Studying in Italy with Erasmus+ _Your ACADOMUS Guide 01

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HomeMade

From nomination to arrival — everything you need to know about institutional steps, insurance, payments and life on the ground in Italy.

Italy consistently ranks among the most popular destinations for Erasmus+ students in Europe, and it is not difficult to understand why. Its universities are ancient by global standards — Bologna's was founded in 1088 — its cities are dense with culture, and a semester spent there offers something that few other exchanges can: the sensation that the setting itself is part of the curriculum. But the practicalities of getting there, and of making the most of it once you arrive, require careful preparation. This guide takes you through every stage, in order.

Part One: The Institutional Steps
1. The Application at Your Home University
The Erasmus+ process always begins at home. Your sending institution's International Office (or Erasmus Office, often called the IRO — Ufficio Relazioni Internazionali — in Italian universities) will publish an annual call for applications, typically in autumn for the following academic year. For the 2026–2027 academic year, many Italian universities opened their calls in early 2026, with deadlines in spring.
To apply, you will generally need to demonstrate a minimum number of ECTS credits already accumulated, a satisfactory academic record, and — depending on the host university's language of instruction — evidence of language competence. Check the specific requirements published by your home institution, as these vary. Some faculties assign additional weight to the proposed study plan in their selection criteria.
Once selected, you will be officially nominated to the host Italian university by your sending institution's Erasmus office. The nomination is distinct from the application: it is your university confirming your selection, not your own direct application to the host.
2. The Application to the Host Italian University
After nomination, the host university will contact you — or your home institution — with instructions for completing the formal application on their side. This typically involves an online admission form, a provisional study plan, and submission of relevant documents (passport or ID, language certificate, transcript of records, and sometimes a certificate of student status).
Pay close attention to deadlines published by the host university, which are independent of your home institution's schedule. Deadlines for the first semester are typically in June or July; for the second semester, in November or December. Late applications may be considered for the spring semester in some cases, but cannot be relied upon.
You will also receive, at this stage, an official Invitation Letter or Letter of Acceptance from the host university — a document you will need for subsequent administrative steps, including any visa application where required.
3. The Learning Agreement
The Learning Agreement (LA) is the central academic document of any Erasmus+ mobility. It specifies the courses you intend to take at the host university and their ECTS equivalents, and it commits all three parties — you, your home institution, and the host university — to the credit recognition arrangement. Completing it correctly before departure is essential: courses not included in the LA may not be recognised upon your return.
The standard platform for creating and signing the Learning Agreement digitally is learning-agreement.eu, the Online Learning Agreement tool developed through the Erasmus Student Network and endorsed by the European Commission. Both your home institution and the host Italian university must sign it before you depart.
A standard Erasmus+ semester corresponds to approximately 30 ECTS credits. Most universities require a minimum of around 20 ECTS to be completed for the exchange period to count as a recognised semester of study. The Learning Agreement can be amended after arrival if the courses originally chosen are unavailable, though amendments require fresh signatures from all parties and should be kept to a minimum.
4. The Mobility Agreement and Grant
Once the Learning Agreement is finalised, your sending institution will ask you to sign a Mobility Agreement — the document that formally activates your Erasmus+ scholarship and sets out the terms of payment.
Grant amounts for the 2025/2026 academic year, as established by the European Commission and the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), vary according to the destination country and the student's country of origin. Students travelling to higher cost-of-living countries (Group 1, including Germany, France, the Netherlands and Nordic countries) receive around €400 per month; those travelling to medium-range countries (Group 2, including most southern and eastern European states) receive approximately €350 per month. For mobility to Italy from Group 2 or Group 3 countries, check the exact amounts with your sending institution, as they apply the rates in the reverse direction.
The grant is paid by bank transfer in two instalments — typically around 70–80% at the start of the mobility and the remainder after return, upon submission of the required documentation. The IBAN provided must correspond to an Italian or European bank account held in your name (or jointly). Non-European IBANs are generally not accepted; if you are opening a new account for the purpose, do so before the first payment date. Postal savings accounts with IBANs are not always accepted — confirm in advance with your sending institution.
5. The Online Linguistic Support (OLS)
Erasmus+ participants are required to take a language assessment test via the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) platform, hosted by the European Commission on the EU Academy hub, before and after their mobility period. For a mobility of 14 days or more, completing the pre-departure assessment in the language of instruction is mandatory — though the results do not affect eligibility. Following the test, students are given access to a free online language course in the selected language (Italian, in most cases, though English and other EU languages are also available).
Completing the OLS course is a useful preparation for daily life in Italy even if your university instruction is primarily in English. Your sending institution's International Office will provide your login credentials.

Part Two: Before You Leave — Practical Essentials
6. Visa Requirements
EU and EEA citizens do not need a visa to study in Italy for the duration of an Erasmus+ semester. However, if your stay exceeds 90 days, it is advisable to register your temporary residency at the local town hall (Comune, at the Ufficio Anagrafe). This formalises your status as a temporary resident and is required for some subsequent administrative steps, including registering with the Italian National Health Service.
Non-EU students (including, depending on applicable bilateral agreements, some UK nationals and those from partner countries participating in Erasmus+) should consult the Italian consulate in their home country well in advance of departure. Those staying for more than 90 days will generally need a visa for study purposes and, after arrival, a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit), which must be applied for within eight working days of arrival at the local post office. Your host university's International Office will provide guidance specific to your nationality.
7. Health Insurance
Health coverage is an area that deserves careful attention — and one where the minimum legal requirement is not always the same as adequate coverage.
EU and EEA students should travel with a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — known in Italian as the Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia (TEAM). This gives access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare in Italy under the same conditions as Italian nationals insured by the national system. It is issued free of charge by your national health authority.
Crucially, however, the EHIC does not cover private healthcare, repatriation costs, travel delays, or lost luggage. For stays of more than 90 days, the EHIC alone may also prove insufficient, and registration with the Italian Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) via the local ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) is recommended — and in some regions, required. Registration requires proof of residence, your codice fiscale (see below), and a valid identity document. On registration, you are assigned a local general practitioner (medico di base).
For this reason, most Erasmus+ programmes recommend — and some require — students to hold supplementary travel insurance in addition to the EHIC, covering private medical treatment, emergency repatriation, personal liability and personal belongings. Several providers offer policies specifically tailored to Erasmus+ students. Confirm whether your sending institution or host university has a recommended or mandatory insurance arrangement, and ensure that your policy is valid before the mobility agreement can be countersigned — some universities require proof of insurance before releasing the grant.
Non-EU students must arrange private health insurance independently before departure, as the EHIC does not apply.

Part Three: On Arrival — The First Two Weeks
8. The Codice Fiscale
The codice fiscale is Italy's personal tax identification number — the equivalent of a national insurance or social security number. It is the single most important document you will need during your stay, and obtaining it should be your first administrative priority on arrival.
You will need it to: open a bank account; sign a rental contract; access the national health service; register with a GP; and carry out almost any formal transaction. Without it, progress on everything else stalls.
For EU citizens, the process is simple and free. Visit the nearest Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency) office with your passport or ID card, and you will typically receive the number the same day. The address of your nearest office can be found on the agenziaentrate.gov.it website. Some Italian universities also assist incoming students in obtaining the codice fiscale during orientation week — check with the host International Office before making a separate trip.
Non-EU students can also obtain the codice fiscale at the Agenzia delle Entrate, using their passport and visa documentation.
9. Bank Account and Payments
If you do not already hold a European bank account with an IBAN, opening one promptly after arrival is advisable — both for receiving your Erasmus+ grant and for paying rent and daily expenses. Italian banks include Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and Banco BPM, among others. However, many Erasmus students opt for digital banks such as N26 or Revolut, which offer fast account opening online with a European IBAN and no monthly fees — practical choices for short-term stays. Confirm with your sending institution that the IBAN type you select is compatible with their payment system before providing it.
10. Accommodation
Housing is typically the most challenging logistical step of the Erasmus+ experience in Italy. Italian universities vary widely in the availability of student residences for incoming exchange students, and many are unable to guarantee accommodation. Contact your host university's International Office as early as possible — ideally immediately after receiving your Invitation Letter — to establish what is on offer and whether applications are competitive.
Where university accommodation is not available or is oversubscribed, students typically rent privately, often through platforms such as Idealista, Uniplaces, or Spotahome, or through local Facebook groups for international students. Bring a printed copy of your Erasmus documentation and Invitation Letter to any rental appointment, as landlords will ask for proof of your institutional affiliation. Bear in mind that a valid rental contract is needed for residency registration and, in turn, for SSN registration.
Cities vary considerably in cost. Student cities such as Bologna, Padova, Turin and Genova are generally more affordable than Milan or Rome, where the private rental market is both tighter and more expensive.

Part Four: Practical Tips for the Semester
The ESN Card. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) has chapters at most Italian universities and runs a year-round programme of social events, city trips and inter-city exchanges. The ESN Card — available for a small annual fee — provides discounts on events, transport, and a wide range of student-friendly businesses across Italy and Europe. It is one of the most practical investments of the first week.
Language. Many Italian universities offer degree courses and elective modules in English, particularly at postgraduate level. At most undergraduate programmes, however, the language of instruction is Italian. Even where English-medium courses are available, daily life — navigating local bureaucracy, speaking to landlords, shopping, socialising beyond the university — is considerably easier with at least basic Italian. Free Italian language courses are commonly offered to incoming Erasmus students at the host university; sign up as early as possible, as places fill quickly.
Student discounts. Always carry your student card (or, once issued, your Italian university card). Museums, galleries, theatres, trains and local transport frequently offer reduced rates for students. The app The Fork is useful for restaurant discounts. Many cities also offer youth discount cards — such as Bologna's Younger Card — which extend benefits to a wide network of local businesses.
The Transcript of Records. Before leaving Italy at the end of your semester, ensure that the host university has issued — or formally committed to issuing — a Transcript of Records confirming the courses completed and the marks obtained. This document is required by your home institution to process credit recognition. Keep copies of all signed Learning Agreement documents.
ECTS and credit recognition. Under the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) held by every participating institution, your home university is obligated to recognise ECTS credits earned abroad, provided the courses were included in the approved Learning Agreement. If you have any concerns about recognition, raise them with your home institution's academic coordinator before departure — not after your return.

Where to Stay Informed
The Erasmus+ landscape changes each year — grant amounts, call deadlines, platform tools and programme rules are all subject to revision. The following are the most reliable sources to consult on a regular basis:

European Commission Erasmus+ portal: erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu — official programme documentation, call announcements and the Programme Guide.
EACEA (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency): eacea.ec.europa.eu — where the 2026 Erasmus+ call for proposals was published.
Erasmus+ Italia (Italian National Agency): erasmusplus.it — the national contact point for all Italian-related Erasmus+ activity, with guidance for both outgoing and incoming students.
Your home university's International Office: the single most authoritative source for the rules, deadlines and procedures that apply to your specific mobility.
Your host Italian university's International Office: the primary point of contact for admission, housing, orientation and any in-country administrative questions.
Online Learning Agreement platform: learning-agreement.eu — for creating and managing your Learning Agreement digitally.
OLS / EU Academy: academy.europa.eu — for the mandatory language assessment and optional language courses.


The Erasmus+ 2026 call for proposals has been officially launched by the European Commission. Students intending to participate in the 2026–2027 academic year should contact their home institution's International Office to confirm application deadlines and institutional procedures.