University of Bologna
The University of Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum, was founded in 1088, making it the oldest university in the Western world, a title it has held for over 900 years. Ranked 138th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, the university spans five campuses and offers more than 250 degree programmes. This guide covers exactly what Bangladeshi students need for admission, based on UniBo's own current 2026/27 enrollment pages.
The University of Bologna, officially Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, was founded in 1088 and holds the distinction of being the oldest university in the Western world. It operates across five campuses: the main campus in Bologna, plus Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini, offering more than 250 degree programmes, roughly 95 at Bachelor's level. This guide is prepared by Study Abroad in Italy, drawing on our direct experience supporting Bangladeshi students through Italian public university admissions.
Bologna isn't just historically significant, it's the birthplace of the Bologna Process, the European framework that standardized the 3-year Bachelor's and 2-year Master's structure used across Italy and much of the EU today.
UniBo splits its application process into two distinct tracks: EU citizens or those with EU-equivalent status holding a foreign qualification, and non-EU citizens with a foreign qualification, the path almost every Bangladeshi applicant follows. Confirming which path applies to you early avoids confusion later in the process.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Academic (Bachelor's) | 12 years of prior schooling; Bangladeshi HSC generally satisfies this directly |
| Academic (Master's) | Completed relevant Bachelor's degree |
| English-taught programmes | IELTS or TOEFL, score varies by programme |
| Italian-taught programmes | CILS or CELI certification, typically B2 level |
No single fixed IELTS threshold applies across UniBo. Requirements vary by programme, so confirm the exact score for your specific course rather than assuming one number applies universally. Our full guide to Italy's language requirements covers typical ranges and the MOI alternative pathway in more detail.
Students from 11-year education systems have two options: complete a recognized foundation year, generally costing around €5,000, or enroll at a home-country university first and transfer after completing year one.
Many Bachelor's programmes at UniBo require the TOLC test (Test OnLine CISIA). It's administered by CISIA, not by UniBo itself, and accepted across many Italian universities, so you don't have to sit it specifically in Bologna. UniBo only offers in-person TOLC testing across its five campuses, but TOLC@HOME, available since January 2025, lets non-EU citizens residing abroad take the test remotely instead. English-taught Medicine and Surgery programmes use the IMAT instead of the TOLC, and design and architecture programmes may require a portfolio submission.
The Dichiarazione di Valore and CIMEA documentation is exactly where applications commonly get held up. Our Admission Process service manages this specific step directly, so nothing is prepared incorrectly the first time.
Tuition is calculated using the ISEE certificate, tying what you pay to documented family income rather than a flat international 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 (late until Nov 19, with fee) |
| ISEE/foreign-income documentation deadline | October 30, 2026 (late until Nov 16, with €100 fee) |
Estimated total annual cost runs roughly €3,000 to €3,500 for students without a full exemption, though lower-income students may pay significantly less. The application fee is €50, non-refundable. For the university's own current fee tables, the University of Bologna's official tuition fees page is worth checking directly, since deadlines and exemption thresholds are reviewed annually.
Student housing at UniBo is coordinated through ER.GO, the regional student services body for Emilia-Romagna, with dormitory places typically costing €200 to €400 per month. Between entrance testing, document legalization, ISEE documentation, and housing, an Italy application genuinely has more moving parts than most students expect going in. Our full range of admission and visa services is built specifically to manage each of these steps together, rather than leaving you to coordinate separate deadlines on your own.
University details above are based on the University of Bologna's own official website. Fee amounts, deadlines, and entrance test requirements are reviewed annually, so confirm current figures directly with UniBo or with our team before applying.
Our Support
We confirm whether your academic background meets UniBo's 12-year requirement, or whether a foundation year applies.
We guide TOLC or TOLC@HOME registration and manage your Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA statement.
From Universitaly pre-enrollment to deadline tracking, we manage your full process against UniBo's exact 2026/27 dates.
MAECI-aligned visa filing and practical guidance for settling into student life in Bologna.
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