Direct academic recognition of qualifications obtained abroad
Direct academic recognition is the responsibility of universities, which, acting independently and in accordance with their own regulations (with the exception of bilateral agreements), determine whether qualifications are equivalent. The purpose of applying for academic recognition is to obtain an Italian academic qualification equivalent to the one obtained abroad.
Recognition for purposes other than those indicated above, such as entry to open competitive exam, social security contributions, regulated professions, is carried out by other authorities. A list of these authorities can be found on the website of CIMEA - Italy’s Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence.
For information on the credit recognition procedure and career shortening, you can check Credit recognition
The request for academic recognition on the basis of equipollenza is intended to receive evaluation of a qualification obtained abroad in order to obtain an equivalent Italian academic qualification.
This procedure involves a detailed evaluation of the correspondence in terms of level and content between the qualification obtained abroad and the Italian qualification.
A qualification obtained abroad recognised by equipollenza has the same legal value as the corresponding Italian qualification.
Requests for equipollenza procedure are not accepted for the following degrees: Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, Veterinary Medicine, Healthcare Professions, Pharmacy, Law, and Master’s degrees from the School of Psychology.
Deadlines
Requests for academic recognition on the basis of equipollenza can be submitted at any time of the year. You must also register your personal details on Uniweb.
Required documents
- Qualification that granted you access to the degree programme for which you are seeking recognition (only if obtained abroad): upper secondary education diploma for bachelor’s degree and single cycle degree requests, bachelor’s degree diploma for master’s degree requests. Official translation in English or Italian, legalisation and Declaration of Value by the Italian Embassy or Consulate of the country where the diploma has been awarded are also required.
- Qualification obtained abroad for which you are requesting the equipollenza, with official translation in English or Italian, legalisation and Declaration of Value by the Italian Embassy or Consulate of the country where the diploma has been awarded.
- Certificate issued by relevant academic authorities attesting the examinations passed, with official translation in English or Italian and legalisation
- Official Syllabus of the examinations passed
- Diploma supplement (if available)
- Official document attesting the grading system of the University that awarded the qualification (if not already indicated in the certificate attesting the examinations passed)
- Proof of English language proficiency (only for English-taught degree programmes of the University of Padua)
- ID card
- Italian Residence permit (for non-EU citizens residing in Italy)
Documentation relating to the qualifications is accepted in English or Italian. The syllabus is accepted in English, French and Spanish.
On the request form (available below) you must indicate the degree programme of the University of Padua for which the academic recognition on the basis of equipollenza is requested. The list of degree programmes offered by the University of Padua are available here: http://didattica.unipd.it/
When submitting the application, a non-refundable fee of €400 (including revenue stamp) must be paid via PagoPA.
We invite you to book an appointment with the Admission and Welcome Unit for the verification of the documentation.
You will then need to send the documentation, including proof of payment, via certified email to the address amministrazione.centrale@pec.unipd.it.
If your request is successful, you will be required to provide the original documents at an in-person appointment with the Admissions and Welcome Unit in order to complete the procedure.