Background
In April 2023, Ksenia reached out to us seeking guidance on relocating to Italy via a student pathway. With a background in foreign languages and current employment at Aeroflot, she aimed to start by enrolling in a language course as a gateway into the country.

Phase 1:
Initial Entry Through Language StudyBy May–June 2023, Ksenia enrolled in a 4-month Italian language course. Though the initial plan was for a 6-month program, the university’s academic calendar limited her enrollment. She applied for a 4-month Student D visa, stating in her motivation letter that she would take a leave of absence from her job during this period. Despite not including any formal Italian language certificates in her application, her visa was approved. That summer, she also successfully obtained a 6-month student residence permit.

Phase 2:
Seeking Stability Through Extended StudiesDuring her stay in Italy, Ksenia secured a job in Rome. However, converting her permit from student to work status was not feasible due to her employer’s reluctance to support the process. In January 2024, as her permit neared expiration, Ksenia contacted us again—this time with a new goal: to extend her residence permit by enrolling in a full academic program.

Challenges

• It was already January, well past standard university application deadlines.
• Ksenia had no apostilles or document legalization ready.
• She lacked a B2-level Italian certificate, which was mandatory for university admission.
• Most institutions had closed applications for the academic year.

Our Approach
We took immediate action—even during the holiday period—starting the process from scratch:

1. Ksenia returned home to obtain apostilles and legalize her academic documents.
2. Meanwhile, we actively searched for Italian universities still open to applications.
3. We found a fit: the University of Messina and its Italian-taught master’s program in Turismo e Spettacolo.

We applied, paid the €156 admission tax, and were told that formal admission depended on passing the ItaL2 B2-level test.

Persistence Pays Off
Ksenia took the exam in April but didn’t pass on her first attempt. Not discouraged, she tried again in June 2024—and passed! She was officially admitted into the program. Additionally, we completed the ISEE per diritto allo studio, reducing her annual tuition fee to just €156.

Final Outcome
Although we began the process in January 2024, Ksenia’s official university admission came in June 2024—a full year after her initial entry to Italy. She successfully transitioned from a short-term language course visa to a full academic program, securing her long-term residence permit in the process.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Flexibility and persistence are critical when facing strict academic and immigration timelines
✅ Early planning is ideal, but last-minute applications can still succeed with the right strategy
✅ Even without initial language certification or documentation, a tailored action plan can lead to success