Italian language proficiency assessment for non-EU citizens

Non-EU applicants requiring a study visa who intend to enrol in Italian-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s or single-cycle degree programmes at the University of Pisa must demonstrate knowledge of the Italian language at least at level B2, as required by ministerial regulations.

Exemption from the Italian language test a.y. 2026-2027

Applicants holding a B2-level certificate issued within the CLIQ system (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità) are exempt from the Italian language test.

Valid certificates are those issued by:

• University for Foreigners of Perugia
• University for Foreigners of Siena
• Roma Tre University
• Società Dante Alighieri

Certificates may be obtained in Italy or abroad at accredited examination centres.

Please note: certificates issued by Italian Cultural Institutes are not considered valid. For further exemption cases, please refer to the ministerial note.

Italian language test for candidates without certification a.y. 2026-2027

Applicants without a valid certificate must take an Italian language test consisting of two stages:

1. TEST ITA L2

• can be taken on available dates across all CISIA consortia universities
• minimum required score: 55/72
• must be taken in the current calendar year (from 1 January 2026)
• must be booked following the instructions below

2. Online oral interview (CLI)

Access to the interview is granted only to candidates who achieve at least 55/72 in the CISIA TEST ITA L2:

• the interview assesses oral production skills
• it is organised by the University Language Centre (CLI)

Important:

• the University of Pisa TEST ITA L2 and the oral online interview (CLI) can be taken only by candidates who have submitted a pre-enrolment application for a University of Pisa programme via the Universitaly portal
• the Italian language requirement is considered fulfilled only if both stages are successfully passed

Test fees

• TEST ITA L2: €35.00, payable according to the instructions below within the deadlines
• Online interview: €35.00, payable to CLI following the instructions on the dedicated page

Please note: fees are non-refundable under any circumstances, including cases where candidates not pre-enrolled at the University of Pisa via Universitaly have mistakenly registered for the Italian language test.

Stage 1 – TEST ITA L2

Dates and payment deadlines

TEST ITA L2 dates (online @HOME mode), registration and payment deadlines for a.y. 2026/2027 are the following:

Registration for the 3 June TEST ITA L2 is currently suspended as the maximum number of available places has been reached. Registration may reopen on 18 May if additional places become available due to incomplete payments by some candidates.

Registration procedure

To register for the TEST ITA L2, the following steps must be completed:

1. registration on the Alice portal using personal data exactly as shown in the passport. Any discrepancy may prevent participation in the test
2. login to the portal using credentials received by email
3. selection: Menu → “Segreteria” → “Iscrizione test di Valutazione”
4. in the “Course of study” section, select TEST ITA L2 and choose one available date (only one date can be selected)
5. payment of the €35.00 fee via PagoPA. Registration is confirmed only after payment has been completed

Important:

• check the required equipment and technical requirements for the @HOME test on the CISIA dedicated page
• a few days before the test, candidates will receive instructions by email to access the exam
• if the test is passed with a score of 55/72 or higher, the TEST ITA L2 certificate must be uploaded to Universitaly as part of the pre-enrolment application documents

Stage 2 – Online oral interview

Dates and payment deadlines

The interview is organised in 4 sessions in July, September, October and November 2026, according to the schedule published on the CLI website.

Registration procedure

Only candidates who have passed the CISIA test with the required minimum score are eligible. The interview:

• must be booked following the instructions on the CLI dedicated page
• is held online
• can be taken only once

If successful, the CLI issues an “Open Badge” certificate, which must be uploaded:

• on the Universitaly portal, for validation of the pre-enrolment application
• on the Alice portal, during enrolment

Summary information:

• the University of Pisa TEST ITA L2 and the online oral interview (CLI) can be taken only by candidates who have submitted a pre-enrolment application for a University of Pisa programme via the Universitaly portal
• the TEST ITA L2 and the oral interview (CLI) can be taken just once
• tests taken at other CISIA consortium universities are valid, provided they are passed with a minimum score of 55/72, taken in the current calendar year (from 1 January 2026)
• fees paid by candidates are non-refundable under any circumstances

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