HEADQUARTERS ROME or MILAN
The first step of a great journey.
Italy is synonymous with wonder, especially for the new generations living abroad who wish to come into contact with the culture and education system that the Bel Paese is able to offer. In particular, Foundation Year is aimed at students attracted by Made in Italy, understood not only as a sign of distinction and style, but also as a qualitative approach to life.
It is precisely in this context that the Foundation Course fits in: a 60-credit supplementary course that aims to introduce students to the cultural, design, historical and artistic subjects with which they will be confronted, in even greater depth, in the years to come.
DURATION OF THE COURSE > 9 MONTHSHOURS OF LESSONS > 485
EDUCATIONAL CREDITS > 60LOCATIONS > ROME OR MILAN
WHO IS THE FOUNDATION COURSE FOR?
• to foreign students with 11 years of school attendance
• to those who have attended an American high school and have not obtained the APs necessary to enter degree programmes in Italy
• to those who attended British High School who did not reach the number of A-Levels required to enter degree courses in Italy
Thanks to this pathway, they will be able to supplement the minimum prerequisite of the Ministry of Education and Research, before entering the university system, by implementing the knowledge of fundamental subjects for the development of the artistic, audiovisual, multimedia and design knowledge required.
Participants will also learn about RUFA training methods, interacting with lecturers, integrating practical and theoretical methodologies, exploring concepts of research and artistic production and best practices related to design.
WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION COURSE FOR?
International students with less than 12 years of schooling will be able to obtain an additional 60 CFA for enrolment in an Italian university.
It is aimed at all those who need to supplement their schooling with a view to enrolling in Italian universities and AFAM institutions, with a focus on the study of the Italian language and culture.
The Foundation Course enables participants to build the foundation for embarking on any first-level academic study path. Here, students can test themselves, improve their relationship with the language, make contact with national university and academic excellence, and generate professional relationships with teachers.
FIVE MAIN SUBJECTS:
Italian language and culture, writing workshop, history of art, design and Italian style, specific course in photography, video, art and design.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TRAINING OFFERING OF ROME AND MILAN
ROME
• the specific subjects are: Art, Photo/Video, Design
• the language certificate obtained will be CILS
MILAN
• the specific subjects are: Fashion Design, Photo/Video, Design
• the language certification obtained will be PLIDA (Venue of the examination: Padua or Brescia)
At the end of the course you will take a final test and will obtain a certification: the CILS Certification for those studying in Rome or the PLIDA Certification for those studying in Milan.
DOWNLOAD BROCHURES FOR ROME AND MILAN
The course starts at the end of October and ends in July. The 60 credits obtained will allow access to first-level academic courses at RUFA without having to take the entrance examination, or at any other institution (considering the general rule of the teaching and decision-making autonomy of each individual educational entity), and may not be recognised for the purposes of reducing the teaching load of subsequent degree programmes.
| SUBJECT | CREDITS | NUMBER OF HOURS | NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roma | Milano | ||||
| Certificate released | CILS (ITA) - 4 | PLIDA (ITA) - 4 | |||
| Specific curriculum (TP) | Art (only Rome) | 4 | - | 150 | 12 hours, 12 weeks |
| Fashion Design (only Milan) | - | 4 | |||
| Photo/video | 4 | ||||
| Basic Design | 4 | ||||
| Italian language and culture (T) | Language (ITA) | 22 | 165 | 4 hours, 8 weeks (online lessons) 15 hours, 9 weeks (in presence lesson from January 2026) |
|
| Culture (ITA) | 10 | 75 | 9 hours, 8 weeks | ||
| Writing lab (TP) | 2 | 25 | 2hours, 12 weeks | ||
| History of art, design and Italian style (T) | 8 | 60 | 7 hours, 9 weeks | ||
| Final test | 2 | 10 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 | 485 | 17h/we | ||
(T) = Theoretical subjects – (TP) = Theoretical/practical subjects – RUFA final test = Presentation of the student’s portfolio relating to the subject attended in front of an appointed committee.
*In some weeks, the number of hours may vary slightly in order to reach the total number of hours for the subject.
Total number of lesson weeks: 29
The RUFA Foundation Course comprises language, culture and writing lessons in Italian, and more purely artistic RUFA lessons held in English. To be admitted, students must have a certified level of English language knowledge of B1/B2. As far as knowledge of the Italian language is concerned, it is preferable, but not compulsory, to already possess a B1 level.
SIGN UP FOR THE FOUNDATION COURSE
Foundation Course | 2023 Class
Saadat’s testimony
GENERAL INFORMATION
Period: late October to July
Language: English (in Italian for Italian language and culture courses)
Language requirements:
– B1/B2 of English
– Preferably B1 Italian
Registration deadline: 24 October 2025**
Cost: € 8.500,00*
Title issued: Certificate of Participation + Certification CILS/PLIDA
*The cost includes:
– registration fee;
– attendance fee and final examinations;
– CILS/PLIDA certification;
– RUFA card (conventions with cinemas, theatres, gyms and educational material);
– final certificate.
The payment method envisages 25% at the time of enrolment and 75% by 10/10/2024. Candidates are required to submit, by 10 October, an application form enclosing: a high school diploma with a transcript of records of their educational activities, a certificate attesting that they have passed any academic aptitude test envisaged for access to university in their country of origin and the relative Declaration of Value in loco, the enrolment contract (to be signed by the parents in the case of underage students), English language certification, identity document and study visa. Universitaly.
RUFA reserves the right to check students’ aptitudes and motivation prior to enrolment. The course will be activated with a minimum of 7 students until all available places are filled.
SIGN UP FOR THE FOUNDATION COURSE
**For applications registered between 26 October and 30 November, the possibility of inclusion in the class will be assessed on the basis of available places.