKISTAN AND PAKISTAN EMBASSY IN ROME, ITALY!!!!
Because DSU officials are very strict in this matter. If any document that you want to show or send to DSU is
attested by both authorities then it will be acceptable to DSU otherwise not.
Normally the DSU call is announced in July and last date is in early Sept. If you need
more information you can visit the following DSU website:
http://www.dsu.toscana.it/
Hope that this information will be useful to all of you. Best of Luck
for your career!!!!
 Section 4 AFTER ARRIVAL

STEP 1: Get the Local Sim card, there are some packages so you need to activate the internet
package which will help you to reach location easily through google maps. It will cost approx. €25
for the first time and then €5-10 per month. Some sim connections are;

 Vodafone
 WIND
 LycaMobile
 TIM

STEP 2: Apply for the “Codice Fiscale”, you need to go the nearest “Agenzia delle Entrate” in
your city, search the name in your Google and reach easily at the location. It is a very important
and essential document; you will be required everywhere. Required documents for codice fiscale
is passport copy & valid visa.

STEP 3: Make annual/monthly travel card. If you are in Rome City and make annual travel card it
will cost €250 if older than 26 years old and €125 if younger than 26 years.

STEP 4: Enrolment with University online. You must do it as soon as possible because you need
the copy of online enrolment in Permesso di soggiorno kit.

STEP 5: Search Post office “Poste Italiane” where you request for the Kit for “Permesso di
Soggiorno” they will handover you a complete form. You need to fill the form proper and also
need the following documents which will be attached with your application/Kit:

Or Google any CGIL office near by and go there and ask them that fill an application form for
you for “permesso de soggiorno”, and they will make a set for you with required documents to
submit it to post office. In this case you don’t need kit from post office.

 University Enrollment photocopy

 Your Visa and passport copy
 Your Codice Fiscale Copy
 Marco da bollo €16. It can be purchased from any Tabacchi Shop.
keep in mind you need the address in Italy for the submission so you should have address of your
any friend so you can mention in the application if you don’t have it.

Fees is approx. 105 Euro. You need to pay by cash or card etc.

“IT MUST BE DONE IN 8 DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL”

Once you submit your application in poste (Post office), they will give you receipt of your application
where you can see the Appointment Date for your fingerprints in the Questura (Police station).

STEP 6: Submit your documents to your university, you need to get appointment for the process,
keep in mind in Italy you need the appointment for everything so try to fix appointment with your
university for the submission of documents, once you submit the documents in university, and
pay university fee and tax (scholarship winner will only pay taxes). After that you are officially
REGISTRED in your respective course. You need the below documents copies for the university:

 DOV
 Your Visa and Passport copies
 Your Codice Fiscale copy
 Receipt of the Permesso di soggiorno from poste copy
 Online Enrolment copy
 Photo
Note: I will suggest you keep 3-4 sets of photocopies with you when you are leaving country and
some photos with you because you need them.
 Section 5 LIST OF AUTHORIZED TRANSLATOR AND INSURANCE COMPANIES AUTHORIZED
TRANSLATOR
These are the approved agencies for translating your educational documents to Italian language,
embassy won’t accept your translations if you translate it from somewhere else.

Disclaimer: This INFORMATION/AGENCIES can be changed with time, so it is better

to confirm from embassy/consulate before translating.

AGILE - ITALIAN SERVICES PAKISTAN PRIVATE LIMITED

Branch Office: Office: 07, 1rst Floor, London Shopping center, G9 Markaz, Karachi Company,
Islamabad.
Email: agilepakistan@gmail.com
Website: www.agilepakistan.org

AVANTI PAKISTAN
Office: N16, block 16/C F8 Markaz, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2252 381 Cell: +92-333-5169 899
Email: avantipak@gmail.com

FLAIR Translation Service

Office: 2nd floor, block 9/E F6 Super Market, Islamabad
Tel. +92-51-2601 658
www.flair.com.pk

Kansa Enterprises Translation Centre

Office 16-B, Basement Panorama Centre Double Road, Near Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Tel. +92-51-4855304,4855376
Email: kansa.trans@gmail.com
 APPROVED TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANIES

These companies provide travel medical insurance for Schengen states.

Disclaimer: This INFORMATION/AGENCIES can be changed with time, so it is better

to confirm from embassy/consulate before translating.

 ACE
 UBL Insurers Ltd
 UIC
 Universal Insurance Co. Ltd
 AIG
 Asia Insurance Co Ltd
 Askari General Insurance Company Ltd
 CICL (Century Insurance Company Ltd)
 East West Insurance Company Ltd
 EFU General
 IGI
 Jubilee General
 PICIC (Pakistan Industrial Credit Investment Corporation)
 SPI (Saudi Pak Insurance)
Common questions asked by visa officer:
1. Why Italy? /why do you want to study in Italy?
2. What is your university name?
3. How will you arrange your expenses/who is your sponsor?
4. What is your father’ monthly income?
5. When did you complete your studies/ your last degree?
6. Why do you have gap in your studies? (he may ask if you have any gap between
your studies)

Best of luck for your bright future!

Muhammad Irfan Mehsood