Language Courses Schools and Programs in Italy

Language Courses Studies in Italy

Language courses in Italy are, above all, courses in Italian for foreigners. They range from a week of lessons on holiday to several months of intensive study before a degree at an Italian university. Our directory lists 48 schools in Italy under this subject: Florence has the most, followed by Rome and Milan, but there are also schools in small towns, on the coast and on the islands.

Types of course

Most students choose a private language school. A typical intensive group course has about three hours of lessons a day in small classes: Istituto Venezia in Venice and Ciao Italia in Rome, for example, both state a maximum of 12 students per class. Schools also offer one-to-one lessons, long-term courses and specialised programmes: Dilit International House in Rome teaches business Italian, Italian for law and CILS or CELI exam preparation, and Tiberius International in Rimini runs courses for students over 50. Many add afternoon cultural activities and arrange accommodation; Koinè Center, founded in Florence in 1980, offers host families, shared or independent apartments, B&Bs and hotel rooms.

Universities are the other route. According to Universitaly, the Ministry of University and Research portal, the Universities for Foreigners of Siena and Perugia run intensive Italian courses at all levels all year round, independent of degree programmes, and some courses can award university credits. At Perugia, courses last at least four weeks, lessons last 50 minutes, Monday to Friday, and a placement test is compulsory; completing level A1 takes two months, and each level from A2 to C2 takes three months. The University of Florence's Centro di Cultura per Stranieri, listed in our directory, also teaches Italian and culture courses to foreigners.

What a course costs

Prices vary by school, city and intensity, so compare the number of hours per week, not just the weekly price. Two examples for 2026: at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, a four-week course at levels A1 to B2, with 18 hours a week, costs €540. At Ciao Italia in Rome, a four-week standard group course is listed at €655, plus a €45 enrolment fee, with an autumn 2026 discount to €590. Accommodation, books and activities are usually extra.

Italian language certificates

Four certificates are run by Italian universities and the Società Dante Alighieri, and all follow the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR):

• CILS, from the Università per Stranieri di Siena, with exams in June and December
• CELI, from the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, which has certified Italian since 1987
• the Certificazione dell'italiano come lingua straniera of the Università degli Studi Roma Tre, with five levels
• PLIDA, from the Società Dante Alighieri, from A1 to C2, at more than 300 exam centres in over 60 countries

Many schools are exam centres: Ciao Italia for PLIDA, Tiberius International for CILS and the DITALS teaching certificate, and the University of Florence's Centro di Cultura per Stranieri for CILS. According to ASILS, a B1 or B2 certificate is an admission requirement at the main Italian universities for degrees taught in Italian.

Choosing a school

Look at class size, hours per week, the levels and exams offered, and accommodation. Membership of a quality association is another check: ASILS, founded in 1992, groups schools that agree to inspections by third-party certification bodies and publish their statistics. Membership is one criterion among others, not a ranking.

Visas

EU citizens do not need a visa. For other nationalities, ASILS explains that stays of up to 90 days fall under short-stay rules (a tourist visa where one is required), while a course of more than 90 days needs a study visa. In that case the school's acceptance letter must state the duration of the course, the number of hours and the place, and ASILS indicates that the course must have at least 20 hours a week for the whole stay. Holders of a study visa must attend the course and apply for a residence permit within eight days of arrival. Requirements vary by consulate, so check the official Visto per l'Italia portal and your Italian consulate before you book.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to learn Italian in Italy?

It depends on your starting point and the intensity. At the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, completing level A1 takes two months and each further level takes three months of daily lessons.

How much does an Italian course in Italy cost?

As examples for 2026, four weeks at A1 to B2 level cost €540 at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, and a four-week standard group course costs €655 plus enrolment at Ciao Italia in Rome. Accommodation is extra.

Which Italian certificate should I take?

CILS, CELI, PLIDA and the Roma Tre certificate all follow the CEFR levels. Check which ones your university, employer or consulate accepts; many universities ask for B1 or B2 for degrees taught in Italian.

Do I need a visa for an Italian course?

Not for EU citizens. Others need a study visa for courses longer than 90 days; shorter stays follow the short-stay rules for your nationality.