LUMSA (Libera Università degli Studi Maria Ss. Assunta di Roma) is a public non-state Italian university formed on Catholic principles. It is the second oldest university in Rome after Sapienza and was founded by Luigia Tincani in 1939. LUMSA is accountable to the state university system and awards qualifications equivalent to those issued by state universities. Professionalism, growth, and development are the University’s fundamental principles, along with teaching, employment, research, and the student experience.

Our History

The University was established on 26 October 1939, the date it received both its canonical erection and civil recognition by the Italian State. Unusually for that time, it was established by a woman, Luigia Tincani, together with Cardinal Giuseppe Pizzardo, and has enjoyed the protection and support of the Holy See from the very start.

It was initially granted the status and title of Istituto Superiore Pareggiato di Magistero Maria Ss. Assunta was a state-recognized higher education institute and was essentially a university with a single faculty - education - offering a selection of degree programs.

It was established for two principal reasons, the first being the more immediate and practical need to provide easy access to higher education for nuns called to teach in Catholic schools; the second, more profound, reason was to contribute to an intellectual and humanistic education free from the ideological pressures of the time, which sought to monopolize education and instruction.

The student body grew and developed in the 1960s and 70s, enrolling lay female students and offering a broader range of programs.

As part of a four-year university development plan in Italy, it became a "free university" in 1989 and grew into a multi-faculty institution that also offered degree programs, and was one of the first Italian Universities to offer programs in Communication Science and Journalism within the Faculty of Arts. Law, politics, economics, and psychology were also added gradually to the portfolio. Particular focus was maintained on education and pedagogical study, which also incorporated extracurricular education and the entire social services sector.

The late nineties also saw the opening of campuses in Taranto (Puglia) and Palermo (Sicily) with unanticipated success. At the same time, the complement of teaching staff was enlarged in terms of number and duties, taking on research commitments in their various specialist fields and developing international relations. Particular attention was devoted to the Erasmus project, and LUMSA was recognized by the European Union as being one of the best universities in Italy for developing European programs.

LUMSA is a private Italian university open to the public, which awards recognized qualifications; it has been supported and encouraged by each successive pope. It reflects the principles of Catholicism in the training it offers and in the education of the young people who study here, both in the direction that the teaching takes and the higher values attached to its research, such as fraternity, solidarity, equality, and peace.

Application and enrollment for non-EU students

Application and enrollment for Bachelor’s Degree programs

The Bachelor’s degree programs are all in Italian language and a B2 level of Italian is requested.
The call for application is generally published in spring on the web page of each course: www.lumsa.it
It is recommended to contact the Welcome office to communicate the application and to be followed in the process.

Documents to be sent to the Welcome office to establish the eligibility

To participate in the selection, the student has to send to the Welcome Office:

• Secondary school certification with minimum 12 years of schooling with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study
• Original Mark sheet with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study
• Declaration of value (Dichiarazione di valore) of the secondary school certification issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study or the statement of comparability Cimea www.cimea.it
• Apostille / Legalization of the high school diploma or statement of verification Cimeawww.cimea.it
• Copy of successful completion of the academic eligibility exam (if applicable)
• Sworn/legalized translation of study documents and of the mark sheet (if written in languages different from English, French, German, Spanish)
• A valid Italian language certificate with minimum B2 level (if any)
• ID or passport

On line admission test

The student has to register the personal data on https://servizi.lumsa.it/AddressBook/ABStartProcessoRegAction.do and book the on line admission test on the page of the course of interest. (the system will require the payment of € 100 to participate in the admission test)

Italian language verification

The student has to submit to the Welcome office a valid Italian language certificate with minimum B2 level. Otherwise the student has to pass an Italian exam with the Academic language centre CLIC

Letter of admission

In case of admission, the Welcome Office will issue a letter of admission to be submitted to the Italian embassy or consulate of residence.

Universitaly application

The student has to register and apply on Universitaly in order to request the Visa: https://universitaly-private.cineca.it/index.php/registration/firststep

Enrollment

In order to be enrolled the student has to present the original copy of the following documents:

• Visa for study (University Enrollment).
• Secondary school certification with minimum 12 years of schooling with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study;
• Original Mark sheet with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study
• Declaration of value (Dichiarazione di valore) of the secondary school certification issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study or the statement of comparability Cimea www.cimea.it
• Apostille/Legalization of the high school diploma or statement of verification Cimea www.cimea.it
• Copy of successful completion of the academic eligibility exam (if applicable).
• Sworn/legalized translation of study documents and of the mark sheet (if written in languages different from English, French, German, Spanish).
• Health insurance valid in Italy and / or in Europe.
• Italian fiscal code officially issued by AGENZIA DELLE ENTRATE (or it can be requested before the arrival at the Italian embassy of your country of residence).
• Registration of your personal data on LUMSA web site
• Copy of the passport.
• Jpg photo of the face (for the personal page).
• The University may at any time request further documentation for enrollment purposes.
• All the necessary documents, once obtained, must be anticipated by email to international.admissions@lumsa.it for the evaluation. You cannot be enrolled without the approval of the above mentioned documents by the Welcome office.
• After the approval of the Office, you will be invited to pay the fee for enrollment.

Application on line

On https://www.lumsa.it/en/apply-to-enroll the student has to upload: a valid passport, bachelor diploma (if obtained), last transcript of records, C.V., any language certification (if any), letter of reference, letter of motivation, etc..

Only if eligible LUMSA will require the payment of € 100 to go on with the selection and to pass the following steps:
a) On line interview with the President of the course
b) Language verification
If the student doesn’t possess a valid language certificate with the level required by the course, the student has to do an language assessment with the Academic language centre CLIC.

Letter of admission

In case of admission the Welcome office will issue a letter of admission to be submitted to the Italian embassy or consulate of residence.

Universitaly application

The student has to register and apply on Universitaly in order to request the Visa: https://universitaly-private.cineca.it/index.php/registration/firststep.

Enrollment

In order to be enrolled the student must present the original copy of the following documents:

• Visa for study (University Enrollment).
• Original final degree Diploma - or a certified copy - with Legalization (Apostille). The Apostille can be replaced by the Statement of verification CIMEA (www.cimea.it). The degree must give access to the 2nd cycle of study (master’s degree) in your country.
• Transcript of the academic records with legalisation (Apostille).
• Declaration of value of the completed final university degree OR the Statement of Comparability CIMEA (www.cimea.it) or the Diploma supplement in English that indicates the degree course, the duration, the number of credits (at least equal to or equivalent to 180 ECTS), the access to the 2nd cycle of study master’s degree, issued according to the criteria established by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and by UNESCO. If the Diploma supplement is issued by a Non-European University, it must be Apostilled or legalized.
• Certified or legalized translation of the high school diploma, degree diploma, transcript of records (except for the documents written in English, French, Spanish, German).
• Any international certification of English proficiency (if any).
• Copy of the high school diploma.
• Health insurance valid in Italy and / or in Europe.
• Italian fiscal code officially issued by AGENZIA DELLE ENTRATE (it can be requested before the arrival at the Italian embassy of your country of residence).
• Registration of your personal data on LUMSA web site.
• Copy of the passport.
• Jpg photo of the face (for the personal page).
• The University may at any time request further documentation for enrollment purposes.
• All the necessary documents, when obtained, must be anticipated by email to international.admissions@lumsa.it for the evaluation. You cannot be enrolled without the approval of the above mentioned documents by the Welcome office.
• After the approval of the Office, you will be invited to pay the fee for enrollment.

VISA for study

Students can verify if they need a visa and what documents to present for the request on https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home.aspx
In case of admission, the Non-EU student will receive a letter from LUMSA. In order to request and begin the Visa process the student has to register and apply on Universitaly: https://universitaly-private.cineca.it/index.php/registration/firststep
After LUMSA validation the student can contact the embassy of the country of residence in order to prepare all the necessary documents for the enrollment. It can be useful to bring at the appointment the Universitaly resume of the validation downloadable on your platform’s web page.
Be careful: LUMSA cannot interfere in the Embassy/Consulate procedure or decision for the issuance of the Visa.

Application and enrollment for EU students

Application and enrollment for Bachelor’s degree programs

The Bachelor programs are all in Italian language and a B2 level of Italian is requested.
The call for application is generally published in spring on the web page of each course: www.lumsa.it
It is suggested to contact the Welcome office to communicate the applications and to be followed in the process.

Documents to be sent to the Welcome office for the eligibility

To participate in the selection, the student has to send to the Welcome Office:

• Secondary school certification with minimum 12 years of schooling with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study;
• Original Mark sheet with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study
• Declaration of value (Dichiarazione di valore) of the secondary school certification issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study or the statement of comparability Cimea www.cimea.it;
• Apostille / Legalization of the high school diploma or statement of verification Cimea www.cimea.it
• Copy of successful completion of the academic eligibility exam (if applicable).
• Sworn/legalized translation of study documents and of the mark sheet (if written in languages other than English, French, German).
• Valid Italian language certificate with B2 level (if any)
• ID or passport.

On line admission test

The student must register the personal data on https://servizi.lumsa.it/AddressBook/ABStartProcessoRegAction.do and book the on line admission test on the page of the course of interest (the system will require the payment of € 100 to participate in the admission test).

Italian language verification

The student has to present to the Welcome office a valid Italian language certificate with minimum the B2 level. Otherwise the student has to pass an Italian exam with the Academic language centre CLIC

Enrollment

In order to be enrolled the student must present the original copy of the following documents:

• Secondary school certification with minimum 12 years of schooling with Apostille issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study.
• Original Mark sheet.
• Declaration of value (Dichiarazione di valore) of the secondary school certification issued by the Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of study or the statement of comparability Cimea www.cimea.it
• Apostille / Legalization of the high school diploma or statement of verification Cimea www.cimea.it
• Copy of successful completion of the academic eligibility exam (if applicable).
• Sworn/legalized translation of study documents and of the mark sheet (if written in languages different from English, French, German, Spanish).
• Any valid certification of Italian proficiency (if any).
• Health insurance valid in Italy and / or in Europe.
• Italian fiscal code officially issued by AGENZIA DELLE ENTRATE (it can be requested before the arrival at the Italian embassy of your country of residence).
• Registration of your personal data on LUMSA web site
• Copy of the passport.
• Jpg photo of the face (for the personal page).
• The University may at any time request further documentation for enrolment purposes.
• All the necessary documents, when obtained, must be anticipated by email to international.admissions@lumsa.it for the evaluation. You cannot be enrolled without the approval of the above mentioned documents by the Welcome office.
• After the approval of the Office, you will be invited to pay the fee of enrolment.

Application and enrollment for Master’s Degree programs

The applications for the academic year 2026-2027 are open. Deadline for selections: July 31st 2026.

LUMSA offers 4 master degrees completely in English language:

• Marketing and digital communication LM-59
• Management and finance and data analytics LM-77
• International relations in the digital era LM-52
• Social, Forensic and Organizational Psychology - LM-51

For the above-mentioned master’s degree courses, specific level of languages are required: the details are in the pages of each course.
For the Master’s degree programs in Italian language (see the section Master Degree Courses) it is required a B2 level of Italian language.

Application on line

On https://www.lumsa.it/en/apply-to-enroll the student has to upload: bachelor diploma (if obtained), last transcript of records, C.V., any language certification (if any), letter of reference, letter of motivation, etc.

Only if eligible LUMSA will require the payment of € 100 to go on with the selection and to pass the following steps:
a) On line interview with the President of the course.
b) Language verification
If the student doesn’t have a valid language certificate with the level required by the course, the student has to pass an assessment online with the Academic language centre CLIC

Enrollment

In order to be enrolled the student has to present the original copy of the following documents:

• Original final degree Diploma - or a certified copy - with Legalization (Apostille). The Apostille can be replaced by the Statement of verification CIMEA (www.cimea.it). The degree must give access to the 2nd cycle of study (master’s degree) in your country.
• Transcript of the academic records with legalisation (Apostille).
• Declaration of value of the completed final university degree OR the Statement of Comparability CIMEA (www.cimea.it) or the Diploma supplement in English that indicates the degree course, the duration, the number of credits (at least equal to or equivalent to 180 ECTS), the access to the 2nd cycle of study master’s degree, issued according to the criteria established by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and by UNESCO. If the Diploma supplement is issued by a Non-European University, it must be Apostilled or legalized.
• Certified or legalized translation of the high school diploma, degree diploma, transcript of records (except for the documents written in English, French, Spanish, German, Spanish).
• Any international certification of English proficiency (if any).
• Copy of the high school diploma.
• Health insurance valid in Italy and / or in Europe.
• Italian fiscal code officially issued by AGENZIA DELLE ENTRATE (it can be requested before the arrival at the Italian embassy of your country of residence).
• Registration of your personal data on LUMSA web site
• Copy of the passport.
• Jpg photo of the face (for the personal page).
• The University may at any time request further documentation for enrolment purposes.
• All the necessary documents, when obtained, must be anticipated by email to international.admissions@lumsa.it for the evaluation. You cannot be enrolled without the approval of the above mentioned documents by the Welcome office.
• After the approval of the Office, you will be invited to pay the fee for enrolment.

VISA for study

Students can verify if they need a visa and what documents to present for the request on https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home.aspx
In case of admission, the Non-EU student will receive a letter from LUMSA. In order to request and begin the Visa process the student has to register and apply on Universitaly: https://universitaly-private.cineca.it/index.php/registration/firststep
After LUMSA validation the student can contact the embassy of the country of residence in order to prepare all the necessary documents for the enrollment. It can be useful to bring at the appointment the Universitaly resume of the validation downloadable on your platform’s web page.
Be careful: LUMSA cannot interfere in the Embassy/Consulate procedure or decision for the issuance of the Visa.

25th CENSIS Ranking of Italian Universities: LUMSA Ranked First Among Medium-Sized Non-State Universities

https://lumsa.it/it/newsroom/news/xxv-classifica-censis-delle-universita-lumsa-al-primo-posto-tra-gli-atenei-non

The LUMSA teaching staff are highly trained and always open to discussion with students, to assist them along the path to greater understanding and offer advice on organizing their studies or making career choices. The results are clear to see from student satisfaction figures, with LUMSA achieving levels above the national average (96,5% compared to 88,9%).

Why LUMSA

• Ever since it was established, LUMSA's main focus has been on the individual. The training courses are built around the students, to respond to their study requirements and prepare them for the world of work, not neglecting the importance of human aspects. The relationships the students have with teachers and other University staff are based on listening and mutual exchange. The services provided by the University are designed to help students focus on learning, personal development, and making the right career choices.
• The LUMSA teaching staff are highly trained and always open to discussion with students, to assist them along the path to greater understanding and offer advice on organizing their studies or making career choices. The results are clear to see from student satisfaction figures, with LUMSA achieving levels above the national average (95,9 compared to 90,5%).
• An environment that offers students advice and a friendly welcome, even before they enroll. Guidance and Tutoring Office and the teaching staff explain the structure and content of our degree programs and talk about life in the LUMSA community. Students are later mentored by the same tutors during their studies, emphasizing the direct ongoing relationship that is fundamental to our teaching.
• LUMSA offers a series of grants and scholarships to assist students with high potential and those experiencing financial difficulties; the University operates a system of meritocracy as part of the universal right to higher education.
• A calm, orderly study environment that encourages interaction and enhances concentration, for a truly unique university experience. University life in a wonderful historic city like Rome or Palermo is amazing and inspiring.
• The teaching and services we provide help students to complete their studies in the projected timescale; the University's overall results on this point remain above the national average (76,8% compared to 60,9%) which gives students a head start in preparing for employment.
• LUMSA offers specialist work placements through the LUMSA Talent Academy, following the Job Guidance strategy, along with opportunities to obtain major international qualifications, internships, and apprenticeships (over 2.050 per year).
• LUMSA students have the chance to study abroad with our international exchanges and agreements with 324 European and 35 non-European universities, as well as studying in a stimulating, multicultural environment that includes over 300 international students from 55 different countries. LUMSA is one of only three Italian universities awarded the ECTS Label for our Erasmus+ program.
• With the Diploma supplement, international programs, and joint degrees, LUMSA graduates can use their qualifications across Europe and all over the world.
• Student residences on the LUMSA campus provide accommodation for over 300 young people close to the university for a total university experience, including studying in the University libraries and taking a break at LUMSA Café.

LUMSA offers specialist work placements through the LUMSA Talent Academy, following the Job Guidance strategy, along with opportunities to obtain major international qualifications, internships, and apprenticeships (over 1250 per year).

LUMSA students have the chance to study abroad with our international exchanges and agreements with 213 European and 29 non-European universities, as well as studying in a stimulating, multicultural environment that includes over 300 international students from 55 different countries. LUMSA is one of only three Italian universities awarded the ECTS Label for our Erasmus+ program.

LUMSA’s Rome and Palermo campuses are both accredited test centers for major international qualifications in business, IT, languages, and the professions. These qualifications include the TOEFL Test Of English as a Foreign Language, and CELI Certificazione Ufficiale della conoscenza della Lingua Italiana (recognized certificate of competence in the Italian language).

The LUMSA ALUMNI Association is a network of graduates, professionals, and entrepreneurs in Italy and abroad, formed to enable ongoing contact with colleagues and enhance the resources and experiences of this highly qualified institution, on both a professional and personal level.