University of Bologna Admission Guide for Bangladeshi Students
If you’ve been researching where to study in Italy, chances are the University of Bologna has come up more than once. It’s the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088, and it still ranks among Italy’s strongest institutions today – 138th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. For Bangladeshi students specifically, UniBo offers something genuinely rare: a globally respected degree, income-based tuition that keeps costs manageable, and a clear, well-documented admission process once you know which path applies to you.
This guide walks through exactly what that process looks like, based on the university’s own current enrollment pages and application requirements for the 2026/27 academic year.
Quick Facts
| Official name | Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna |
| Founded | 1088 |
| Location | Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (plus 4 additional campuses) |
| Campuses | Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini |
| QS World Ranking 2026 | 138th globally |
| Total programmes | 250+ (approximately 95 at Bachelor’s level) |
| Application fee | €50 (non-refundable) |
| First tuition instalment | From €157.04 |
About the University of Bologna
The University of Bologna, officially named Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, was founded in 1088 in the city of Bologna, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. It holds the distinction of being the oldest university in the Western world, a title it has kept for over 900 years.
Today the university operates across five campuses: the main campus in Bologna itself, plus four additional locations in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini. Between them, it offers more than 250 degree programmes, roughly 95 of which are at Bachelor’s level, spanning fields including engineering, law, medicine, economics, and the humanities.
In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Bologna sits at 138th globally, placing it consistently among Italy’s strongest institutions.
One more thing worth knowing: Bologna isn’t just old; it’s the birthplace of the Bologna Process, the European framework that standardized the 3-year Bachelor’s and 2-year Master’s structure now used across Italy and much of the EU. If this is your first time researching how Italian higher education actually works, Study Abroad In Italy has a broader overview of how Study Abroad in Italy guides Bangladeshi students through this entire system, from choosing a university like Bologna through to visa approval.
Two Enrollment Paths
UniBo splits its application process into two distinct tracks:
- Path 1: EU citizens or those with EU-equivalent status holding a foreign qualification
- Path 2: Non-EU citizens with a foreign qualification; this is the path almost every Bangladeshi applicant follows
Confirming which path applies to you early avoids confusion later, especially if you hold dual citizenship or residency anywhere else.
Academic Requirements for Bangladeshi Students
- Bachelor’s admission requires 12 years of prior schooling
- Bangladeshi HSC graduates typically meet this directly, since HSC represents Class 1 through 12
- Students from 11-year education systems have two options:
- Complete a recognized foundation year (approximately €5,000)
- Enroll at a home-country university first and transfer after completing year one
- Master’s programmes accept a completed relevant Bachelor’s degree directly, without the 12-year calculation applying
The TOLC Entrance Test
Many Bachelor’s programmes at UniBo require the TOLC test (Test OnLine CISIA) as part of admission.
- Administered by CISIA, not by UniBo itself, and accepted across many Italian universities, you don’t have to sit it specifically in Bologna
- UniBo only offers in-person TOLC testing, held across its five campuses
- TOLC@HOME, available since January 2025, lets non-EU citizens residing abroad take the test remotely, without needing to travel to Italy beforehand
- English-taught Medicine and Surgery programmes use the IMAT instead of the TOLC
- Design and architecture programmes may require a portfolio submission alongside or instead of a standard test
Language Requirements
| Programme Type | Required Certification |
| English-taught | IELTS or TOEFL (score varies by programme) |
| Italian-taught | CILS or CELI (typically B2 level) |
Required Documents
- School certificate/degree with an official transcript
- Notarized Italian translation of all academic documents
- Dichiarazione di Valore (a Value Declaration issued by the Italian Embassy confirming your qualification’s Italian-system equivalence) or a CIMEA statement (issued by Italy’s official credential evaluation body); which one you need depends on your specific programme
- Valid passport
- Passport-sized photographs
- Proof of application fee payment
Tuition Fees for the 2026/27 Academic Year
Tuition is calculated using the ISEE certificate (Italy’s Economic Situation Indicator), meaning what you pay is tied to documented family income, not a flat international-student rate.
| Deadline | Date (2026/27) |
| First tuition instalment (min. €157.04) | September 24, 2026 |
| Second instalment (if applicable) | December 18, 2026 |
| Master’s degree fee deadline | October 29, 2026 |
| Master’s late payment window (with fee) | November 19, 2026 |
| ISEE/foreign-income documentation deadline | October 30, 2026 |
| ISEE late submission (with €100 fee) | November 16, 2026 |
Miss the ISEE documentation deadline entirely, and you’ll be charged the full, non-reduced tuition rate instead.
Estimated total annual cost: roughly €3,000 to €3,500 for students without a full exemption, based on current publicly available estimates. Students with lower documented family income can see this reduced substantially or waived entirely. Because the amount is genuinely individual, treat any single figure you see online as a rough estimate until your own ISEE bracket is calculated.
The application fee is €50, non-refundable regardless of outcome. If Bologna’s tuition structure appeals to you but you’re weighing it against other institutions, our university list covers admission and cost details for the other Italian universities we support applications for, so you can compare before committing to one.
Step-by-Step Application Timeline
- Choose your programme: roughly 12 months ahead, scholarship deadlines fall earlier than general admission deadlines
- Complete Universitaly pre-enrollment: (main window: February to May; some programmes open as early as October the year before)
- Prepare your document package: including notarized translations and your Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA statement
- Sit your entrance test: if required, TOLC (or TOLC@HOME from Bangladesh), or IMAT for English-taught Medicine
- Wait for ranking results: UniBo publishes admission rankings after testing closes, with reserved places for non-EU applicants
- Pay your first tuition instalment: to formally enroll (matriculate)
- Submit original documents in person: to the International Student Administration office on your assigned campus, typically by February the following year
- Arrive in Italy: complete your Permesso di Soggiorno application, and activate your UniBo student credentials
This entire sequence, particularly the document preparation and testing steps, is exactly what our admission and visa services are built around managing on your behalf, so nothing gets missed between steps 2 and 7.
Accommodation and Student Life
Student housing is coordinated through ER.GO, the regional student services body for Emilia-Romagna.
- University-managed dormitory places: approximately €200 to €400 per month
- ER.GO also provides discounted canteen meals, transport passes, and medical care access for eligible students, based on income
Is Bologna Right for You, or Should You Compare Other Universities First?
Bologna’s history and ranking make it an obvious first choice for many applicants, but it isn’t automatically the right fit for every academic background or budget. If you’re still weighing Bologna against other options, our full university list breaks down admission requirements, tuition ranges, and programme strengths across every Italian university we work with, so you can compare realistically rather than choosing on reputation alone. And if you want the bigger picture on why Italy as a country makes sense in the first place, our guide on why Italy is a strong destination for higher education covers that context in more depth.
How Study Abroad in Italy Helps You Apply to UniBo
The paperwork, particularly the Dichiarazione di Valore, CIMEA statements, and ISEE documentation, is exactly where applications commonly stall or get rejected on technicalities. This is the part of the process our team handles directly, based on 10+ years of experience and 550+ completed student visa cases, with an 80% approval rate built on careful eligibility screening before anything is submitted.
We help you:
- Confirm whether your academic background meets UniBo’s 12-year schooling requirement, or whether a foundation year makes more sense
- Prepare and translate documentation correctly the first time
- Guide you through TOLC or IMAT registration, including TOLC@HOME
- Manage your Universitaly pre-enrollment against every deadline above
- File your MAECI-aligned student visa application once enrolled
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the University of Bologna founded, and where is it located?
The University of Bologna was founded in 1088 in Bologna, Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is the oldest university in the Western world and operates across five campuses: Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini.
Can I get into the University of Bologna with an 11-year education system?
Not directly for Bachelor’s admission, since UniBo requires 12 years of prior schooling. Bangladeshi HSC graduates meet this requirement as-is. Students from 11-year systems typically need a foundation year, costing roughly €5,000, or must transfer in after their first year at a home university.
What is the TOLC test and do I need it?
The TOLC is a standardized entrance test required by many Bachelor’s programmes at UniBo and other Italian universities. It’s administered by CISIA and can be taken at any participating institution. Non-EU applicants residing abroad can take it remotely through TOLC@HOME.
How much does the University of Bologna cost for Bangladeshi students?
Tuition is calculated using your family’s ISEE income certificate. Instalments start from a minimum of €157.04, with typical annual totals estimated between €3,000 and €3,500 for students without a full exemption, though lower-income students may pay significantly less.
What documents do I need, and what is a Dichiarazione di Valore?
You’ll need academic transcripts with notarized Italian translations, plus either a Dichiarazione di Valore (from the Italian Embassy) or a CIMEA credential statement, depending on your programme.
When does the University of Bologna application open for 2026/27?
The main Universitaly pre-enrollment window generally runs February through May, though some programmes open as early as October of the preceding year.
Does Study Abroad in Italy help with University of Bologna applications specifically?
Yes, we provide direct support for UniBo applications, including document preparation, TOLC/IMAT guidance, Universitaly pre-enrollment, and visa filing.
Ready to start your University of Bologna application, or still deciding between Bologna and another Italian university? Get in touch with our counsellors for a free eligibility assessment, or browse our complete university list to compare your options first.
