International students

Your journey to Accademia Costume & Moda

Choosing to study in Italy is the first step towards an international education in fashion, costume and creative disciplines.

If you have completed your studies abroad, we know that the admission process can sometimes feel complex. That is why, at Accademia Costume & Moda, you are never alone throughout the process. We support you every step of the way, helping you understand which documents you need to prepare and which procedures you need to complete before leaving your country and after arriving in Italy.

What qualification do you need?

Admission requirements vary depending on the programme you choose.

Bachelor Degree
To apply for a three-year Bachelor Degree programme, you must hold: a secondary school diploma obtained after completing at least 12 years of schooling. Your qualification must also give you access, in the country where it was awarded, to a comparable level of higher education and, where applicable, you must have passed any specific examinations required for university admission under the local education system. If your education system provides fewer than 12 years of schooling, you may need to complete additional academic requirements before enrolment. In these cases, our Orientation Team will help you identify the most suitable solution for your academic background.
First-Level Academic Master
To apply for a First-Level Master, you must hold: a Bachelor of Arts Diploma/Diploma Accademico di I Livello (DAPL), or a Bachelor Degree or equivalent academic qualification. In this case too, a qualification obtained abroad must be assessed as equivalent, in terms of level and characteristics, to the qualification required for admission to the programme.

If you obtained your qualification abroad

If your qualification was obtained outside Italy, we will need to verify that it can be used for admission to your chosen programme.

Depending on your country of education, qualification and the specific procedure, you may be required to provide additional documentation, such as:

  • a Declaration of Value (DoV) issued by the relevant Italian diplomatic authority;
  • a CIMEA Statement of Comparability;
  • a CIMEA Statement of Verification;
  • official translations, legalisations or apostilles, where required;
  • transcripts, examination certificates and other documents relating to your previous studies.
Good to know Not every student will need to provide the same documents. The documentation required depends on your qualification, the country where it was obtained and the programme you are applying for.
Our Orientation Team will help you understand which documents you need in your specific case and how to prepare them correctly.

After admission: what happens next?

If you are an international student and need a visa to study in Italy, being admitted to Accademia Costume & Moda is only the first step.

Once you receive your admission confirmation, we will support you throughout the procedures you need to complete before travelling to Italy.

01 Complete your admission and enrolment After successfully completing the admission process, you will receive all the information you need to finalise your enrolment at Accademia Costume & Moda. At this stage, we will also verify the documentation relating to your foreign qualification and any additional documents required for enrolment. Our team will be available to support you throughout every step of the process.
02 Pre-enrolment through Universitaly If you need a study visa, you will need to complete your pre-enrolment through the Universitaly portal. The procedure begins after your admission and must be completed by submitting the required documentation. Accademia Costume & Moda will review and validate your application in accordance with the applicable procedure. The validation of your Universitaly pre-enrolment is an essential step before you can apply for your study visa. We will guide you through the preparation of the required documents and the information you need to provide in your application.
03 Apply for your Study Visa Once your Universitaly pre-enrolment has been completed and validated, you can apply for a National Type D Visa for study purposes at the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for your country of residence. The visa application is handled by the relevant Italian diplomatic or consular authority. Accademia Costume & Moda will provide you with the support and documentation relating to your study programme.
04 Arrive in Italy The moment has finally arrived to begin your experience at Accademia.
Once you arrive in Italy with a national study visa, you will need to complete the necessary procedures to regularise your stay.
05 Apply for your Residence Permit If you have entered Italy with a National Type D Visa for study purposes, you must apply for a Residence Permit for Study Purposes (Permesso di Soggiorno) within 8 working days of your arrival in Italy. The application can be submitted through the official channels and procedures established under Italian law.
You are not alone at this stage either: our team will provide you with the information and guidance you need to understand the procedure and prepare the required documentation.

Please note: admission to Accademia and validation of your pre-enrolment do not automatically guarantee that a visa will be issued. The final decision lies with the relevant diplomatic or consular authority.

Your journey, step by step

01 — Choose your programme Find the programme that best matches your goals and ambitions.
02 — Check your requirements We will help you verify your academic qualification and admission requirements.
03 — Submit your application Complete the admission process and prepare the required documentation.
04 — Receive your admission Once you are admitted, we will guide you through the next steps.
05 — Pre-enrol through Universitaly If you need a visa, we will support you throughout the pre-enrolment procedure.
06 — Apply for your Study Visa Once your pre-enrolment has been validated, you can apply for your visa through the relevant Italian diplomatic authority.
07 — Arrive in Italy Your journey at Accademia is about to begin.
08 — Apply for your Residence Permit Within 8 working days of your arrival, complete the procedure for your study residence permit.

We are here for you

Studying in Italy is an important experience. We know that moving to a new country can involve questions, documents and procedures you may never have encountered before.

That is why supporting international students is an integral part of your journey at Accademia Costume & Moda.

From the moment you start your application until you arrive in Italy, our team is here to help you:

  • verify the admission requirements;
  • understand which documents you need to prepare;
  • navigate the Declaration of Value and CIMEA documentation;
  • complete the steps following your admission;
  • prepare for the Universitaly pre-enrolment procedure;
  • gather the documentation required for your visa application;
  • understand the procedures you need to complete after arriving in Italy.

Your journey to ACM begins before you even arrive in Italy. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Orientation Office

Do you have questions about the requirements?

Contact us and tell us about your academic background. We will help you understand the requirements and the next steps towards applying to Accademia Costume & Moda.