Last updated: August 2026
The University of Camerino (UNICAM) — a public Italian university founded in 1336, based in the Marche region — has built a genuinely accessible pathway for international students: no mandatory IELTS for many programmes, an affordable tuition structure, and several scholarship routes layered on top. But there’s a detail that a lot of scholarship roundup articles get wrong, and it’s worth getting straight before you apply: UNICAM’s “pre-admission” process is not itself a scholarship application. They’re two separate systems, and mixing them up is the single most common mistake international applicants make with this university.
This guide untangles the two, and walks through what’s actually available once you’re past the pre-admission stage.
First, the Important Distinction: Pre-Admission ≠ Scholarship
UNICAM states this explicitly on its own admissions page: the preliminary evaluation for pre-admission does not include any kind of scholarship. Pre-admission is purely an academic eligibility check — it tells you (and, eventually, the Italian embassy processing your visa) that your qualifications are suitable for your chosen programme. It is a prerequisite for enrollment, not a funding decision.
Scholarships — WELCOME IN UNICAM, TALENTI IN UNICAM, BORSA PART-TIME, and the regional ERDIS Marche scholarship — are separate calls that open later, generally after you’ve completed pre-admission and, in most cases, after you’ve actually enrolled. If you’re applying expecting the pre-admission step to result in scholarship money, you’ll be disappointed — but if you understand the sequence correctly, you’ll know exactly when to come back and apply for funding.
Danish Government Scholarship 2026/2027
Application Status Right Now
The pre-admission application for the 2026–2027 academic year closed on 31 March 2026. If you’re reading this after that date, that specific window has passed — but UNICAM runs this process annually, with the portal for the following academic year typically opening around mid-November. Bookmark the official pre-admissions page (linked below) and watch for the next cycle to open.
Step 1: The Pre-Admission Process
Whether or not you’re chasing a scholarship, pre-admission is the mandatory first step for most non-EU applicants. Here’s how it works:
- Register in UNICAM’s applicant database with your details exactly as they appear on your passport. Keep your login credentials safe — UNICAM is explicit that they cannot be recovered if lost.
- Complete the “Domanda di Valutazione Preventiva” (preliminary evaluation application), uploading the documents required for your specific programme. For English-taught courses, a Cambridge, IELTS, or TOEFL certificate can be uploaded but isn’t mandatory. For Italian-taught courses, a minimum B2 Italian proficiency certificate is required.
- Pay the non-refundable €20 application fee. Applications submitted without completing payment aren’t considered.
- Wait for the Scientific Committee’s evaluation — this typically takes 3 to 4 weeks, though delays can occur around university holiday closures. Check your spam folder for the result notification.
- If the outcome is positive, the Welcome Office will contact you with next steps, including pre-enrollment through Italy’s Universitaly portal and further documentation.
A few things worth knowing before you start:
- A positive pre-admission result does not guarantee final enrollment — UNICAM can still decline to finalize your enrollment if required documents aren’t ultimately supplied.
- It also does not guarantee an embassy appointment or a visa. Booking your visa appointment is entirely your own responsibility, and visa issuance is solely at the discretion of the Italian diplomatic authority handling your case.
- If you’re still completing your current qualification at the time of applying, you can upload provisional documents — but you’ll need the final, official versions by the time you formally enroll.
Step 2: The Actual Scholarships
Once pre-admission and enrollment are underway, the following funding routes come into play:
WELCOME IN UNICAM
Aimed at new, first-year students. This is announced separately from pre-admission, with the call typically published around July — after most students have already been through pre-admission and are preparing to enroll.
TALENTI IN UNICAM
Aimed at continuing students — those already enrolled and moving into their second year or beyond, rewarding sustained academic performance.
BORSA PART-TIME
Not a cash scholarship in the traditional sense — this is a part-time work opportunity scheme that lets enrolled students earn income to help cover living costs. Calls are generally announced separately, often later in the year.
ERDIS Marche Regional Scholarship
This is the one worth paying closest attention to if you want serious financial coverage, and it’s run by a different body entirely — ERDIS, the regional right-to-education agency for the Marche region, not UNICAM itself. ERDIS scholarships are awarded based on a combination of merit and family income, and successful applicants can receive support toward tuition, plus contributions toward food and lodging. The ERDIS call typically opens in the second half of July, after the academic year’s admissions cycle is well underway. Because it’s a regional program rather than a university one, requirements and required income documentation can differ meaningfully from UNICAM’s own scholarship calls — check the official ERDIS portal directly when the call opens.
Who Can Apply?
- International students of any nationality, applying for undergraduate or postgraduate programmes at UNICAM.
- You’ll need to meet the specific academic and language requirements for your chosen programme — these vary by course, so check the country-specific and programme-specific requirements listed on UNICAM’s international admissions site before applying.
- For scholarships specifically (as opposed to pre-admission), expect selection to weigh academic performance and, for ERDIS, financial need alongside merit.
What Fields Are Eligible?
All fields of study offered at UNICAM are open to pre-admission and, subsequently, to scholarship consideration — including its strengths in sciences, law, economics, engineering, and biosciences. Specific entry requirements still vary by programme, so confirm the details for your intended course rather than assuming a blanket policy across the university.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does completing pre-admission mean I’ve also applied for a scholarship? No. UNICAM states directly that the preliminary evaluation does not include any scholarship. You’ll need to apply separately, later, for WELCOME IN UNICAM, TALENTI IN UNICAM, BORSA PART-TIME, or ERDIS, once those individual calls open.
Do I need IELTS to apply? Not always. For English-taught programmes, a language certificate (Cambridge, IELTS, or TOEFL) can be uploaded but isn’t strictly mandatory at the pre-admission stage — though your specific programme may still expect proof of proficiency at enrollment. Italian-taught programmes require a minimum B2 Italian certificate.
Is the €20 pre-admission fee refundable? No, it’s explicitly non-refundable, regardless of the outcome.
When should I apply for WELCOME IN UNICAM or ERDIS? Both are typically announced around July — after the main pre-admission window has closed and many students are already progressing toward enrollment. Don’t wait for these calls before starting pre-admission; the two processes run on different timelines, and missing the earlier pre-admission deadline can block your path into the programme entirely.
Does a positive pre-admission result guarantee I’ll get a visa? No. It confirms your academic eligibility for enrollment, but visa issuance is entirely up to the Italian diplomatic authority handling your application, and booking your embassy appointment is your own responsibility.
This guide is based on publicly available information from the University of Camerino’s official international admissions pages. Deadlines, scholarship calls, and requirements change between cycles — always confirm current details at international.unicam.it before applying.
