See what the admission requirements are.
Apply to the Programme
Check the results of the exam.
Complete your enrolment.
Below you will find some information on how to apply, detailed in the call for applications, which varies depending on your citizenship.
If you have any doubts, check the application process to follow.
Admission to the selection process to the Master's degree program in Legal Studies requires possession of a bachelor's degree, a three-year university degree, or another university degree obtained abroad and recognized as suitable.
It is also necessary to possess curricular requirements and to pass an assessment of the adequacy of personal preparation as in the following paragraphs.
With reference to the curricular requirements/qualification, it is necessary to have graduated in one of the following classes:
ex D.M. 270/04
- L-14 (Legal Services Science)
- LMG/01 (Law)
ex M.D. 509/99:
- Class 2 (Legal Services Science)
- Class 31 (Legal Science)
- Class 22/S (Law)
Under the former four-year system:
- Law
In the case of a degree obtained abroad, it is necessary that the degree is recognized as eligible and allows access in the country of achievement to second-level degree courses according to the rules established in the MUR Circular, for A.Y. 2025/2026, which will be published at https://www.universitaly.it/studenti-stranieri.
Specifically, the official foreign qualification must correspond to the first cycle according to the Bologna Process Qualifications Framework and level 6 according to the European Qualifications Framework EQF, awarded at a higher education institution that allows further study at academic institutions at the next level (second cycle of the Bologna Process/level 7 EQ) in the country of award of the qualification.
The compatibility of the title/degree, for the sole purpose of admission to the selection procedure, is evaluated by the selection Commission according to the provisions of the previous paragraph and with the same criteria used to evaluate Italian academic titles/degrees.
Formal verification of the degree and verification of the actual eligibility of the foreign degree for the purpose of the applicant's matriculation will be carried out by the International Students Administration Office after the payment of the first installment scheduled for matriculation and the original submission of all the required documentation, in accordance with Section 8 of the call.
- ex D.M. 270/04:
- L-5 (Philosophy)
- L-10 (Literature)
- L 11 (Languages and modern cultures)
- L-16 (Management/Administration science)
- L-18 (Management and Economics Sciences)
- L-20 (Communication)
- L-33 (Economics sciences)
- L-36 (Political and International Relations Sciences)
- L-37 (Cooperation and development social sciences)
- L-39 (Social services)
- L-40 (Sociology)
- L-42 (History)
ex M.D. 509/99:
- Class 29 (Philosophy)
- Class 5 (Literature)
- Class 11 (Languages and Modern Cultures)
- Class 19 (Administrative Science)
- Class 17 (Management and Economics Sciences)
- Class 14 (Communication)
- Class 28 (Economics)
- Class 15 (Political and International Relations Sciences)
- Class 35 (Cooperation and Development Social Sciences)
- Class 6 (Social services)
- Class 36 (Sociology)
- Class 38 (History)
Under the former four-year system:
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Literature, Political Science, Business Administration, Economics, Political Economy, History, Sociology, and equivalents.
For the qualifications related to non-legal disciplines (and equivalent), please note that:
The assessment of the actual eligibility of the foreign degree for the applicant's matriculation/enrollment will be carried out by the International Student Administration Office after the payment of the first installment scheduled for matriculation and the original submission of all the required documentation, in accordance with Section 8 of the call.
Applicants who earn their degree by December 2025 will also be eligible to register for the selection test, under condition (sub condicione). Applicants who do not graduate by that date will have their matriculation/enrollment canceled ex officio.
Applicant enrolled under condition (sub condicione) will have his or her career suspended, so he or she will not be able to use the “Studenti Online” application (study plan, exam booking, etc.) until the graduation diploma is sent.
To be admitted to the course, applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in English for a minimum level equivalent to B2.
Please consult the relevant section “Knowledge of the English language” for further details.
Applicants must possess at least a B2 level (or equivalent) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to be admitted to the selection procedure.
The level of English language proficiency (to be indicated in the CV FORM) is deemed ascertained in the following cases:
- Possession of international certificate, namely: TOEFL, IELTS, CAMBRIDGE English Language Assessment, Trinity College London. For correspondence with the B2 level, please refer to the table available at: http://www.cla.unibo.it/idoneita-linguistica/equipollenza-dei-titoli-1. International certifications that have been issued no more than four years ago (certifications no earlier than January 2021), regardless of the official duration of the title established by the Certifying Body, are accepted.
- Possession of a 1st or 2nd degree in English language;
- Have taken and passed in the university career an English language exam - level B2 reported in the transcript;
- To be a native speaker, that is, to be an Italian citizen or a foreigner who, by family derivation or linguistic experience, is able to express himself or herself naturally in the English language;
- Have taken, as part of his or her university coursework, at least two English-language courses (meaning two courses held in English).
You can count on financial support from the start of your studies. Depending on your financial circumstances, merit or specific requirements, you may be able to apply for a reduction or exemption of the enrolment fee.
Tuition fees is calculated according to the 2025 ISEE certificate (Economic Situation Indicator) with special subsidies in relation to the right to higher education. Full exemption is granted to first-year students with a low ISEE.
The ISEE value must be submitted, even if you are not enrolled in the degree programme, by October 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM (or by November 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM with a €100 late fee) by accessing ER-GO Online Services; otherwise, you will have to pay thefull amount.
If you cannot obtain an ISEE certification, check how the fees are calculated according to your country of origin and where your family has income and assets.
Read all information about tuition fees and exemptions.
Prepare documents and submit applications for scholarships and other funding opportunities. Depending on your financial status, you can obtain scholarships, student accommodation, full or partial exemption from fees and other funding opportunities. To apply, you will have to prepare documentation on your family's income and assets.
From your arrival in Italy and throughout your stay, you must have health coverage. You have several options: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) card, private health insurance or registration with the Italian National Health Service (SSN).
If you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your EU country of origin, you are entitled to all medically necessary treatment.
You can obtain healthcare services directly from a public or contracted provider by presenting the EHIC. You will be provided the service free of charge, except for any co-payment (“ticket”) which is paid directly by patients and is not reimbursable.
With the EHIC, you can go directly to a general practitioner (also known as a family doctor) by choosing from the list of affiliated general practitioners (MMG) available on the Salute Bologna website, if you study in Bologna, or the AUSL della Romagna website, if you are studying at other campuses.
You cannot use the EHIC for 'planned treatment abroad', i.e. predictable treatment (e.g. non-urgent dental treatment, spa treatment, etc.).
If you are in possession of a certificate of entitlement other than the EHIC, as a general rule, in order to be entitled to healthcare, you must first present this certificate to one of the Local Health Authority Desks (CUP), which will check whether you can register with the National Health Service (SSN), in which case you will be entitled to full healthcare under the same conditions as Italian citizens.
Access to healthcare may vary depending on the certificate of entitlement you possess. Ask the Local Health Authority Desk (CUP) for more information when registering.
See the list of Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) in Bologna and Romagna (provinces of Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini).
If you have neither an EHIC card nor a Certificate of Entitlement, you must take out private health insurance valid in Italy or register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN), where applicable.
If you have private health insurance, you can go to any general practitioner. If you need to see a specialist, you can choose which doctor you to go directly, possibly with the advice of the general practitioner.
Private health insurance policies:
If your stay is for study purposes, check with one of Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) to see if you can register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN). To register voluntarily with the National Health Service (SSN) as a student, you must be resident in Italy and pay an annual lump sum contribution of at least €700.
Registration with the SSN is on a calendar year basis, from 1 January to 31 December.
If you are employed or self-employed and pay taxes in Italy, you are entitled to free compulsory registration with the National Health Service (SSN). Check at one of the Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) how to register with the SSN.
If you have been living in Italy for at least five years, you can apply to the municipality where you live for an 'Attestato di Soggiorno Permanente' (Permanent Residence Certificate), which entitles you to registration with the National Health Service and a choice of general practitioner. Check at one of the Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) how to register with the SSN.
If you apply for or have a residence permit for study purposes, the minimum cost will be €700 per year from 2024. Registration is per calendar year only (e.g. from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024) 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. 2024 and 2025). 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.
The minimum contribution is €2,000 to cover dependant family members per year.
To register:
Go to a Local Health Authority Desk (CUP). See the list of Local Health Authority Desks (CUP) in Bologna and Romagna (provinces of Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini).
Take with you:
Ask for information on how to pay the voluntary student registration fee; remember that the payment must be made using the ordinary F24 form.
You have to complete the sections:
Pay the annual lump sum using form F24 for each year of registration with the SSN at post offices, banks, online via your bank account or with Pagobancomat, Postepay or Postamat cards and keep the receipts.
Make a copy of the receipts and attach them to your application for the first issue or renewal of your residence permit.
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.
Take with you:
Payment alone does not imply coverage. You have to complete registration at the offices of a Local Health Authority and choose a general practitioner.
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.
To study in Italy, you will need to apply for an Italian tax code. Contact the Italian Revenue Agency or contact us for assistance in obtaining one. The code will be necessary also to register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN).
The qualification you declare you possess at the admission stage will be checked by the International Student Administration Office of the relevant campus after you have applied for enrolment and submitted originals of all the necessary documents.
We recommend you submit them to the International Student Administration Office as soon as possible for a preliminary check and, if necessary, to obtain unreserved validation of your pre-enrolment.
To study in Italy, you will need to apply for an Italian tax code. Contact the Italian Revenue Agency or contact us for assistance in obtaining one. The code will be necessary also to register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN).
The qualification you declare you possess at the admission stage will be checked by the International Student Administration Office of the relevant campus after you have applied for enrolment and submitted originals of all the necessary documents.
We recommend you submit them to the International Student Administration Office as soon as possible for a preliminary check and, if necessary, to obtain unreserved validation of your pre-enrolment.
The following seats are available for admission to the Master’s Degree in Legal Studies for the academic year 2025/2026:
-n. 50 for Italian citizens, EU citizens and equivalent non-EU citizens (A);
-n. 50 for non-EU citizens residing abroad (B).
Selections | Italian citizens, citizens of the Union European, and equivalent non-EU citizens (A) | Non-EU citizens residing abroad (B) |
First Intake | 30 | 30 |
Second Intake | 20 | 20 |
More information on who is considered an international student.
Admission to the LEGS course of study will take place in the following two stages:
The detailed selection criteria and the related scoring system are available on the Call for Applications.
I Intake - Dates of Interviews (via Microsoft TEAMS platform)
II Intake - Dates of Interviews (via Microsoft TEAMS platform)
All applicants must register for the admission test by the following peremptory deadlines:
First Intake: from Thursday, December 19, 2024, to Thursday, February 27, 2025
Second Intake: from Thursday, April 10, 2025, to Thursday, May 15, 2025, with the following arrangements:
a. Curriculum Vitae (it is required to use the file called "CV FORM" published together with this notice at https://corsi.unibo.it/2cycle/legal-studies/admission )
b. Double-sided copy of a valid identification document (ID card, passport);
c. Copy of residence permit, if held (for non-EU applicants);
d. self-certification of the first-level academic degree with the list of exams taken (if provided with the scientific disciplinary sectors), if obtained in Italy, or a copy of the degree obtained abroad that allows access in the country of achievement to second level Degree Courses, accompanied by a transcript of records and Diploma Supplement (the latter, if available), translated into Italian or English. If the applicant has not yet obtained the degree, the list of exams taken or the transcript of records must be attached; students who graduated from the University of Bologna must indicate this condition in the curriculum - CV FORM - so that the data can be acquired ex officio;
e. Documentation of meeting the English language proficiency requirement (see the call);
f. Motivational letter (if any);
g. Adaptation request form (if necessary, see section 5 of the call);
h. proceed until the admission test fee of €50.00 is paid, which will not be refunded under any circumstances. Payment must be made in the manner indicated on www.studenti.unibo.it. If you participated in the first selection, in case you have to register for a subsequent selection you will not have to repay the admission fee. Payments at other credit institutions, bank transfers or payments made by postal bulletin are not allowed.
Only and exclusively applicants who have finalized their registration for the selection test and paid the relevant fee by the deadline and in the manner described above will be admitted to the selection test.
No delivery or mailing of paper materials to the offices shall be made.
If you wish to request adaptations for the entrance exam, you must do so when you register on Studenti Online. You will need to download the form you will find on Studenti Online and attach the relevant medical documentation certifying the disability or SLD.
Admission to the LEGS course of study will take place in two stages:
1. Evaluation of the CV and documentation submitted, aimed at ascertaining the possession of the curricular requirements, as well as the possession of the language proficiency in the English language of at least level B2.
More in detail, ratings are expressed as follows:
Step 1: Assessment of curricular requirements (40/100 points).
It will also be evaluated:
The applicant may submit a maximum of one reference letter, written in Italian or English. The reference letter will not be evaluated (no scores) since it is for mere informational purposes.
The evaluation of curricular requirements will be given a maximum score of 40 points out of 100.
Applicants with a minimum score of 25 out of 40 available points in the first stage will be admitted to the interview (Stage 2). Applicants with curricular requirement evaluation scores below 25/40 in Stage 1 will not be admitted to Stage 2.
2. Interview (held in English) aimed at assessing the applicant’s preparation in relation to the Program’s learning outcomes. Online on MS Teams.
More in detail, ratings are expressed as follows:
Step 2: Interview to assess the applicant’s preparation in relation to the Program’s learning outcomes (60/100).
The interview will be given a maximum score of 60 points out of 100.
Interviews will be held on the dates stated in the Call.
During the interview, Commissions will assess the adequacy of the applicant's personal preparation in relation to the Program’s learning outcomes, including the relevance of English language skills.
Upon completion of the two stages of the admission test, the Selection Boards shall draw up general merit rankings expressed in hundredths, one for each contingent (EU/non-EU).
Applicants who achieve an overall score (sum of the scores obtained in the evaluation of the resume and interview) of 60/100 or more (including at least 25/100 in stage 1) are considered eligible and placed on the merit list. In the event of a tie, priority is given to the youngest applicant.
Applicants who obtain an overall score of less than 60/100 may under no circumstances matriculate in the master's degree program "Legal Studies" - LEGS.
Merit rankings are posted on “Studenti Online” at www.studenti.unibo.it by the following deadlines:
Publication of the rankings on Studenti Online will be the only means of legal notice/publicity about the outcome of the test.
For each selection, any remaining places are made available again to those who state their interest in the ‘Unallocated Places’ procedure.
Taking part in this procedure is not automatic: you have to state your interest at every selection via Studenti Online .
Once stated, your interest is irrevocable and cannot be modified.
In the call you will find information on the requirements, procedures and deadlines for stating your interest in the ‘Unallocated Places’ procedure.
If you are high up in the ranking list, go to Studenti Online, fill in the application form and pay the first tuition fee instalment or the one-off fee in accordance with the procedures given and by the deadlines indicated in the call. If you do not pay the fees as specified, you will be excluded from the process. Payment in arrears is also not permitted.
After you have passed the entrance exam, if you have not already done so, submit the pre-enrolment application online on Universitaly . You will need this to apply for an entry visa.
Please indicate this degree programme on your application. Read the Guide and FAQs [.pdf 730 KB] to understand how to fill in the application.
If you have passed the entry exam and paid the first instalment by the mandatory deadline set by the call, the offices will validate your pre-enrolment.
Download the application summary and submit it to the Embassy or Consulate to apply for a visa.
If you need to change the degree programme or the university you entered on your pre-enrolment application, please read the information on making changes to your pre-enrolment and reallocation.
The University of Bologna's offices could be closed for several days in August, during which pre-enrolments are not validated, so pre-enrolment validation times could be longer in August.
If your embassy or consulate requires your pre-enrolment to be validated without reservation, go to the 'Career activation and badge' section of this page to find out how to do this.
Remember that pre-enrolment does guarantee admission to degree programmes. To enrol, you must also meet the admission requirements and pass the entrance exams required by the degree programme.
The University of Bologna does not issue letters of academic eligibility for the purpose of obtaining a visa.
An entry visa for tourism cannot be used for university enrolment or to obtain a residence permit for study purposes.
To apply for a visa, you must have health insurance.
From the moment you arrive 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).
Entry visa for 'study/university enrolment’ purposes
If you do not yet have a long-term visa, make an appointment at the Embassy or Consulate and bring with you:
You will need to obtain a “Study - University Enrolment” visa, the required documents and possibly an Italian tax code from the Embassy or Consulate.
Validating your identity means associating your account name.surname@studio.unibo.it with your identity.
Your identity will be validated automatically, without you having to do anything, if one of the following applies:
If any of the above conditions do not apply, and you are unable to obtain SPID credentials because you are a minor or you are a resident abroad, contact the Student Administration Office or, if you are resident abroad and have a qualification obtained abroad, contact the International Student Administration Office.
Career activation is required to create a study plan, book and take exams, change degree programme, transfer to another university, withdraw from or suspend studies, graduate, and print certificates. It is also required to use certain services, such as access to online library resources and the Wi-Fi network.
Your career will be automatically activated after identification.
It is not automatically activated if:
The career must be activated by 28 February 2025.
Once the career is activated, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to obtain your badge.
Career activation is required to create a study plan, book and take exams, change degree programme, transfer to another university, withdraw from or suspend studies, graduate, and print certificates. It is also required to use certain services, such as access to online library resources and the Wi-Fi network.
Your career will be automatically activated after your identity has been validated.
It is not automatically activated if:
The career must be activated by 28 February 2025.
Once the career is activated, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to obtain your badge.
Career activation is required to create a study plan, book and take exams, change degree programme, transfer to another university, withdraw from or suspend studies, graduate, and print certificates. It is also required to use certain services, such as access to online library resources and the Wi-Fi network.
If you obtained your qualification abroad, you must submit your qualification to the International Student Administration Office of the campus where you will be studying:
If you need unreserved validation on Universitaly, please notify the International Student Administration Office by e-mail. The International Student Administration Office will check the documents. If they are complete and their authenticity and value can be verified, your pre-enrolment on Universitaly will be unconditionally validated.
Make an appointment with the International Student Administration Office to present the original documents.
When you arrive in Italy, go to the appointment and bring your qualification documents and passport with you. If the documents are complete, the student administration office will give you a certificate of registration.
You will then need to email the receipt of your residence permit application to the International Student Administration Office to activate your career. Your enrolment will be considered conditional until you have received your residence permit and sent a copy to the Student Administration Office.
If you are a non-EU citizen, reside abroad, but have an Italian degree obtained in Italy, contact the International Student Administration Office on your campus to find out how to proceed.
The career must be activated by 28 February 2025.
Once the career is activated, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to obtain your badge.
If you want to register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN), you have to pay an annual fee. If you apply for or have a residence permit for study purposes, the minimum cost will be €700 per year from 2024. Registration is on a calendar year basis only (e.g. from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024) and it is not possible to pay reduced fees for shorter periods.
It is possible to pay the registration fee for the current year and for the whole of the following calendar year (e.g. 2024 and 2025). This option provides health cover for an academic year and is useful, for example, if you arrive in September and intend to apply for a one-year residence permit for study purposes. The minimum contribution is €2,000 to cover dependant family members per year.
To register at a Local Health Authority Desk (CUP), take with you:
Ask for information on how to make the payment for the "voluntary student registration” fee. Payment must be made using the ordinary F24 form. The following sections must be completed:
Pay the annual lump sum using form F24 for each year of registration with the SSN at post offices, banks, online via your bank account or with Pagobancomat, Postepay or Postamat cards and keep the receipts.
Make a copy of the receipts and attach them to your application for the first issue or renewal of your residence permit.
Payment alone does not imply coverage. You have to complete registration at the offices of a Local Health Authority and choose a general practitioner.
Within eight days of arrival in Italy, apply for a permit. You can do this on your own or with our support.
Email the receipt of the residence permit application to your International Student Administration Office. Remember that your residence permit has to be renewed every year.
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. Take with you:
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.
You will receive a Health Insurance Card by post. It will be sent to the address you gave to the Revenue Agency.
You can contact the Internal Revenue Agency to update your address and, if necessary, to request a replacement card.
Call for application a.y. 2025/2026 [.pdf 750Kb]
Bando di ammissione a.a. 2025/2026 [.pdf 2064Kb]
[ .docx 732Kb ]
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