Master in Art History in Rome, from Late Antiquity to the Present at University of Rome Tor Vergata
Two-year English-taught LM-89 master at Tor Vergata in Rome covering art from late antiquity to the present, with much of the second year taught in Roman museums and sites. Entry needs a suitable degree, English at B2 and an interview.
Master
2 years
Rome
English
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Art History in Rome, from Late Antiquity to the Present is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-89) taught in English at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Entry needs a bachelor's the department finds suitable, or 48 credits in art history, archaeology, history or literature, plus English at B2 and an interview. Non-EU students can choose flat or income-based fees, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Tor Vergata's Art History in Rome master asks for a suitable three-year degree or at least 48 credits in art history, archaeology, history or literature, English at B2, an online check of your curricular requirements and an interview with the course committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree requirement
The 2026/27 call accepts any one of three routes, plus English at B2. [1]
- An Italian degree in a listed class: a three-year degree in cultural heritage, arts, industrial design, philosophy, geography, letters, modern languages, architecture, education, communication, history or conservation.
- Another qualification the department recognises as suitable: a foreign degree must be a first-cycle (Bologna) or EQF level 6 qualification that gives access to master's study in its home country.
- At least 48 CFU in set subject areas: art history, museology, performing arts, cinema and music (L-ART/01 to 08); Greek and Roman history, Etruscology, archaeology and ancient topography (L-ANT/02, 03, 06, 07, 08 and 09); Latin, classical and Romance philology, Italian literature and literary criticism (L-FIL-LET/04, 05, 08, 09, 10, 11 and 14); and medieval, early modern and Eastern European history (M-STO/01, 02 and 03).
If your curriculum falls short, you fill the gap before enrolment through single courses, up to 36 CFU. [1]
What this means for your transcript
The 48-credit route counts subjects, not your total credits. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA in History, Archaeology or Art History, or a BA with several art history, ancient history or archaeology papers.
- Check carefully: a BFA, a BA in English or another literature, a BA in Philosophy, or a B.Arch or B.Des. These sit close to the listed areas but often carry fewer credits in art history, archaeology or history.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc., BCA, B.Com or BBA, as these degrees rarely include the subjects the call lists.
Gaps can be filled through single courses before enrolment. [1]
English
English at CEFR B2 or higher. You prove it with a certificate issued from August 2019 onwards by a listed body, including Cambridge English, IELTS, Trinity College London, ETS, TOEIC, TOEFL iBT and Pearson Edexcel. A proficiency certificate from a university that requires B2 for entry, combined with a GRE General Test score, is also accepted. [1]
Native English speakers and holders of a bachelor's degree taught in English do not need a certificate. The call does not set minimum test scores. [1]
Curricular check and interview
Selection runs in two phases. First, you apply on the Delphi portal for a check of your curricular requirements. Second, you attend an interview with the course committee, which checks your preparation in the core subjects, your English and your qualifications. [1]
Visa applicants living abroad can take the interview remotely on Teams and can use only the first interview round. The call does not set a written test. [1]
2026/27 deadlines
The first round was reserved for international applicants living abroad who need a study visa. Applications on Delphi ran from 24 November 2025 to 30 April 2026, with interviews after 30 April 2026. [1]
Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 31 July 2026. Visa applicants enrol only after receiving the visa, and had to complete enrolment in person by 18 December 2026. Later rounds, from June 2026 to February 2027, are for Italian and EU applicants and non-EU applicants already living legally in Italy. [1]
Places and documents for non-EU applicants
For 2026/27, Tor Vergata reserved 40 places on this master's for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa. [1]
Your Delphi application needs your passport, English certificate or other proof, degree certificate with final mark if already awarded, transcript of exams, and other documents such as a CV, syllabus or motivation and reference letters. To enrol, you need the original final degree, a transcript or Diploma Supplement, and country-specific documents. [1]
For degrees from countries outside the Lisbon Recognition Convention, Tor Vergata asks for a CIMEA statement of comparability and a CIMEA statement of verification. Lisbon Convention countries can use an ARDI statement of correspondence or a declaration of value instead. [3]
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.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Directorate I, Teaching and Student Services, Macroarea of Letters and Philosophy. Enrolment notice for the Master's degree in Art History in Rome, from Late Antiquity to the Present (LM-89), academic year 2026/27, Decree no. 3364/2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata. Art History in Rome, from Late Antiquity to the Present programme page (degree class, language, duration, department and access type). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Admissions. How to apply: procedure and documents for applicants with foreign qualifications, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata. Fees for non-EU students whose family income is generated abroad, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Art History in Rome, from Late Antiquity to the Present is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-89, art history) taught in English. It belongs to the Department of Literature, Philosophy and Art History Studies within the School of Humanities of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
The idea is simple: study art history while living in Rome, with direct access to the works and monuments you study. The course covers a wide time span, from late antiquity to the present, and gives weight to method as well as knowledge, including the preservation, restoration and safeguarding of cultural heritage. It suits graduates who want a career with collections, heritage sites or the art market, or who plan a doctorate.
What you will study
The first year gives a foundation in three areas, and the second year lets you choose four specialised courses. The official page describes the structure as:
- Art history, from late antiquity to the present (first year)
- Archaeology and architecture (first year)
- Methodology, including preservation, restoration and safeguarding of cultural heritage (first year)
- Four specialised courses chosen in the second year
- A final thesis
How the programme is taught
More than half of the second-year courses are taught in direct contact with the works, in Roman museums, galleries and archaeological sites, rather than only in the classroom.
Career paths
The university prepares graduates for work in museums, galleries, foundations, auction houses, archaeological sites, art consulting and art publishing, for institutional roles in cultural heritage, and for doctoral studies.
Fees and scholarships
This degree is in the general group of Tor Vergata's non-EU fee page. Non-EU students with family income abroad can pay a flat yearly rate, which is lower for students from the listed developing countries. You can instead declare income through the ISEE parificato, so programmes can be tuition-free for eligible students. Eligible students can apply for a DiSCo Lazio scholarship. [4]
How to apply from outside the EU
Admission is open, subject to a check of your curricular requirements and an interview with the course committee. For 2026/27, visa applicants living abroad applied on the Delphi portal from 24 November 2025 to 30 April 2026, with interviews after 30 April 2026 that can take place remotely. [1] Following the university's how to apply steps, we prepare your documents, including the CIMEA or ARDI statements Tor Vergata asks for. [3]
Once you are admitted, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, which was due by 31 July 2026 for 2026/27, and you apply for a type D study visa. Visa holders then complete enrolment in person, by 18 December 2026 for 2026/27. [1] The 2027/28 call is not published yet.
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 transcript against Tor Vergata's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your Delphi application for the curricular check, interview 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
What degree do I need for Tor Vergata's Art History in Rome master?
A three-year degree in a listed Italian class, or a foreign first-cycle degree that the department recognises as suitable. The alternative route is at least 48 CFU in art history, archaeology, ancient or modern history, or Latin and Italian literature. You also need English at B2. [1]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. You first apply on Delphi for a check of your curricular requirements, then attend an interview with the course committee on your preparation and English. Visa applicants can take it remotely on Teams. [1]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at CEFR B2 or higher. IELTS is one of several accepted certificates, along with TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, Trinity and others, issued from August 2019. Native speakers and holders of an English-taught bachelor's do not need a certificate. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, visa applicants living abroad applied on Delphi from 24 November 2025 to 30 April 2026, and Universitaly pre-enrolment was due by 31 July 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published. [1]
I have a BA in History, English or Fine Arts. Can I apply?
A BA in History with art history or archaeology papers is usually closest to the 48-credit rule. English and Fine Arts degrees may fall short unless they include enough art history or history. Missing credits, up to 36 CFU, can be made up through single courses before enrolment. [1]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, Tor Vergata reserved 40 places for non-EU applicants living abroad who need a visa. Access is open, subject to the check of your curricular requirements and the interview with the course committee. [1]
How is the course taught?
The first year covers art history, archaeology and architecture, and methodology. In the second year you choose four specialised courses, more than half of them taught in Roman museums, galleries and archaeological sites.
How do fees work for non-EU students?
Non-EU students with family income abroad can pay a flat yearly rate, which is lower for listed developing countries. Otherwise fees follow income through the ISEE parificato, so the programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [4]
Can someone handle my whole application to Art History in Rome at Tor Vergata?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Tor Vergata'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 Art History in Rome?
An Indian BA in History, Fine Arts or another humanities subject is assessed by the department for suitability, and art history, archaeology and history papers help most under the 48-credit rule. You also need English at B2. The steps are the Delphi application, a remote interview and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1] 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 Art History in Rome are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: Delphi application, curricular check and interview, 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 Art History in Rome are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: Delphi application, curricular check and interview, 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 Art History in Rome are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: Delphi application, curricular check and interview, 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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