The University of Messina has been committed since 2016 to supporting access to university education for refugees and asylum seekers. Through measures adopted in 2019, the University established specific forms of financial and practical support aimed at facilitating the enrolment and academic attendance of students with refugee or asylum-seeking status.
In particular, the measures provide for full exemption from university tuition and enrolment fees, together with coverage of the cost of the student public transport pass for local urban transportation services.
This commitment has now been further strengthened and expanded through new resolutions adopted by the University in August 2026, which introduce additional provisions concerning the continuation of studies beyond the first year.
New provisions for continuing students
The new measures extend the possibility of full exemption from tuition and enrolment fees to refugee and asylum-seeking students who have already enrolled at the University and are progressing through their degree programme, subject to specific academic requirements.
In particular:
Bachelor’s degree programmes
Refugee and asylum-seeking students may benefit from full exemption from enrolment and tuition fees for subsequent years of study, including up to the first year beyond the standard duration of the programme, provided that, in order to complete their three-year Bachelor’s degree programme, they have no more than five examinations/courses remaining.
Master’s degree programmes
Similarly, refugee and asylum-seeking students enrolled in Master’s degree programmes may benefit from full exemption from enrolment and tuition fees for subsequent years of study, including up to the first year beyond the standard duration of the programme, provided that, in order to complete their Master’s degree programme, they have no more than three examinations/courses remaining.
An ongoing commitment to inclusion and equal access