Foundation Year/Course

The University of Siena offers pre-university courses designed for international students who need to complete one additional year of schooling to meet the minimum entry requirements for university admission, or who wish to strengthen their foundational knowledge before embarking on specific academic programmes.

Starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, the University of Siena has renewed its educational offering with the introduction of the following programmes:

  • Foundation Course in Economics and Management, organized by the School of Economics and Management
  • Foundation Course in Engineering and Science (available soon), organized by the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 

All courses are delivered in English and include mandatory instruction in Italian at A2 level and in English at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Admission Requirements

The following candidates are eligible for admission to the Foundation Course:

  • Students holding a secondary school diploma (or an equivalent qualification in accordance with current regulations) obtained abroad after a minimum of 11 years of total schooling, which grants access to higher education in the educational system of the issuing country.
  • Students holding a U.S. High School Diploma (HSD) who have not completed the three Advanced Placements (APs) required for admission to Italian universities.
  • Students holding a General Certificate of Education (GCE) or an International General Certificate of Education (IGCE) from the United Kingdom who do not meet the requirement of three A-levels for admission to Italian universities.

Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language at a minimum B1 level (or higher) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The verification procedures for language proficiency are described in admission.unisi.it/?p=1944.
Students who are at least 17 years old, or who will turn 17 by December 31 of the year in which the course begins, are eligible to enroll in the Foundation Course.

How to Apply

Applications for admission must be submitted through the portal apply.unisi.it.
For detailed information on deadlines, admission fees, and enrolment costs, please consult the dedicated websites of each course.