I want to tell you about my experience of applying for a master's program in Italy.

The first step was choosing universities and programs. It was quite easy because I didn’t want to change my field of study (I completed my bachelor’s in philology). I narrowed it down to a few universities, and eventually, I received positive responses from them.

The very first interview was at the University of Pavia, where I decided to submit my documents. I was accepted into two programs, but I chose linguistics, as it was more aligned with my background. The interview itself was informal, but! I didn’t know Italian :) almost at all. So, I had to speak with the university representatives in English. They asked me why I chose this university, why Italy, and so on. The interview was in winter, and in summer, I had to take an Italian language exam. This fact gave me a huge motivation to study Italian more actively.
Next, there was the work with documents: preparing all the translations for the visa and for receiving the scholarship.
In the summer, there was the first Italian language exam online. The practice versions of this exam (CISIA L2 – which is essentially a B2 level exam) were much easier than the actual version I had to take. The exam is divided into four sections (A1-A2), with four types of tasks (listening, reading, grammar, etc.). After completing this stage, the next one opens: A2-B1, with the same type of tasks. And so on up to C1. The most difficult part was the final level: listening.

The exam is displayed in full-screen mode in a special program (you can't cheat), and if you switch to another tab, the exam is considered finished. You are also in a live Zoom session, with your phone placed nearby so they can see both you and the screen of your laptop/PC.

So, the first time I didn’t pass the exam. I had one last attempt in September, which would determine my entire application. Every day, I did small exercises in Italian, watched films, and listened to Italian speech to improve my listening skills and pass the exam.
In September, everything worked out! I passed the exam. I recommend everyone to start preparing as early as possible. The test is difficult, and there is very little time to complete the tasks.
At every stage, I was supported by Elizaveta and Taisia, and I am incredibly grateful to them! Without them, I definitely wouldn’t have made it. I had two main tasks: to prepare the documents and learn Italian. Elizaveta handled the university selection, communication with universities, and submitting my documents to various portals. I am very thankful to the team for their hard work! Without them, it would have taken much more effort, and it’s not certain that everything would have turned out the way it did now ☺️

I want to thank Your Italian Life from the bottom of my heart!

Today, I received my student visa for 6 months. The journey we went through together is beyond words—from total despair to overwhelming joy and disbelief that it actually happened!

My case was not an easy one. Before I was referred to you, I had been rejected by four different agencies because no one wanted to take on my case. Everyone kept saying that I would be denied a visa and advised me to save my energy and money. But you believed in me and took the risk, and for that, I am endlessly grateful!

Working with you, I constantly felt your care, incredible client-focused approach, and guidance at every stage—from obtaining my language certificate to collecting and submitting my documents. I can confidently say that you are a master of your craft, and I am not exaggerating even by 1%. I truly appreciated the way you communicated, your tactfulness, and how quickly you responded to my sometimes silly questions. I feel so lucky to have been your client.

We have completed half of the journey together, and I am sure we will navigate the second half just as successfully. The road will be mastered by the one who walks it. 😉
To all your readers who are now choosing their guide for a new chapter in life—I highly recommend you a million times over!

You are an amazing agency and incredible professionals whom one can truly trust.

Elena had been looking for a way to move to Italy for a long time, and she finally found it when she came across Your Italian Life.

Like many others, she was told that it was impossible to obtain a national visa and residence permit through language courses. They also said that to enrol in Italian language courses, she needed a B2 level, and even warned her that "if you're close to 30 or over 30, the Consulate won't issue a student visa."

But now, Lena works remotely, lives in Reggio di Calabria, studies at the Dante Alighieri University, and in just a few weeks, she will receive her residence permit.
Our visa application package included a work certificate, a motivation letter, an invitation from the university, confirmation from Universitaly, an application form, financial guarantees, insurance, and a one-way ticket. The Consulate reviewed the application for about two weeks and granted a positive decision, even though she had to cancel her Polish national visa for this trip.

After arriving in Reggio di Calabria in early February 2023, Lena took a placement test and was assigned to an A2-level group. After just two months, she was promoted to B1 level. What she enjoys most about studying is the full immersion in the environment and the international atmosphere, as she studies alongside students from the USA, Germany, Spain, Argentina and many other countries!

My entire relocation journey began with a detailed discussion and a clear plan, which we followed step by step:

1. Document Preparation & Planning: Gathering all necessary documents, collecting information, undergoing a full medical check-up, purchasing essential and familiar items that might be difficult to find in a new country, and waiting for my visa. (My document package was prepared flawlessly, so I was never contacted by the Visa Center or Consulate. After 45 days, I was invited to pick up my approved visa.)
2. Relocation & Language Courses: Upon arrival, I was provided with accommodation and attended language courses for six months. I took my studies seriously and invested a lot of effort in self-learning. As a result, in just six months, I progressed from an A2 level to B2, which was required for admission to a master’s program. Getting into university then became the basis for extending my student residence permit.
3. Employment & Future Plans: I have since found a job and plan to convert my student residence permit into a work permit in the future.

Moving to another country—especially so quickly and drastically—to a place where bureaucratic obstacles test your patience at every step, and where the local mentality thrives on spontaneity (all'improvviso) is a major challenge. I don’t think this transition is easy for anyone, which is why having real professionals handle the process, with a structured plan, clear guidance, and human support, is invaluable.

I can confidently say that Your Italian Life does an enormous amount of work, providing up-to-date information and even stepping in to assist in the most unexpected situations—whether it’s filling out documents, paying bills, handling currency exchanges, or offering a wealth of useful contacts.

Choosing to work with Taisiya and Your Italian Life was the best decision I made. Now that I’ve successfully achieved my goals, I want to express my gratitude through this review.

"I applied for political asylum"
This is how our consultation with @angelina_liasniak_ began in May 2023.

Important note: She didn't do this out of ignorance but on the advice of a lawyer. Honestly, I was shocked—here was a young woman who could have easily moved to Italy through much simpler and legal means, yet, following the advice of unprofessional lawyers, she applied for political asylum, burying herself in Italian bureaucracy and possibly never seeing her residence permit! Therefore, Always consult multiple specialists before making an important decision.

During the consultation, we explained all the suitable ways for @angelina_liasniak_ to move to Italy. We decided on long-term language courses since they allow you to come at any time of the year. Angelina withdrew her passport from the asylum application, returned to Minsk, and we applied for a National Student Visa based on language courses.
📌 In June, she finally received her long-awaited visa (though not without a prior refusal).
In July 2023, Angelina arrived in Italy for language courses at the Dante Alighieri University. Within two months, she obtained her student residence permit. After the courses, in November 2023, we enrolled her in a Foundation Year program, as she only had a high school diploma (11 years of schooling). In May 2024, she received her new student residence permit.

During her studies, we opened a partita IVA (freelancer tax status), and obtained her tessera sanitaria (health insurance), and carta d’identità (ID card). Now, we are handing the case over to a competent lawyer for the conversion of her student residence permit into a work permit (Lavoro Autonomo).

Getting a National Student Visa After Schengen Visas Refusal

In 2023 Regina came to us to arrange language courses to move to Italy. Before starting the process, she informed us that she had been denied Schengen visas and that she had not lived in Russia for the last six months, so there had been almost no movement in her bank accounts...

Spoiler: ⚡️ Refusals for tourist visas are not a lifetime stigma! After being refused tourist visas, it’s still possible to get a STUDENT D VISA! We prepared the perfect document package (even though it contained some risky documents) and… received the national student visa for language courses! After arriving in Italy, Regina received a student residence permit.

After completing the courses, Regina arranged a package of services to apply for a residence permit extension based on studies, and enrolling in a university. This wasn’t easy either, as she only had 9 years of school and a diploma from a medical college, but she needed to apply for a bachelor’s degree in tourism! After being denied admission from Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, we didn’t lose heart and continued applying. Ultimately, Regina was admitted to Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli for the Tourism faculty, where she is studying absolutely for free (only paying the education tax).
In early 2024 Regina received her brand new residence permit based on university studies.

Back in April 2023, Ksenia contacted us for advice on moving to Italy through language courses. Her education was in the field of foreign languages, and at that time, Ksenia was working at Aeroflot. In May-June, she enrolled in a 4-month Italian language course (not 6 months, as the academic calendar from the university was not ready). She applied for the student D visa for 4 months, and in the motivation letter, she stated that she would take a leave of absence from work during her studies. No language certificates for Italian were attached when applying for the visa. In the summer of 2023, she successfully received the visa and later the student residence permit for six months!

During her student residence permit, Ksenia found a job in Rome, but converting it to a work residence permit was not possible yet due to the employer's unwillingness. So, in January 2024, Ksenia contacted us again for help in extending her residence permit for educational purposes. In January, literally during the holidays, we started from scratch because there were no apostilles, no B2 certificate for admission – nothing. Plus, it was already January, and most universities had closed admissions.

But we didn't give up! Ksenia flew home, got the apostilles, DDV for educational documents, and during this time, we searched for a university that was ready to accept her – and we found one! It was the Università degli Studi di Messina, and the master's program in Italian in TURISMO E SPETTACOLO. We applied for admission, paid the tax of 156 euros, and were told that she would not officially be admitted until the Ita L-2 test at B2 level was passed and the next test date was in April. She didn’t pass the test on the first try, but Ksenia passed it on her second attempt in June, and finally, we were officially admitted. We also completed the ISEE per diritto allo studio and reduced the tuition fees to156-euro per year.

So, for the academic year 2023/2024, we applied in January 2024, and were officially admitted in June 2024, which means, in fact, after a year!

I decided to apply to an Italian university back in the summer of 2022 while I was in Italy participating in a summer internship. It turned out to be a long, challenging, yet incredibly exciting and unforgettable journey.
At the time, I was in my fourth year of studying Tourism, so we decided that applying for a master’s degree in the same field would increase my chances of receiving an acceptance letter from a university.
Elizaveta immediately took all my preferences into account and provided me with a long list of universities across Italy that offered my program. After reviewing the list, we wasted no time and began preparing my application and required documents. Looking back on my journey, I can confidently say that I never once regretted choosing Your Italian Life as my agency. They made the entire process so much easier. One great example was document translation—Elizaveta quickly connected me with trusted translators, and I ended up working with one of them throughout the whole year.
The first acceptance letter I received was from the University of Macerata, and I couldn't have been happier! After that, it felt like a dream—I received offers from universities in different cities, including Pavia, Como, Pisa, and others. None of this would have been possible without the constant support and guidance of my consultant. Elizaveta helped me with everything: writing a strong resume, crafting a motivational letter, filling out documents, answering my late-night messages, and keeping everything under control.
In the end, I chose a university in the Apulia region, in the city of Lecce. To be honest, it wasn’t my initial plan, but everything fell into place perfectly. The region offered me a scholarship and dormitory housing, which made my transition much smoother by eliminating the stress of searching for an apartment. I still remember how my parents and I scrambled to gather all the necessary documents and anxiously prayed they would arrive on time because my region had set an extremely early deadline. Despite the tight timeline, we managed to submit everything on time—thanks to my consultant, who had provided me with a detailed list of required documents from the very beginning and double-checked everything before submission.
Another great advantage of this process was the admissions interview—it turned out to be incredibly easy, even fun, and stress-free. Elizaveta and I had gone over possible questions in advance, as she had extensive experience preparing students. This preparation helped me a lot, and now here I am, studying in Italy!
As I’ve said before, this journey is not an easy one, and for some, moving abroad can be an overwhelming challenge. However, the consultants at Your Italian Life go above and beyond to make the admissions process smooth, take responsibility for handling crucial steps, and assist with any issues that arise. They keep up with policy changes, country updates, and important deadlines, ensuring you stay informed.
I highly recommend Your Italian Life to anyone considering studying in Italy. The team consists of passionate professionals who truly care about their work and will do everything possible to help you succeed. Their support will not only help you achieve your goal but also make your experience unforgettable. I know this from personal experience—had it not been for my life-changing summer internship in Southern Italy, I might never have dared to study abroad.
A huge thank you to Taisia and her dedicated team for making dreams come true, for encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones, and for showing them the world in all its vibrant colors. ♥️🇮🇹

Deciding to move to Italy for educational purposes wasn’t difficult for me. At the time, I was in Croatia with my child, and Italy, as a neighbouring country, attracted me with its vibe and what I believed to be a more dynamic rhythm of life compared to what I experienced in Rijeka. However, I understood that moving there only made sense if I had a clear goal and vision for what I wanted to do.
Since I was a Ukrainian lawyer by education and work experience and a 35-year-old single mother (with a 2.5-year-old child at the time), the only logical and right decision for me was to apply to a university. My Italian language skills were only at an A1-A2 level, but my ambition and motivation pushed me forward—I told myself, you can do this, you have six months to reach B2.
In November 2022, I reached out to Taisia on Instagram for a consultation. After our conversation, I felt even more confident that everything was possible!
I chose the full support package from Your Italian Life because I knew I had no room for mistakes and no extra time to fix them. There were so many things to consider—relocation, apartment hunting, required documents, and communication with universities. I decided to trust the process, and I never regretted my choice. The university application process is long and complex, and knowing that I had a support team of professionals gave me the peace of mind to focus on learning the language and settling into my new life.
I won’t sugarcoat it—moving with a child is extremely difficult. For a long time, I struggled to find permanent housing, and without that, I couldn’t secure daycare or create a stable and comfortable life. You truly have to love Italy to endure all the challenges on the way to your goal!
But we made it! I finally found an apartment, and I even passed the TOLC L2 exam on my first attempt! Now, I am fully immersed in my studies—I have already completed two exams from my first session, and I’m even expecting my scholarship payment soon. Taisia and Elizaveta are still in touch with me through our group chat, offering support whenever I need it.
So, in conclusion, I can say just one thing—I highly recommend working with Your Italian Life!

My Dream of Moving to Italy Came True!

Although I had dreamed of moving to Italy for a long time, I was only able to make it a reality this year, thanks to Taisia and Elizaveta from Your Italian Life!

I am currently in my first year of a Master’s program at Università degli Studi di Firenze, studying "Strategie della comunicazione pubblica e politica." Unfortunately, I started my studies 1.5 months late due to a long wait for my visa, but all of my professors were understanding and helped me integrate into the learning process as quickly as possible. My classmates also helped me adapt to my new environment.
What I love most about my university is the healthy approach of professors towards students and the serious attitude of students towards their studies. To me, it's the perfect blend of the Italian "dolce vita" mindset and real academic responsibility.

Right now, we are in the middle of the winter exam session, and the great thing is that each student chooses their exam dates individually, depending on their level of preparation and personal preference 😄. There are no pre-prepared question lists—everyone studies using books and notes.

For those planning to apply this year, I have two key pieces of advice:

1. If you're moving to Florence, start looking for housing at least three months in advance! Finding a good apartment in a central area at a reasonable price—without falling victim to scams—is a real challenge. Be mentally prepared for this process.
2. Learning Italian in Italy and abroad are two completely different things! Even if you've been studying the language for years, nothing prepares you for full immersion. I personally felt this, as I was the only foreigner in my program. Before moving, try to listen to as much Italian as possible—news, TV series, talk shows! I think my language adaptation would have been much smoother if I had paid more attention to this beforehand.

I went on an internship in Italy in the summer of 2022. It was my first big experience abroad, and I had so many emotions and impressions from that trip! Those three months were enough for me to get to know the country and realize that I wanted to stay in Italy longer and even try living in the north. Applying to a university—that’s what I needed! I thought to myself, and at the end of 2022, I decided to reach out to Taisia again for help with the application process.

My curator was Elizaveta, and I couldn't have asked for a better one! She compiled a list of almost all Italian universities that offered programs matching my interests, helped me check all my documents, reminded me about deadlines, and answered my endless stream of questions—no matter how silly they were. Once again, a huge thank you to her for her patience and expert guidance. My job was simply to follow all her instructions and gather the necessary documents for my visa and scholarship applications.

In the end, I got accepted to the University of Bergamo for a Master’s program in "Planning and Management of Tourism Systems" in English. I’ve already completed my first semester, and now the exam session is ahead! Elizaveta also helped me apply for a scholarship, and I won it—I’ve already received the first instalment of my funding!

I really like my university. The professors make lectures engaging and are always open to discussions with students. My program is truly international—there are Italian students as well as classmates from Iran, the USA, Poland, Turkey, and India. Among Russian-speaking students, there are only myself and another girl from Kazakhstan. We have classes every day except Thursdays and weekends, and the schedule is quite intense—lectures run from 9 AM to 5 PM. As for exams, I can’t say much yet, but for some subjects, a written assignment was enough to receive credit.

Looking back now, I can’t believe how far I’ve come—and how much more exciting (and challenging) things lie ahead! Once again, a huge thank you to Taisia and Elizaveta for their help and support!

This is a story about how coincidences are never random and how Your Italian Life helps you achieve your goals.

Why Italy?
It all started in 2020. I was a third-year undergraduate student choosing an elective subject—Italian. Well, choosing is a strong word—one very "kind and lovely" woman, who handled academic planning, made the choice for me.
Spoiler: A forced decision isn’t ideal, of course, but in the end, I’m the one in Italy now, not her! 😂

Classes ended, but my enthusiasm remained, so I went on an internship with Your Italian Life. In January 2021, I started thinking: learning a language is great, but practising it is even better. That’s when I first came across Your Italian Life. After carefully reading the reviews (maybe mine will inspire someone to spend an amazing summer in Italy!), I submitted my application, and soon enough, I found myself on the shores of the Ionian Sea, working as a waitress for five hours a day.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy, but I had a goal—to speak at least a little Italian after studying it for a year. And honestly, the sea breeze, the sun, and the amazing food made everything worth it.

What happened after I returned?
That was the question I asked myself. I had so many emotions after my trip, and I loved the country! That’s when Your Italian Life helped me again.
In the summer of 2022, I went to Calabria for language courses. Studying at a university with native-speaking professors, constant trips, the sea, the sun, cannoli—it was pure bingo! 🎉

Applying to UniversityWhen I left Calabria, I already knew for sure that my next step was applying to a university in Italy. The plan was clear—I trusted Your Italian Life again. After a few years of working with Taisia and her team, I knew I was in good hands.
The whole process took about a year, and in the end, I became a student at the Università degli Studi di Pavia. 🎓

What did Your Italian Life help with? Absolutely everything:
✅ Selecting master’s programs based on my preferences
✅ Communicating with universities
✅ Consulting on visa document preparation
✅ Helping find accommodation (one of the most important aspects!)
✅ Assisting with residence permit applications
✅ Answering all my silly and random questions 😅

How am I adapting after moving?
It’s only been two months since my move. Everyday challenges don’t bother me—I already have some experience living in Italy. The biggest difficulty for me right now is a slight language barrier—understanding academic information and reading literature takes effort. I understand my professors, but sometimes, there’s an awkward pause while I think about how to respond. I feel like it’s just a matter of time.
All my free time outside of work is spent studying—out of four exams this semester, I’m aiming to pass two. We’ll soon find out if I succeed—my first exam is just around the corner!
Coincidences are never random. That’s how I went from "mandatory" Italian classes to studying at one of Italy’s oldest universities! ✨