The recognition of foreign academic qualifications is regulated by:
Universities are authorized to recognize study programmes and periods of education in other countries and foreign academic qualifications that might be used for the purposes of accessing higher education, continuing with university studies and receiving qualifications from Italian universities. This also applies to degrees obtained in countries other than signatories of the Lisbon Convention and regardless of the nationality held.
In application of the principle of substantial difference, introduced by the Lisbon Convention, each university recognises degrees awarded in another state unless it finds a substantial difference between them and the degrees it awards. The substantial difference may relate to educational systems, institutions or qualifications.
You can apply for the recognition of a foreign academic title of first cycle (bachelor), second cycle (master) or third cycle (PhD) to obtain a corresponding Italian final title (laurea, laurea magistrale, PhD) issued by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz). The University can only recognize equivalent qualifications to those that it offers and awards.
It is possible to apply throughout the year.
EU citizens, as well as persons treated as equivalent (non-EU citizens regularly residing in Italy, as per article 39, paragraph 5 of Law Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended), submit all documentation directly to the Student Secretariat.
Non-EU citizens residing abroad submit all documentation via the competent Italian diplomatic or consular representation abroad.
Regulation on the recognition of foreign academic qualifications (German/Italian only)
Maximum envisaged duration: within 90 days of the application.
The Student Office can provide initial information about recognition and the procedure for obtaining it:
Qualifications can be assessed by the relevant contact person, one or more of whom can be found in each faculty. They can take an initial look at your academic career and provide non-binding information about the possibilities for recognition of exams and qualifications.
Contact the Student Office by e-mail to receive the payment request (150 euro).
After making the payment, send your application with the required documents via e-mail to the Student Office, which will send you a receipt.
The Student Office will check your application and the enclosed documents.
If you are seeking equivalence for a qualification which is not offered by unibz, you will be informed that your request has not been accepted, as the University is not authorized to provide recognition.
If any of the required documents are missing, you will be asked in writing to provide them. The processing period for the application will be extended by the amount of time that it takes for the documents to be sent.
The Student Office will record the application and forward it to the relevant Faculty, along with the enclosed documents.
The relevant Faculty/Course Council will examine the application and make its decision known within 60 days of its receipt. It will check the exams taken abroad and acknowledge their equivalence with the enclosed exam programmes.
The Council can establish:
The Faculty Secretariat will notify the Student Office of its decision.
The Student Office will issue a recognition decree from the Rector and inform you of the outcome within 90 days of the application. The Rector’s decree can establish:
The Student Office will send you the recognition decree digitally signed by the Rector in pdf/A format via e-mail. No decree will be issued in paper form.
Maximum envisaged duration: within 90 days of the application.
The Student Office can provide initial information about recognition and the procedure for obtaining it:
Qualifications can be assessed by the relevant contact person, one or more of whom can be found in each faculty. They can take an initial look at your academic career and provide non-binding information about the possibilities for recognition of exams and qualifications.
Contact the Student Office by e-mail to receive the payment request (150 euro).
After making the payment, send your application with the required documents via e-mail to the Student Office, which will send you a receipt.
The Student Office will check your application and the enclosed documents.
If you are seeking equivalence for a qualification which is not offered by unibz, you will be informed that your request has not been accepted, as the University is not authorized to provide recognition.
If any of the required documents are missing, you will be asked in writing to provide them. The processing period for the application will be extended by the amount of time that it takes for the documents to be sent.
The Student Office will record the application and forward it to the relevant Faculty, along with the enclosed documents.
The relevant Lecturer’s Committee will examine the application and make its decision known within 60 days of its receipt. It will check the elements and activities of the doctorate performed abroad and makes the recognition.
The Committee can establish:
The Faculty Secretariat will notify the Student Office of its decision.
In the case of total recognition or refusal of recognition, the Student Office will issue a decree from the Rector and inform you of the outcome within 90 days of the application.
In the case of partial recognition, the Student Office will issue a decree of recognition from the Rector once the missing requirements have been met.
The Student Office will send you the recognition decree digitally signed by the Rector in pdf/A format via e-mail. No decree will be issued in paper form.