Ca' Foscari is a public university with accessible admission for EU citizens. For most programmes you are admitted on the basis of the Baccalaureate diploma (recognised through the pre-evaluation on apply.unive.it) plus a test or a programme-specific selection. For bachelor's programmes in the economics area (Economia aziendale, Economics and Business) you need the TOLC-E test, managed through the CISIA consortium. Many programmes have enough places, but for the ones in high demand it is best to apply early and get a solid TOLC score. For programmes in English the language level also matters (IELTS 6.0+).

As an EU citizen, you pay EU fees calculated through ISEE. Students with a low ISEE fall into the no tax area and pay practically EUR 0 tuition, only the regional and stamp duty fee (~EUR 156 per year). The maximum for a bachelor's, for a high ISEE, is around EUR 2,147 per year, and for a master's around EUR 2,394 per year. The realistic range for a Romanian is therefore EUR 0 to roughly EUR 2,600 per year. On top of that comes the cost of living in Venice or Mestre: accommodation €400-€700 per month, food €250-€400 per month, transport ~€25-€40 per month. Total per year all-in: roughly €9,000-€16,000, far below the UK or the US.

ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente) is the official Italian indicator of the family's economic situation. In Italy, university fees at public universities are calculated directly from ISEE: the lower the ISEE, the less you pay, down to EUR 0 tuition in the no tax area. If you do not submit ISEE, you automatically pay the maximum bracket, regardless of the family's real income. That is why submitting ISEE is the key step for any Romanian who wants reduced fees. Students from outside Italy submit the ISEE Parificato, calculated from the income and assets of the family in Romania, through a CAF (tax assistance centre) or a patronato.

It depends on the programme. Many bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian and require B2 level, proven through CILS, CELI, PLIDA or the free Italian test organised by Ca' Foscari. The university also offers programmes taught entirely in English, especially in the economics area (Economics and Management, Economics and Finance) and international studies, plus master's programmes and double degrees. For programmes in English you need IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL iBT 80+. Even if you choose a programme in English, a basic level of Italian helps enormously in everyday life in Venice.

TOLC (Test OnLine CISIA) is the standardised admission test used by many Italian universities. For the economics programmes at Ca' Foscari the TOLC-E is used, which covers logic, mathematics and reading comprehension, plus an English language section. You register on the CISIA website, choose the date and place (it can be taken online from home or at a centre), and the score is valid for applying to Ca' Foscari and to other universities that accept the TOLC. The ideal preparation: work through CISIA simulations, practise high-school mathematics and logic, and take the test early so you have room for a second attempt if needed.

Yes. The Romanian Baccalaureate diploma grants access to the bachelor's programmes at Ca' Foscari, being an EU diploma. The official step is the preliminary evaluation on apply.unive.it, where you upload the diploma and transcript, and the university confirms that the diploma grants access to the chosen programme. For some programmes you may also be asked to prove that you passed a certain number of school years, but for the standard Romanian Baccalaureate (12 grades) access is generally direct. Final recognition is completed with the pre-enrolment on Universitaly.

You do not need a visa. As a Romanian (EU) citizen you have the right to study and live in Italy without a study visa. You do, however, need a codice fiscale (the Italian tax code), a free code issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate or by the Italian consulate, required for enrolment, ISEE, a rental contract and a bank account. If you stay in Italy more than 3 months, you register at the Comune di Venezia for residency (iscrizione anagrafica), on the basis of proof of enrolment, financial resources and health insurance (the European Health Insurance Card or private insurance).

Ca' Foscari has its seat in Palazzo Ca' Foscari, a 15th-century Gothic palace directly on the Grand Canal, with departments spread across historic buildings in Venice and modern campuses in Mestre (sciences, the mainland side) and Treviso. Venice is a unique city: you get around on foot and by vaporetto (water buses), not by car. Accommodation is the sensitive point, the market is limited and prices are higher in the historic centre, which is why many students live in Mestre, cheaper and connected by train in 10 minutes. The international community is active, with over 1,500 foreign students, the Erasmus Student Network and events. The Ca' Foscari diploma is recognised throughout the EU, so you can then work anywhere in the Union without a visa.