A guide for international students and their families, from Primegate Consultancy, the appointed Exclusive Representative Office for Fondazione Doria.
You don't need to speak Italian to start a vocational programme at Fondazione Doria. Programmes are available in English and no IELTS is required. But a little Italian goes a long way: it helps you settle in, work well with your internship team and stand out to employers. This guide explains what the language levels mean, how Italian fits into your programme, and how to make a head start.
Italian isn't a barrier to entry at Fondazione Doria, but it is a real career advantage once you're in Italy, at work and for your long-term plans.
Italian levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). A1 and A2 are "Basic User" levels, and B1 is the first "Independent User" level [1].
| Level | Official CEFR description (summary) [1] | In everyday life and at work |
|---|---|---|
| A1 ("Contact") [3] | Understands and uses familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. Can introduce yourself and answer simple personal questions if people speak slowly and clearly. | Greeting colleagues, introducing yourself, ordering food, asking for directions |
| A2 ("Survival") [3] | Understands frequently used expressions about personal information, shopping, local geography and employment. Handles simple, routine exchanges. | Following simple workplace instructions, shopping, using transport, routine chats with customers |
| B1 ("Minimum") [3] | Understands the main points of clear standard language about work, school and leisure. Deals with most travel situations and can describe experiences and plans. | Taking part in team conversations, explaining what you did on a shift, handling most day-to-day situations independently |
At Fondazione Doria, your training is available in English, and Italian classes from A1 to A2 level run alongside it, so you build the language as you build your skills.
Here's what that means for you:
A few weeks of practice before you arrive makes your first days in Italy easier and gives you a head start in class.
Practical ways to begin:
You don't need an Italian certificate to join a Fondazione Doria programme, but a recognised certificate is useful later, for example A2 for an EU long-term residence permit or B1 for citizenship [3][2].
Italy's main certificates are issued by universities and institutions that work under agreements with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs [3]:
| Certificate | Issued by | Levels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana) | Università per Stranieri di Perugia | A1 (CELI Impatto), A2 (CELI 1), B1 (CELI 2), B2 (CELI 3), C1 (CELI 4), C2 (CELI 5) [5] | Sessions: 11 Nov 2026 (A1–C2), 9 Mar 2027 (A1–B2), 11 Jun 2027 (A1–C2) [5] |
| CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) | Università per Stranieri di Siena | A1–C2 [3] | Sessions twice a year [3] |
| PLIDA | Società Dante Alighieri | A1–C2 [3] |
When you might need one:
| Goal | Italian level required |
|---|---|
| Joining a Fondazione Doria programme | None. Programmes are available in English |
| Vocational training visa | None listed by embassies [4] |
| EU long-term residence permit | A2 [2] |
| Italian citizenship | B1 or higher [3] |
Whatever your first language, the fastest way to make progress is daily practice built around real situations you'll face in Italy.
Not at Fondazione Doria. Programmes are available for international students in English, no IELTS is required, and Italian embassy checklists for vocational training visas do not list a language certificate [4]. Italian classes from A1 to A2 are included alongside your training.
It depends on how intensively you study. The US Foreign Service Institute classes Italian as a Category I language for English speakers, needing about 24–30 weeks (600–750 class hours) of intensive study to reach professional working proficiency [6]. Basic everyday Italian (A1–A2) is a much smaller step, and it's the level covered by the Italian classes at Fondazione Doria.
None to start at Fondazione Doria, because programmes are available in English. During your programme you take Italian classes up to A2 level, which the Council of Europe describes as being able to handle simple, routine exchanges about everyday life and work [1].
For English speakers, Italian is one of the most accessible languages: the US Foreign Service Institute places it in Category I, its group of languages closely related to English [6]. Learners from other language backgrounds also make steady progress with daily practice, structured classes and real conversations at work.
One Primegate Consultancy advisor guides you from choosing a programme and intake month to your offer, visa preparation and enrolment.
