Italy Universities & admissions - Intakes & deadlines

Italian universities mainly offer two intakes for international students, a Fall intake in September to October and a Spring intake in February. The Fall intake offers more programmes. Fall applications usually open between November and May, while Spring applications generally run from September to November.

Germany charges no tuition at most public universities but requires an €11,904 blocked account for a student visa, while Italy has variable tuition and no mandatory blocked account, needing proof of about €6,079 a year instead, though a true January 2027 start is rare in either country.

Yes, choose the September Fall intake. Around 80 percent of Italy's Master's programmes launch then, including English-taught Sociology tracks at Sapienza, Bologna, and Milan. Your 24 months of experience strengthens your SOP, and September aligns with the MAECI and DSU scholarship deadlines that the limited February intake mostly misses.

Yes, a masters in Italy is a practical backup or refresh option. Public tuition runs 900 to 4,000 euros a year on an income-based scale, English-taught programs are widely available, and graduates can convert their student visa into a 12-month job-seeking residence permit.

Taking your SAT and IELTS by March can still work for many Italian universities, but finishing before December is better, since early rounds open November to January with more seats and room for a retake. By March, seats shrink and a weak score leaves no time to retest.