Italy, which is a popular place for international students, mostly due to its long history, varied culture, and great universities. In most cases, if you decide you want to study in Italy, you should be coming at the right time during the course of your study. Italian universities, generally, provide for two major intakes during the academic year, thus the chance is given for students to begin or continue their studies in different semesters. In this article, we’ll explore the upcoming intakes in Italy for the 2025-2026 academic year and what you need to know to apply.
What Are the Major Intakes in Italy?
Two intakes are available for international students at Italian universities:
- Fall Intake (September/October)
- Spring Intake (February)
First, Let’s talk about each of the intakes to know when to apply and which one of the intakes will be more suitable for you.
Fall Intake (September/October 2025)
It is the Fall intake that is sought after by most international students. For this intake, Italy’s top universities opened their applications, and they have the widest range of courses.
Main Issues about Fall Intake:
Application Period: Usually it starts in January and ends between April and June 2025.
What Makes the Fall Intake Special?
This intake provides the greatest number of course options, more opportunities for funding, and the students get overall time to get used to the place before the academic year starts. In addition, it is good for the students who have just started their studies and those who are sponsored by scholarships.
Popular programs were: Engineering, architecture, art, and business courses. This period records the highest demand for these programs.
Spring Intake (February 2026)
Even though it’s the smaller session of the two, the Spring intake ‘gives the students a bouquet of programs from which to choose, especially those who may have missed the deadlines for the Fall semester applications. The Spring semester has a limited number of programs but gives the applicant a chance too.
The Spring intake has its advantages and they are mentioned below:
Application Period: It opens around the September 2025 and closes on November or December 2025.
Why Choose Spring Intake?
This is great for students who need more time to prepare their applications or are interested in certain programs that are not available in the Fall. Though, this intake can avail fewer scholarships and the program choices are also fewer.
Important Dates to Remember
Here’s a general timeline for the 2025-2026 intakes in Italy:
- Fall Intake 2025: Applications begin in January 2025 and end in April through June 2025.
- Spring Intake 2026: Applications open in September 2025 and close by November or December 2025.
Make sure to double-check exact dates on the university’s website as they may vary by the school and of program.
How to Apply
Search Programs: List the courses and universities that you are interested in. Sapienza University, Politecnico di Milano, and University of Bologna are the top universities in Italy that you would like to join.
Organize documents: The set of typical material for the application is academic records, a language proficiency test (IELTS or TOEFL), a personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
Getting a student visa will be the first step you will take after you have received the acceptance letter. Do not be in a hurry to get a visa. Instead, ensure you allow enough time for the visa application process.
Scholarship Opportunities: Among the options present, there are several scholarships that Italy offers for international students. It is important to ascertain the deadlines for scholarships like “Invest Your Talent in Italy” and university-specific grants is to be sure of eligibility.
Why Study in Italy?
- Italy hosts world-famous universities and is indeed the home to some of the oldest in the world.
- Quality Education: The universities in Italy are in the forefront of this global education ranking and the qualifications they offer are easily internationally recognized.
- Cultural Experience: Italy offers its students the chance to study in a place with numerous monuments of history, visual arts, and gastronomy.
- Affordability: Italy comes out as a cheaper place to live and study than other popular study locations, thanks to both the lower tuition fees and the cost of living.
- Diverse Courses: There are unique opportunities for learning about fashion, engineering, and art at both partners, which offer programs in English and Italian.
Final Thoughts
Future study in Italy for the students is a very tough obstacle that will take a lot of their time, getting prepared, and doing the right things. Let’s say, the student can choose to go in the Fall or Spring. However, the best way to do it is by beginning the application process as early as you can to get your desired program. Some of the main things you should remember are to check the deadlines, prepare your documents, and explore scholarship opportunities to have the most satisfying study abroad experience in Italy.