The Consulate General of Italy in Canton issues declarations of value for academic qualifications obtained at schools and universities within its consular jurisdiction so that interested parties can obtain:
- The equivalence of primary and secondary qualifications with similar Italian qualifications.
- Enrollment in Italian schools and universities.
- The recognition in Italy of university studies and the assignment of scholarships.
For information regarding the educational offerings of Italian universities and Institutions for High Artistic, Musical and Dance Education (AFAM), you can consult the “UNIVERSITALY“ portal, which is dedicated to foreign students who want to study in Italy. Available in both English and Italian, the portal provides useful information for choosing an academic path and is divided into sections covering the higher education system, university enrollment procedures, and helpful suggestions regarding daily life, initial academic steps, and bureaucratic requirements.
The portal works alongside the MUR website “Studiare in Italia“ (“Studying in Italy”), which annually publishes procedures for the entry, stay, and enrollment of international students in higher education courses at universities and AFAM institutions, as well as registration for admission tests related to limited-access degree programs. The “Studiare in Italia” website also features a search engine periodically updated with the entire range of degree courses offered by Italian Universities and AFAM institutions, totaling roughly 5,000 degree programs.
At this link, you can find the QR codes for most Italian Universities and AFAM institutions prepared by Uni-Italia: List of Italian Universities/AFAM Institutions.
PRE-ENROLLMENT AT ITALIAN UNIVERSITIES AND AFAM INSTITUTIONS
Foreign students interested in enrolling in Italian Universities/AFAM Institutions must access the UNIVERSITALY portal to fill out their pre-enrollment application online, as outlined in the MUR circular published on the Studiare in Italia portal.
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE AT UNIVERSITIES / AFAM INSTITUTIONS
Once the registration procedure on the UNIVERSITALY portal is complete and validation has been obtained from the University/AFAM, students can submit their study visa application to the Consulate General of Italy in Canton according to the instructions published on our website at this link.
Please note that, in addition to the documentation required for issuing a study visa, students must also present:
- The summary of the pre-enrollment application generated by the platform and validated by the University/AFAM.
- If requested by the University/AFAM, original educational qualifications translated into Italian, legalized with an Apostille, and the Declaration of Value (which can be replaced by the Diploma Supplement or ENIC-NARIC certificates issued by CIMEA).
If the University/AFAM expressly requests the Declaration of Value, students must apply for it at this Consulate General before requesting a visa—either directly or through the Uni-Italia Office—by following the procedures published at this link.
Information on how to request CIMEA certificates is available at this link.
UNI-ITALIA
Uni-Italia is an association created through collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of University and Research, the Ministry of the Interior, the ITA Agency (ICE), and CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors).
Its main mission is to promote the Italian higher education system abroad, encouraging international students and researchers to come to Italy and supporting global academic cooperation.
Students interested in enrolling in Universities and AFAM Institutes can contact the Uni-Italia Association for information on degree programs, available slots, and necessary assistance in finalizing their pre-enrollment applications.
- Email: canton@uni-italia.it
- Phone: 020-38396225 (ext. 141)
To use the services offered by the Uni-Italia Association, a non-refundable fee of 1860 RMB (net of bank charges) must be paid via bank transfer to:
Account No.: 715957974198
Beneficiary: Consolato Generale d’Italia a Canton
Bank: Bank of China Guangzhou International Trade Building
Payment Reason (Causale):
- CE – Surname and Name (in Chinese and Pinyin, g., CE – 王平 WANG PING)
- MPT – Surname and Name (in Chinese and Pinyin, e.g., MPT – 王平 WANG PING) – for students in the Marco Polo/Turandot projects.
PRE-ENROLLMENT AT ITALIAN UNIVERSITIES / AFAM INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE “MARCO POLO” AND “TURANDOT” PROGRAMS – PROCEDURE RESERVED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHINESE STUDENTS
The new operational provisions for the 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 Academic Years for the “Marco Polo” and “Turandot” bilateral mobility projects are now available on the UNIVERSITALY Portal. These projects offer Chinese students the opportunity to obtain entry visas to Italy to access higher education courses. Access is reserved for those who first attend a 10- or 11-month Italian language course, utilizing dedicated reserved quotas.
Chinese students interested in joining either of these projects must submit a pre-enrollment application for a first- or second-cycle degree course chosen from those for which individual AFAM Institutions have set aside reserved slots. Along with the pre-enrollment application, students must submit the academic documentation required by diplomatic-consular representations, as established by the “Procedures for the entry, stay, and enrollment of international students and the relative recognition of qualifications for higher education courses in Italy, valid for academic years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028” (available at this link). Students interested in or participating in the Marco Polo and Turandot Projects must contact Uni-Italia for support in submitting their visa application to ensure it is complete and complies with current regulations.
Language Requirements and Deadlines
The Italian language course aims to help students achieve B1 level proficiency in Italian, as well as ensure consistent and continuous exposure to the language so they can master it confidently in an academic setting.
- The course must guarantee 100 hours per month and issue a suitable certificate verifying adequate knowledge of the Italian language.
- For the Turandot Project, to ensure proper academic and socio-cultural integration for the 2027-2028 and 2029-2030 A.Y., it is mandatory to achieve at least an A2 level of Italian before arriving in Italy through certified training paths lasting no less than 180 hours. Reaching a B1 level is required for enrollment, and reaching a B2 level is the target by the end of the first year of enrollment (monitored via standardized testing).
- Reference language levels and parameters are defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), available at: The CEFR Levels.
- The language course must allocate some time to teach Italian culture and/or specialized terminology.
Application Deadlines for Chinese Students
- For 10-month Italian language courses: The deadline for application submission by Chinese students is 31 August 2026 (for A.Y. 2027/2028) and 31 August 2027 (for A.Y. 2028/2029).
- For experimental 11-month Italian language courses: The deadline is brought forward to 7 August 2026 (for A.Y. 2027/2028) and 30 July 2027 (for A.Y. 2028/2029).
In their pre-enrollment application, students must specify both the university institution chosen for enrollment in the degree program and the location where they wish to attend the Italian language course. The form must also indicate the desired course duration (10 or 11 months). In addition to courses organized by the University for Foreigners of Perugia, the University for Foreigners of Siena, Roma Tre University, the Dante Alighieri Society, and the University for Foreigners of Reggio Calabria, students may enroll in language courses at their chosen institution, or at an external entity or private language center of recognized quality that has entered into a specific agreement for this purpose.
Entrance Exam Requirements (GAO KAO / YIKAO)
- For University Institutions: Chinese students intending to enroll in university courses must pass the “GAO KAO” exam with an exam score of at least 400/750.
- For AFAM Institutions: Chinese students must pass both the “GAO KAO” exam and the “Artistic Specialization” exam (“YIKAO”).
- The score must be calculated as the sum of the YIKAO and GAO KAO exam scores.
- Students must achieve a minimum score of 300/750 (or equivalent) on the GAO KAO, which is then added to the YIKAO score.
- The sum of both votes (GAO KAO + YIKAO) must yield a total average of at least 400/750 or equivalent.
The list of courses and their corresponding reserved places is published independently by the universities on their own portals. For detailed information regarding the courses, please contact Uni-Italia.