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Italian Language Knowledge

Who Needs the Certificate

If you are a non-EU living abroad and you have applied for a study visa to enroll in a first cycle degree (laurea triennale), single cycle degree (laurea magistrale a ciclo unico) or second cycle degree (laurea magistrale) program taught in Italian, you must provide an Italian language proficiency certificateat the B2 level or above of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

  • Italian Language Quality Certification System (CLIQ):
    • CELI B2, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia
    • CERT-IT B2, issued by the Università di Roma Tre
    • CILS B2, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena
    • PLIDA B2, issued by the Società Dante Alighieri
  • CISIA ITA L2 Test with a minimum passing score of 55 out of 72 + oral exam with the University Language Center (CLA)
  • Italian language test of at least B2 level at the University Language Center (CLA) of the University of Florence, or another Italian university language center

To enroll in the following degree programs, you must hold an Italian language certificate at least at the B2 level issued by the Italian Language Quality Certification System (CLIQ), no other certificates are accepted:

Who Doesn’t Need the Certificate

You do not need to provide an Italian language certificate if you:

  • are an EU national or non-EU with a regular residence permit
  • hold double citizenship, one of which is Italian or EU
  • are admitted to degree programs taught in English
  • are admitted to study tracks taught in English within a degree program taught in Italian, subject to the program’s entry requirements
  • hold a first cycle bachelor’s degree program awarded by an Italian university
  • hold a certificate of completion for a Foundation Year delivered in Italian, demonstrating an output language level of no less than B2 of the CEFR
  • hold an Italian language and culture diploma awarded by the Universities for Foreigners of Perugia or Siena
  • hold a secondary school diploma of 4 or 5 years awarded by an Italian School abroad
  • hold one of the final secondary school qualifications listed in the Ministerial Provisions (see the Ministerial Provisions on the Ministry website, Annex 2)
  • hold a secondary school diploma accompanied by a complementary certificate proving the completion of a 5 year long Italian language course awarded in Argentina (according to Law No. 210 of June 7, 1999, Official Journal No. 152 of July 1, 1999);

CISIA ITA L2 Test

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the University of Florence, together with CISIA, organizes the ITA L2 Test, which will be held online in the @CASA format. 

The test is strictly reserved for non-EU residing abroad who have submitted a pre-enrolment application to the University of Florence via the Universitaly.it portal.

Only those who have duly submitted a pre-enrollment application to the University of Florence by the test registration deadline are eligible to sit the test. 

Seats are limited to 80 per session and fill up very quickly.

How to Register

  1. If you are already pre-enrolled at the University of Florence, by the test registration deadline, you may complete the following FORM.
  2. Now register on the Online Services by providing your personal data as they appear on your passport.
  3. The university will email you a payment slip for EUR 35, which must be paid by the stated deadline. Registration will not be considered valid unless the payment is made by the deadline stated on the slip.
  4. If your registration has been successful, you will receive an email from CISIA with instructions on how to access the test. 

Passing Score

The minimum passing score for the test is 55 out of 72 points.

Oral Exam

Once you have passed the CISIA ITA L2 test, you must sit the oral exam with the University Language Centre. 

•    The oral exam is free of charge.

•    The University Language Centre will send you an email with details about the oral exam.

Test Taken at Other Universities

The University of Florence accepts the CISIA ITA L2 test taken at other universities with a minimum passing score of 55 out of 72 points.

If you have passed the CISIA ITA L2 test, you must sit an oral exam at the University Language Centre. 

•    The cost of the oral exam is EUR 24. 

•    To book the oral exam, please send a copy of your test results to the University Language Centre at infoitaliano(AT)cla.unifi.it

Refunds

The EUR 35 or the EUR 24 fees for the tests are non-refundable under any circumstances.

  • Test date: June 23th 2026 – Registration Start May 18th – Registration Deadline June 3rd 2026, Seats Available 80
  • Test date: July 8th 2026 – Registration Start May 18th – Registration Deadline June 18th 2026, Seats Available 80
  • Test date: July 9th 2026 – Registration Start May 18th – Registration Deadline June 18th 2026, Seats Available 80
  • Test date: July 15th 2026 – Registration Start May 18th – Registration Deadline July 2nd 2026, Seats Available 80
  • Test date: 29 July 2026 Registration Start May 18th – Registration Deadline July 16th 2026, Seats Available 80

Updated 19 May 2026. All dates are full

Your CISIA ITA L2 Test results will appear on the screen once you have finished the test. 

To download your results, please use the login details and link you received on the day of the test.