Equivalence is a complex form of academic recognition that is based on the analytical evaluation of a foreign academic qualification with the aim of verifying whether it corresponds in detail in terms of level and content to a similar Italian university qualification so as to be able to define it as equivalent and thus give it the same legal value by defining it as “equivalent”.

Law 25/02/2022, n. 15, art. 28 quinquies, paragraph 3.2, which modifies art. 38 of Legislative Decree n. 165 of 30 March 2001, has instructed universities to issue “equivalence certificates” also to those in possession of a PhD obtained abroad. Law 148/02 in Articles 2 and 3 attributes the competence for the recognition of foreign qualifications to the Universities that exercise it within the scope of their autonomy and in compliance with their respective regulations.

It is possible to request the equivalence of a foreign qualification under certain conditions:

• the foreign qualification must be issued by a university or other university-level institution that "officially" belongs to the reference education system;
• it must be an "official" qualification of the reference system
• it must be a final qualification comparable to the 3rd cycle of the Bologna process (PH.D)
• the qualification with which the foreign qualification can be equated must be present in the educational offer of the PhD courses of the Politecnico di Milano, in the last cycle accredited by the MUR, at the time of the application.

The period for accepting requests is from 15th March to 30th July.

The candidate must submit a specific request specifying exactly the qualification issued by the Politecnico di Milano for which he/she is requesting equivalence.

To proceed with the application, you must access the Online Services and click the link "Application for Academic Recognition (equivalence)"
The Politecnico di Milano communicates the acceptance of the application or requests the necessary documentary integration within 30 days of the submission of the request.

Documents to attach to the application

1. Certified copy of the foreign university degree of Doctor of Research that you wish to have recognized.
2. Academic Transcripts/academic certificate of exams taken or Diploma Supplement of the degree that you wish to have recognized.
3. Certificate of Comparability of the foreign university degree of Doctor of Research issued by CIMEA (Information Center on Academic Mobility and Equivalences). Alternatively, you can submit a "Declaration of Value" on site issued by the competent diplomatic representations.
4. Certificate of Verification  (attestato di verifica) of the foreign university degree of Doctor of Research issued by CIMEA.
5. Doctoral thesis in PDF file, indicating the author. If written in a language other than Italian or English, it must be translated into either Italian or English.
6. Official detailed programs of the courses relating to the exams taken, indicating the hours and CFU required for each course. (optional)
7. Certified copy of the foreign university degree that gave access to the Doctorate or copy of the Italian university degree.
8. Academic Transcripts/academic certificate of exams taken or Diploma Supplement of the foreign university qualification that gave access to the PhD.
9. Curriculum vitae/studiorum in which any additional qualifications, publications and research and teaching activities carried out are reported, with particular detail for the activities carried out during the PhD program
10. Certificate of knowledge of the English language at a level not lower than that required for PhD students enrolled in the last cycle, or certificate attesting the achievement of an academic qualification in which the teaching is carried out entirely in English.
11. Copy of an identity document (passport, identity card, driving license).

For qualifications obtained in a language other than Italian, an official translation into Italian is required, with the sole exception of English.

Documents at points 1 and 2 must be submitted with apostille, in case of Countries which signed the Hague Convention; in the other cases, certified by the Italian Diplomatic Representation. 

For all requests for recognition with a PhD course, it will be necessary to attach the same documents relating to the qualification that gave access to the PhD and provide the originals upon request of the Doctoral School. If the previous qualification was obtained at an Italian university, it is necessary to attach the self-certification of the qualification itself, as well as of the exams passed.

The procedure for the recognition of the foreign qualification includes the following steps: