UNICORE - University Corridors for Refugees (Italy)

UNICORE - University Corridors for Refugees - is a legal pathway that lets recognised refugees move to Italy to study, rather than having to travel irregularly. It is promoted by Italian universities with the support of UNHCR, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Caritas Italiana, Diaconia Valdese, Centro Astalli and other partners. For UNICORE 8.0, 40 participating universities offered 80 places across 432 courses. The programme is aimed at refugees recognised in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe - eleven of the thirteen countries of asylum are in Africa.

Selected students enrol on postgraduate degree courses in Italy. They are exempt from tuition fees at the participating universities and receive financial support for plane tickets and visa-related expenses, plus a study grant to support them during their stay in Italy. Selection for admission is carried out by, and is the sole responsibility of, each individual university, so entry requirements and the number of places vary; applicants may apply to a maximum of two universities in a round. UNICORE runs an information session for prospective applicants before the deadline.

Applying costs nothing. UNHCR states plainly that participation in university corridors, including the application process, is completely free of charge, and asks anyone approached for money in connection with the project to report it. Submitting fraudulent school certificates or university diplomas is treated as a crime and can lead to disqualification and referral to the police. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds including disability, and candidates with a disability can flag in the application form that they may need adjustments during the selection process. For UNICORE 8.0 the course catalogue opened on 2 March 2026 and applications closed at noon UTC+2 on 17 April 2026, with successful students starting their degrees in September 2026; recent rounds have opened in late February or early March, so watch universitycorridors.unhcr.it from early in the year.