Bachelor in Classics at Sapienza University of Rome
Three-year English-taught Classics bachelor (L-10) at Sapienza in Rome: Latin and Ancient Greek from year one, ancient history, philology and archaeology, with field trips and museum visits. Entry needs B2 English and the English Test HUM.
Bachelor
3 years
Rome
English
Sapienza University of Rome
Classics is a three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree (class L-10) taught in English at Sapienza University of Rome. Entry needs a school diploma after 12 years of schooling, English at B2 and the English Test HUM, which checks preparation without ranking. Non-EU applicants also need MoveIn pre-acceptance with a GPA of at least 75/100. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Sapienza's Classics bachelor asks for a school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling, English at B2 and the English Test HUM (or a recent TOLC-E or SAT), which checks preparation without ranking. Non-EU applicants living abroad also need MoveIn pre-acceptance, with a school GPA of at least 75/100. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
School-leaving requirement
You need a secondary school diploma; for 2026/27 it could be obtained or due in 2026. [1] It must come after at least 12 years of schooling and give access to university in the country that issued it. [4]
For non-EU applicants living abroad, MoveIn pre-selection asks for a minimum school GPA of 75/100, plus good general culture, logical reasoning and the ability to read and interpret texts. Comparable GPAs can still lead to different decisions. [2]
If your diploma came after only 10 or 11 years of schooling, Sapienza accepts proof of one or two passed university years, a related one- or two-year post-secondary qualification or, for one missing year only, a Foundation Year certificate. [4]
What this means for your school results
As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: Class 12 or Higher Secondary results from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka in any stream, or A levels, with an overall result at or above 75/100 or its equivalent.
- Check carefully: results close to 75 percent, or grades given as letters or divisions, where the conversion to a 100-point scale matters.
- Often short: a school-leaving certificate after fewer than 12 years, such as Class 10 or O level results alone, unless you add a passed university year or a Foundation Year.
No previous Latin or Ancient Greek is listed among the entry requirements. [1][2]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher. For Classics, the call accepts: [1]
- IELTS: 5.5 or higher
- TOEFL iBT: 80 or higher
- Cambridge English B2 First or higher
- Trinity College London ISE II or higher
You are exempt if you are a native English speaker, hold a diploma or degree taught in English from an accredited institution in the EU, EEA or Schengen area, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US or another country on the university's list, or hold an International Baccalaureate Diploma, a GCE or an equivalent diploma. Applications without English proof are treated as incomplete. [1]
English Test HUM
Everyone takes the English Test HUM, a CISIA test taken online at home that checks your preparation and does not rank you. It has 30 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, in three sections: reading and comprehension, clues and inductive reasoning, and reasoning on texts and data. Each correct answer scores 1 point; wrong or blank answers score 0. You can sit it in the last two years of secondary school or after your diploma. [1]
- Sessions: For 2026/27 there were sessions from 17 February to 8 October 2026. Only tests booked and taken with Sapienza count.
- Alternatives: an English TOLC-E taken from 1 July 2024, or a SAT taken from 1 January 2023, replaces the test.
- Additional requirement (OFA): a score below 12/30 (13/36 in the TOLC-E, 960/1600 in the SAT) adds an academic English requirement. You clear it in year one by passing a recovery test after a Faculty course, or the Classical Archaeology exam; if you do not, you cannot take exams from later years.
- Already a graduate: if you already hold a university degree, you do not take the test.
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who needed a study visa had to complete MoveIn pre-selection by 15 May 2026 and Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026. English Test HUM sessions ran from 17 February to 8 October 2026. Enrolment means paying the first fee instalment between 1 September and 5 November 2026. TOLC-E holders register between 2 July and 29 October 2026, and SAT holders send their score report by 29 October 2026. [1]
The 2027/28 call will set new dates.
Documents and non-EU steps
Non-EU applicants living abroad need a pre-acceptance letter, downloaded from MoveIn after a positive pre-selection, and must accept the offer in it. MoveIn pre-selection is separate from the English test. Pre-acceptance gives no right to a visa, and Universitaly pre-enrolment alone does not admit you: you still complete the call's steps. [1]
To enrol with a foreign school diploma, you need a valid passport, your study visa, the receipts of your residence permit application (made within 8 days of arrival), and your diploma with a certified translation into Italian or English, unless it was issued in English. Depending on the country, you also need CIMEA certificates (a statement of comparability or correspondence, and a statement of verification), a declaration of value from the Italian mission, or legalisation. [4]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Letters and Philosophy. Call for admission to the English-taught bachelor's degrees in Global Humanities (L-42) and Classics (L-10), with an entry test to check knowledge, academic year 2026-2027, Rector's Decree No. 706/2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome. Online pre-selection for international students: academic requirements by programme, academic year 2026-2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, Classics programme pages: home, presentation, study plan for the 2026 cohort and professional opportunities. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, International Student Office. Enrolment with a foreign qualification: mandatory documents for bachelor's degrees, academic year 2026-2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome. Tuition fees for students declaring income abroad: fixed contribution by country band, with the 2026-2027 payment calendar. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Classics is a three-year bachelor's degree in class L-10, worth 180 ECTS and taught in English by the Department of Sciences of Antiquity in the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy, with teaching in person. [3] Teaching takes place on Sapienza's main campus at Piazzale Aldo Moro in Rome.
The programme gives a solid grounding in the ancient world: the Greek and Latin languages and literatures, ancient history, classical archaeology and the reception of classical culture in later periods. It is aimed at an international audience with little or no formal education in Classics, so it suits curious students who have never studied Latin or Greek as well as those who have.
What you will study
In the first year you are introduced to Greek and Latin through introductory modules, alongside Greek and Roman history. Later years build towards reading complex literary texts, philology and palaeography. Units in the 2026 study plan include: [3]
- Latin Language
- Ancient Greek Language
- Ancient Greek and Roman History
- Classical Archaeology
- Italian Culture and Literature
- Latin Literature
- Classical Philology
- Palaeography
How the programme is taught
The course makes the most of its location in Rome, with field trips, museum visits and library workshops. The first year includes 6 ECTS of apprenticeships, 4 ECTS for a European language other than English and 2 ECTS of IT skills. Electives cover further subjects such as Roman law, linguistics, papyrology and the history of philosophy, and a final exam worth 6 ECTS closes the degree. Almost every unit is taught in English; one third-year elective, Anthropology of the Ancient World, is listed as taught in Italian. [3]
Career paths
The university notes that most Classics graduates continue their studies, often at postgraduate level and frequently at a university abroad. The professional profile it describes is a cultural heritage expert, working in: [3]
- Organisations and companies that plan and promote cultural events
- Newspaper and magazine editorial offices and press offices
- Publishing houses
- Archives, museums and exhibition spaces
Fees and scholarships
Sapienza sets tuition by family income (ISEE). Students who declare income abroad and cannot submit an Italian ISEE pay a fixed contribution by country band instead, in three instalments. Band A includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. A fixed contribution is not refunded if you later win a DiSCo Lazio scholarship. [5]
How to apply from outside the EU
Classics shares one call with Global Humanities. Everyone takes the English Test HUM, an online test that checks your preparation rather than ranking you, unless you already hold an English TOLC-E taken from 1 July 2024 or a SAT taken from 1 January 2023. A score below 12/30 adds an academic English requirement (OFA) to clear in year one, by passing a recovery test or the Classical Archaeology exam. [1]
Non-EU applicants living abroad first apply for pre-selection on MoveIn, which is separate from the entry test. For 2026/27 the pre-selection deadline was 15 May 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment for the study visa closed on 30 June 2026. The consulate decides the visa separately from pre-acceptance. [1] At enrolment, a school diploma from abroad needs a certified translation and, depending on the country, CIMEA certificates, a declaration of value or legalisation. [4] The 2027/28 call sets the new dates.
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your school results against Sapienza's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your MoveIn pre-selection, English Test HUM booking and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your DiSCo Lazio scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
Do I need to know Latin or Greek already?
No previous Latin or Ancient Greek is listed among the entry requirements. The 2026 study plan starts with Latin Language and Ancient Greek Language in year one, alongside Greek and Roman history, Classical Archaeology and Italian Culture and Literature. [1][3]
What school results do I need for Sapienza's Classics bachelor?
A secondary school diploma after at least 12 years of schooling that gives access to university. For MoveIn pre-selection, non-EU applicants living abroad need a school GPA of at least 75/100, and comparable GPAs can still lead to different decisions. [2][4]
Is there an entrance test?
Yes. You take the English Test HUM, an online test of reading, inductive reasoning and reasoning on texts and data. It checks your preparation and does not rank you. A recent English TOLC-E or SAT can replace it, and a low score adds a first-year academic English requirement. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge B2 First or Trinity ISE II, or higher. Native speakers, IB Diploma or GCE holders, and holders of English-taught diplomas from the EU, EEA, Schengen area, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US or another country on the university's list are exempt. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad who needed a visa had to finish MoveIn pre-selection by 15 May 2026 and Universitaly pre-enrolment by 30 June 2026. The 2027/28 dates are not yet published. [1]
Can I apply before I finish school?
Yes. The 2026/27 call accepted diplomas obtained or due in 2026, and you can sit the English Test HUM in your last two years of secondary school. You need the diploma itself to enrol. [1][4]
I studied commerce or science in Class 12. Can I apply?
Possibly. The call sets no school subject requirement, so your stream does not rule you out. What counts is 12 years of schooling, a school GPA of at least 75/100 for MoveIn, English at B2 and the English Test HUM. [1][2]
What do Classics graduates do?
The university notes that most continue their studies, often at postgraduate level and frequently abroad. Others work in organisations that plan cultural events, newspaper and magazine editorial offices, publishing houses, museums, exhibition spaces and press offices. [3]
Can someone handle my whole application to Classics at Sapienza?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your school results against Sapienza's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the DiSCo Lazio scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Classics?
Indian applicants need a Class 12 certificate after 12 years of schooling that gives access to university, a school GPA of at least 75/100 for MoveIn pre-selection, and English at B2. The call sets no school subject requirement. The steps are MoveIn pre-selection, the English Test HUM and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Classics are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: MoveIn pre-selection and pre-acceptance letter, the English Test HUM and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Classics are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: MoveIn pre-selection and pre-acceptance letter, the English Test HUM and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Classics are the same whatever your nationality, and your school results are assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: MoveIn pre-selection and pre-acceptance letter, the English Test HUM and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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