Architecture – International Foundation Year – Italy

Choose from five specialized pathways:

1. Engineering & I.T.

2. Architecture

3. Business, Economics & Social Sciences

4. Medicine & Life Sciences

5. Design, Fashion & Art

Each track includes subject-specific preparation and admission test training (e.g., TOLC-I, ArchED, IMAT), guiding students toward their target university programs in Italy.

To be eligible for admission students must:

• have a secondary education qualification, such as a High School Diploma or Certificate, obtained after at least 11 years of schooling, which qualifies for university enrollment in the country where it was issued. Please note that:
  • An official translation or apostille/legalization should be provided for original documents that are not in English, Italian, French, German, Spanish or Portuguese. As an alternative, you can contact the CIMEA Institute and request a Statement of Verification.

  • Suppose the program admission committee is unable to verify the high school’s accreditation or evaluate the students’ higher education. In that case, students will be required to provide a Statement of Comparability issued by CIMEA before the program start date.

  • Students in their final year of secondary school, can apply by submitting a Certificate of Enrollment or official letter issued by the current school that confirms their current status and expected graduation date to be conditionally accepted. They can submit the diploma at a later stage before the start of the program for full acceptance to the program.
  • Students are ineligible for enrolment if they have only partially completed their high school education within their respective school system. Examples of ineligibility include:
    • Completing only individual IB courses without obtaining an IB diploma or Bilingual diploma
    • Completing only O-levels/GCSE/IGCSE without obtaining a GCE or an A-level exam
    • Completing only 11 years of schooling in a system that requires 12 or 13 years in total
    • Additionally, the high school attended must be legally accredited to teach the programme. If our evaluation committee cannot verify the school’s accreditation, students must provide a certificate of comparability from CIMEA.

• demonstrate independent-level English language proficiency. This can be proven with an official certification or assessed through an online interview conducted by the admissions board. If English is the student’s native or second language, they may be exempt from this requirement by providing formal proof of language status or current enrollment in English-taught curriculum. The following are valid language certifications and scores for admission to the program:

  • IELTS Academic: 5.0+
  • Cambridge Scale: 150+ points (Preliminary B or higher)
  • Duolingo English Test: 80+ points, or equivalent)
  • TOEFL iBT: 45+ points
  • equivalent certified tests from recognized assessment bodies

• be 17 years old at the time of enrollment and have turned 18 by the end of the program.
  • If the student is still a minor by the start date of the program, they will have to demonstrate that a guardian has been lawfully appointed in Italy. In this case, at the moment of your enrollment, the student must compile and sign a “Statement of responsibility for minors”.

The Foundation Year program has the duration of a full academic year with 9 months of tuition and a total of 800 classroom hours.

The program is divided into 3 terms: Fall, Spring and Summer. Students may join the program at the start of the Fall term in September (intake 1) or at the start of the Spring term in January (intake 2).

Intake 1: September  to  June

Intake 2: January to September

Students who are planning to enroll in an Italian-taught degree in Italy may choose to extend the program by 3 months, for an overall 12 months duration (1000 hours classroom hours).

All the courses are entirely taught in English language.

The Foundation Year program has the duration of a full academic year with 9 months of tuition and a total of 800 classroom hours.

The program is divided into 3 terms: Fall, Spring and Summer. Students may join the program at the start of the Fall term in September (intake 1) or at the start of the Spring term in January (intake 2).

Intake 1: September  to  June

Intake 2: January to September

Students who are planning to enroll in an Italian-taught degree in Italy may choose to extend the program by 3 months, for an overall 12 months duration (1000 hours classroom hours).

Students should find out the details on the dedicated page.

• Consent form for admission signed by both parents
• Official nomination of a legal guardian residing in Italy for the duration of the Foundation Year programme until they reach legal age
• Parents’ ID
• Legal guardian’s ID
• Delegation form for requesting an Italian taxpayer’s code (codice fiscale)

Students can apply for an Italian Type D Study Visa only after completing the following steps of the application process:

• Completion of the application form
• Signing the Program Agreement and any additional required documentation
• Payment of the Application Fee and 1st Installment of the Tuition Fees.

Students will receive an official Letter of Enrolment to be submitted with the required documentation to the Italian Consulate in their country. Students are encouraged to complete their applications and apply for their visa as early as possible, as some consulates may require extended periods of time (up to several weeks) to issue the visa depending on the time of year.  NB. The Letter of Offer issued upon review by the admissions committee of the students eligibility for the program is NOT valid for visa application purposes.

The Foundation Year program is offered in partnership between the Italian Academy and Kore University.  The Italian Academy provides the student services, housing, language training and academic support for students enrolled in the program.

Students receive a Certificate and Academic Transcript issued by Kore University of Enna (protocol n. 12794 of July 7th 2023) for successful completion of the Foundation Year BESS (Business, Economics and Social Sciences), MLS (Medicine and Life Sciences), EAIT (Engineering, Architecture and IT)  academic tracks.

Students that complete the DFA (Design, Fashion and Art) track receive a Certificate and Academic Transcript issued by ABADIR Fine Arts Academy (legally accredited by MUR – Ministry of University and Research).

The Foundation Year Certificate attests:

• the complete course list and number of contact hours completed by the student
• the fulfilment of mandatory schooling and academic minimum requirements necessary to be admitted to degree programs at Kore University and other Italian Universities as defined by the MUR – Italian Ministry of University. Italian and international universities generally accept the Foundation Year certificate to fulfil their schooling minimum requirements, however, students should review this acceptance directly with the admissions office of the university of interest.

Admission requirements for universities in Italy vary for each institution, so it is recommended that students verify the specific admission requirements for their university of choice before enrolment to the program.

Students that obtain the Foundation Year certificate are still required to pass the national Admission Test to enroll in “closed number” degree programs in Italian universities.

Students that choose to take the CILS Italian language Exam during their program will also receive the University for Foreigners of Siena B1 or B2 language certificate, based on successful achivement.

Students live in modern self-catering student apartments. The apartments have single or double rooms, shared kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, living and study areas. Generally 4 to 6 students live in each apartment. Limited places are also available for homestay accommdation, for which underage students are prioritized. 

Students are encouraged to apply early for admission to the program to secure their preferred housing option.

A required residency policy is in place for the Foundation Year program, instituted for the benefit of students:

1. All  students are required to live in program-provided housing (unless exempt – see exemptions in ).  Students on residential programs benefit from the facilities and resources that support students’ success during their first year. Additionally, research and experience tell us that students who live on program-provided housing:
   • develop a greater sense of belonging to the program, find it easier to form friendships and participate more in student social life;
   • have appropriate living and study arrangements, which are key enablers of a successful participation in the academic program.
   • do not have to navigate the complexity and risks involved in independently sourcing adequate accommodation and legally-binding housing contracts with third parties in a new language and social environment.
2. Exceptions to the residency requirement will be made for students who:

• • Change to Commuter Status and reside with a parent or legal guardian within 10 miles of campus (with notarized parent/guardian signature).
  • Are 23 years of age or older prior to the start date of the housing contract.
  • Present compelling individual circumstances, with supporting documentation, including a valid rental contract for the entire duration of the program in the vicinity of the Academy premises (considered on a case by case basis).