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Unrestricted‑access programmes

These are degree programmes you can enrol in without a selection process. There is no limit on available places and you do not need to feature on a ranking list. You can enrol and attend lectures, but you must sit an assessment test to verify your initial knowledge before sitting exams: the TOLC (CISIA Online Test).

Not sure whether the programme you are interested in has unrestricted or restricted access?

Explore the list of degree programmes for all useful information.

List of degree programmes

What is the TOLC for and which type of test do you need to sit?

The TOLC assesses whether you have the necessary background knowledge for your chosen degree programme. You can sit the test before or after enrolment, in-person or online, even at another university. If you pass, you can start your degree as normal; if you do not pass, you will be assigned Additional Learning Requirements (OFA fulfilment) to clear.

You can sit the TOLC as early as your penultimate year of upper secondary school or after obtaining your upper secondary school diploma, whether awarded in Italy or abroad (provided it is recognized as valid in Italy).

The TOLC is not the same for all degree programmes. It varies according to the subjects required by your chosen degree programme, each covering different sections and topics (such as mathematics, logic, reading comprehension, science or English). Explore which type of TOLC you need to sit for your chosen programme.

Can’t find the School you are looking for? It is likely that the degree programme you are interested in is a restricted‑access programme.

Visit the restricted‑access programmes page

How to prepare, register and sit the test

In this section you will find information on the registration procedure, tips on how to prepare, and what to do if you do not pass the test.

On the CISIA website, you can practise for free and simulate your chosen TOLC before sitting the official test by accessing the Practice Area (Area Esercitazioni). In addition to a wide range of useful resources, you can take a realistic simulation of your chosen admission test to familiarise yourself with its format beforehand. This is a practical way to understand how the test works, get used to the questions and feel better prepared on test day.

If you wish to access free study resources, the University of Florence provides useful preparation materials for admission tests.

CISIA courses Practice Area CISIA Materials to prepare for the admission tests

The TOLC can be sat:

  • at any Italian university participating in CISIA
  • in-person (TOLC@UNI) or at home (TOLC@CASA), if provided for in the call for applications
  • before completing school, starting from your penultimate year of upper secondary school.

You can sit each type of TOLC only once a month, regardless of the university chosen for the test: for example, in June you can sit both a TOLC-I and a TOLC-E, but not two TOLC-I tests. If you are already registered for a TOLC, you must sit it before you can register for another test of the same type.

To book the test, you must:

  • register in the CISIA personal area
  • choose the type of TOLC
  • select the date and venue
  • make the payment
  • download your registration receipt.

Before booking the test, always check which TOLC is required by your degree programme and its validity period.

Check the dates of each TOLC on the CISIA website

At the end of the TOLC, your overall score and section scores will appear on screen.

You can find your result in your personal CISIA test area:

  • for TOLC@UNI, immediately after the test
  • for TOLC@CASA, 48 hours after the test, from 7 pm

Follow the instructions in the call for applications to complete enrolment in your degree programme.

If your score does not reach the required threshold, you can still enrol on the degree programme, but you will be assigned Additional Learning Requirements (Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi OFA). OFAs indicate that you need to make up for basic knowledge gaps during your first year of study: they do not block university enrolment, but must be cleared in accordance with the procedures and deadlines set by the degree programme in order to sit exams as normal.

Enter your CISIA test area

How to enrol in an unrestricted-access degree programme.

Consult the page on enrolment procedures