SIE

Requirements

Why take a Foundation Year?

Our Foundation Year is principally designed for students who have completed high school but who do not have the 12 years of schooling, and/or the formal entry qualification, required for entry to an Italian university (for example: students who studied in the American school system who do not have three Advanced Placement, students who studied within the British school system who do not have three A-levels, students who have a vocational qualification, and others).

For further information on Italian University entry requirements for the country in which you completed your studies, see Entry requirements for applicants with an international qualification webpage.

Eligibility for Foundation Year

Students applying for the Foundation Year need to meet the following obligatory eligibility requirements:

  • English B2: students must hold a certified B2 level of English (according to the CEFR)
  • 11 years of schooling: students must have finished their 11th year of education, OR are be currently enrolled at high school in their 11th year
  • High school diploma: students must hold the full and complete high school diploma, school leaving certificate, or equivalent, issued at the end of the high school programme the student is enrolled in. Students who are currently enrolled can apply with provisional grades, and in this case enrolment in the Foundation Year is conditional on the student receiving the final High School Diploma.

Students are not eligible for enrolment if they have received a partial high school education within the school system they are/were enrolled in, for example (but not limited to):

  • If they have have only passed individual IB courses (students must receive an IB diploma or Bilingual diploma)
  • If they have only completed O-levels/GCSE/IGCSE (the GCE is required)
  • If they have only completed 11 years of school in a system that offers 12 or 13 years in total

Please note that the high school must also be legally accredited to teach the programme the student is enrolled in. If our evaluation committee is unable to verify the school's accreditation, students will be required to provide a certificate of comparability from CIMEA.

Underage students (minors)

Students who have not yet reached 18 years old at the time of their application can apply for the Ca' Foscari Foundation Year provided they will turn 18 by March 31st of the year of programme completion. For the 2025/2026 programme this means students must be born no later than 31st March, 2008.

Underage students who are admitted to the programme are required to send us extra documents:

  • 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
  • Both parents' ID
  • Legal guardian's ID
  • Delegation form for requesting an Italian taxpayer's code (codice fiscale)

Required documents

Students who have already completed high school in 2023 or earlier must mandatorily provide their final high school leaving qualification and transcript of records in order to be admitted for evaluation.

Students who are currently enrolled in their final year of high school, or students who have recently completed high school but have not yet received their final leaving qualification, can provide a certificate of enrolment and a partial grade transcript for the final year. In this case the final diploma and final transcript of records must be integrated to the student's application by August 20th.

All applicants must provide the following mandatory documents for their application to be valid:

  1. Valid ID (for EU and Italian applicants only) or passport
  2. Valid Residency Permit (for non-EU applicants residing in Italy)
  3. Letter of motivation with your original and personal reasons for studying our Foundation Year
  4. Final high school diploma OR certificate of enrolment
  5. Transcript of records for the final year OR partial grade transcript

Applicants must also provide the following by July 31st:

  • Certification of a B2 level (or higher) of the English language (see the following webpage for recognised certifications), or proof of having studied at least one full year of high school in English
  • ONLY if enrolling in the Bridge B2 language module: certification of an A1 level of the Italian language (see the following webpage for recognised certifications) OR registration in our online beginner Italian course
  • Documents required for underage students (see above)
  • ONLY if enrolling in the Study Track in Humanities taught in Italian: certification of a B1 Italian language level, or enrolment in the Bridge B2 language module

NB: All documents must be original / traceable, that is, signed and stamped by the issuing authorities, and must be translated into English or Italian if necessary.