Before applying to the University of Bologna, spend some time on the page for the course you want to study. That is where you will find the details that matter: which qualifications are accepted, how applicants are selected and when the application closes. For the 2027–28 intake, start preparing your documents early, but use the admission notice for that academic year when making decisions. A deadline from a previous intake is not a deadline for your application. Choose your course and check the campus Bologna offers courses across subjects including engineering, economics, sciences, humanities and political sciences. Search the official catalogue by degree level, subject and teaching language, then read the curriculum rather than choosing by the course title alone. Pay attention to the location, too. The university has campuses in Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini. A University of Bologna offer does not necessarily mean your classes will be in Bologna city. Check this before looking for accommodation. Bachelor’s and single-cycle courses: https://www.unibo.it/en/study/first-and-single-cycle-degree Two-year master’s courses: https://www.unibo.it/en/study/second-cycle-degree Entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree For first-cycle and single-cycle admission, Bologna normally requires a suitable secondary school qualification awarded after at least 12 years of schooling. It must also give access to comparable university study in the education system where it was awarded. There may be additional conditions for particular qualifications. If you are applying from Pakistan, read the foreign qualification guidance alongside your course requirements. Do not treat completion of 12 years of education as automatic admission. Some bachelor’s courses use an entrance test such as a TOLC; others have a different selection procedure. Before booking a test, check the exact test accepted, its format, valid test dates and how the result must reach the university. What Bologna looks for in a master’s application For a two-year master’s degree, you need a suitable university qualification that allows progression to the next study cycle in the relevant education system. The course also assesses whether your previous studies meet its academic requirements. Your transcript matters here. A degree title may sound relevant while the subjects you studied do not cover the required background. The admissions board may examine your exams and, where necessary, course syllabi. Some programmes also assess preparation through an interview or other procedure. Use the requirements for your chosen programme when judging your chances. There is no reason to assume that a CGPA rule quoted for another Italian university applies to Bologna. Bologna’s guidance on foreign qualifications for master’s admission: https://www.unibo.it/en/study/enrolment-fees-and-other-procedures/degree-programmes/enrolling-in-a-second-cycle-degree-programme-foreign-qualification English tests and Medium of Instruction letters For an English-taught course, the admission call tells you how to meet the language requirement. Check the accepted certificates, required level, any validity period and the deadline for providing evidence. If your previous degree was taught in English, look specifically for the course’s rules on a Medium of Instruction letter. Do not assume that an MOI letter replaces IELTS or another test across the university. If the wording is unclear, ask the programme office before relying on an exemption. For Italian-taught degrees, non-EU applicants residing abroad must meet the applicable Italian-language requirement through an accepted route. Finding the right deadline for 2027–28 Bologna does not have one application deadline covering every degree. Open your programme website and look for its enrolment page and the 2027–28 admission call. If it still shows an earlier academic year, use it to understand the process and return for the new notice before applying. Record the application closing time, test or interview date, results date and the deadline to accept a place or enrol. Check which selection rounds are available to your applicant category, especially if you are a non-EU citizen living outside Italy and need a visa. Prepare documents that are easy to assess Build your application around the document list in the course call. Depending on the programme, this may include: • Passport or identity document. • School qualification or university degree, with the relevant marksheets or transcript. • Language evidence and any required admission test result. • CV, motivation letter, syllabi or other material requested by the programme. • Translations where required. For a motivation letter, explain why the curriculum fits your background. A relevant project, a subject you want to study further or a clear academic goal is more useful than a page of general praise for Italy. Keep application documents separate from the formal checks needed to complete enrolment. Bologna verifies foreign qualifications at matriculation and may require originals, translations and evidence of authenticity and value. Check the accepted methods and exemptions before paying for document services. Apply through Studenti Online Studenti Online is Bologna’s portal for admission and enrolment procedures. International applicants can obtain university credentials through the registration route indicated by the university. Follow the instructions for your programme: select the correct admission procedure, complete the requested information, upload the documents and pay any application fee specified in the call. Taking an external test does not replace a separate course application where one is required. Before submitting, open every uploaded file and check that all pages are readable. Save your confirmation and monitor the portal and university email for results or requests. If you receive an offer, complete its acceptance and enrolment steps by the stated deadlines. Studenti Online: https://studenti.unibo.it Tuition fees and scholarship options Bologna’s tuition charges depend on the programme and the applicable fee rules. Its current system includes a fixed component and a variable contribution, with reductions or exemptions available under specific conditions. Check the published 2027–28 amounts when they become available rather than budgeting from an older fee figure. ER.GO, the regional student support body, is another important place to check. Its calls cover benefits such as scholarships, accommodation and catering support, subject to eligibility and selection rules. For applicants with family income and assets abroad, the financial documentation deserves early attention. Funding has its own deadlines. Do not wait for an admission result before finding out when you must apply for benefits. Bologna has also offered International Talents @Unibo scholarships in earlier intakes. Look for a call explicitly covering 2027–28 before assuming the award will be available or that earlier eligibility rules and amounts will continue. Tuition fees and exemptions: https://www.unibo.it/en/study/enrolment-fees-and-other-procedures/degree-programmes/tuition-fees-and-exemptions ER.GO: https://www.er-go.it After an offer: documents, visa and accommodation If you are a non-EU applicant living abroad and need a study visa, follow Bologna’s instructions for Universitaly pre-enrolment and qualification checks. The university application and the visa process are separate steps. Pre-enrolment alone does not give you admission, and an offer does not guarantee a visa. Use the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for your application to confirm the current visa documents, financial evidence and appointment procedure. Leave time for requests for additional information. Start researching accommodation in the city where your course is taught. Your budget should allow for rent, a deposit, travel and the first weeks of living expenses, including any period before funding is paid. Universitaly: https://www.universitaly.it A useful first step is to shortlist two or three courses and compare their curricula with your transcript. Once you can explain why you meet each course’s requirements, the application becomes much easier to organise.