If you enrolled before 2026/27, please email the Delegate for Foreign Language, Giacomo Pallante for information on your language requirements.

English for International Studies

English for International Studies is a 6-credit course offered by the SIS and requires 48 hours of in-class participation.
These 48 hours include both conventional lectures and workshops. The conventional lectures will be held over the first 6 weeks of the course for the entire class. To maximize the effectiveness of the workshops, the class will be divided into two groups (surnames A-M and N-Z) with different timetables.
More details are available in the course syllabus and will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the course.

English for International Studies is not an English Language course but an English for Specific Purpose course and therefore international certifications cannot be deemed equivalent.

B2 of a Second language

Students are required to reach a B2 level in a second language among German, French and Spanish. Other second languages – Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese - do not have courses up to B2, but examinations to obtain credits can be arranged.

A2 - Italian language (only Non-Native Italian speakers)

This is typically a second-year requirement to be completed in Pisa.

Exams at CLA

You can take the exam (“prova di competenza linguistica” – test of language competences) at the University Language Centre (CLA).
Exams are held in 4 components:

• Listening, computer based test
• Reading, computer based test
• Writing, computer based test
• Oral.

You have to pass all three online components before you can enrol for the Oral component.
More details are available in the page Registration to the language test.

Recognition of international certificates

International certificates recognized by the University Language Centre are available on the CLA website. You should have obtained your certificate no more than three years earlier than the beginning of your first academic year. 

You can apply for recognition of credits by uploading your certificate into the online form available each year from the end of September to the end of June: Language certificates and English language requirement - Courses of study of the Department of Economics and management, Faculty of Law and School of International Studies.

Alternatively, if you obtained your high school diploma, bachelor's or master's degree entirely in the second language in your study plan, you can present documentation (Diploma plus documentation clearly stating the Course was entirely in the second language) to the Delegate for Foreign languages and to the MISS Secretariat.

More in-depth information is available every year in the MISS student handbook, on page Programme guide and documents.