Open and Limited Admission Faculties in Italy 2026.
Open vs Limited-Admission Degrees in Italy: Complete Guide.
Understanding the difference between open and limited admission faculties in Italy is essential if you want to study in Italy.
If you are exploring universities in Italy for international students or the Italian university admission process, remember that admission depends on the faculty, not the university.
Some programs offer open-access faculties in Italy, with no entrance exam. Others are limited admission faculties in Italy, with a test and a limited number of seats.
In this guide, you will learn how to apply to universities in Italy, understand the Italian university entrance exam, and find the easiest faculties in Italy to get into.
Contents
In Italy, universities offer open admission and limited admission (numero programmato) programs.
Understanding this difference is essential before applying, especially for international students.
Open admission courses allow anyone with the required diploma to enroll.
While limited admission degrees require passing a competitive entrance exam due to a restricted number of seats.
What are open admission faculties in Italy?
Open admission faculties allow students to enroll without having to pass an entrance exam.
These degree programs have no fixed limit on the number of students who can enroll, making admission easier.
This means that anyone who meets the general admission requirements could apply and be admitted.
The most common open admission faculties in Italy include:
- Political Science
- Economics
- Engineering
- Law
- Humanities (Letters)
- Communication Sciences
- Education Sciences
- Tourism Sciences
- Sports Sciences
- Agriculture
These programs are ideal for students who prefer a less competitive admissions process and want to avoid the pressure of admissions tests.
What are the limited admission faculties in Italy?
Limited admission faculties require students to pass competitive entrance exams before being admitted.
The number of available places is limited and set nationally by the Ministry of Education (MIUR) or by individual universities.
Examples of faculties with restricted admission are:
- Medicine (including English-taught Medicine courses)
- Veterinary Medicine
- Architecture
- Health Professions
- Primary Education Sciences
- Psychology
- Various Scientific Faculties
Access to these programs usually requires thorough preparation for entrance exams, as places are limited and competition is high.
Entrance exams for Italian universities are mainly divided into national (for courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, and Architecture) and local, administered by each university.
Tests can be selective (for courses with limited places) or evaluative (for courses that only require a knowledge assessment, such as some engineering courses).
Many universities use the TOLC (CISIA Online Test) for admission to various degree programs.
I invite you to read my post, which talks about the entrance test for both the limited access and open access faculties: “Your guide to university entrance exams: from limited to open-access courses”.
National vs local limited admission in Italy
In Italy, limited admission faculties in Italy are divided into two main categories: national limited admission (numero programmato nazionale) and local limited admission (numero programmato locale).
National limited admission applies to highly competitive programs such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Architecture, where the number of available seats is set at a national level, and students must take standardized exams like the IMAT Italy or other national entrance tests. This means that competition is centralized and applicants are ranked on a national scale.
On the other hand, local limited admission faculties in Italy manage their own selection process independently: each university sets its own Italian university entrance exam, requirements, and number of seats.
Understanding this distinction is essential when planning to study in Italy, as it directly affects your application strategy, the level of competition, and your chances of admission as an international student.
Which option is easier for international students?
For most applicants, open admission faculties in Italy are the easiest option when planning to study in Italy, as they allow enrollment without a competitive entrance exam and have no strict limit on available seats.
In contrast, limited-admission faculties in Italy require passing an Italian university entrance exam and competing for a limited number of places, making them significantly more selective, especially at the national level.
However, while open access programs are easier to enter, they may require more self-discipline during the course, whereas limited admission programs are more structured but harder to access for international students in Italy.
Italian universities, especially prestigious ones like the Polytechnic University of Milan, have separate quotas for international students from non-EU countries.
For example, at the Polytechnic University of Milan’s Faculty of Design, only 15 places are reserved for non-EU students, with five specifically allocated for students from China (consult the Marco Polo project).
The remaining places, generally between 20 and 30 per program, are shared among all other applicants.
International applicants should carefully check the number of available places and admission requirements on the official university and MIUR websites to understand their chances and the necessary preparation.
Pros and Cons of Each System
When comparing open-admission and limited-admission faculties in Italy, each system has clear advantages and trade-offs for students planning to study in Italy.
Open admission programs offer easier access, no Italian university entrance exam, and more flexibility, making them attractive for international students in Italy; however, they often have larger classes and less structured progression.
In contrast, limited-admission programs require passing a competitive Italian university entrance exam and have restricted seats, but they typically provide better organization, smaller cohorts, and clearer academic pathways.
Choosing between them depends on your academic goals, preparation level, and preferred learning environment.
Where to check
To find out exactly which faculties have limited admissions, in addition to referring to the individual university websites, you can consult Universitaly.it or the Studenti Stranieri Miur (studiare-in-talia.it).
As for the preparation books for the entrance exams, I used the Alpha Test books.
Conclusion
The choice between open-admission and restricted access programs in Italy depends on your academic interests, preparation, and admissions strategy.
Open-admission programs offer easier access and broader opportunities, while restricted-admission programs focus on high-demand professional fields with competitive access.
Understanding these differences can help you confidently plan your university future in Italy.
