Degree programme choice orientation
The SOrT is Sapienza’s integrated orientation service. The service has a central office located in the Main Campus and several desks in the Faculties. At the SOrT, students can find specific information about Faculties and Degree Programmes, as well as support in making informed choices. The central office and faculty members coordinate orientation and tutoring projects, maintain relations with upper secondary schools and with school orientation staff, and propose support actions for the delicate transition from school to university. They also provide assistance to enrolled students and offer information about the course catalogue and the administrative procedures required for admission to Degree Programmes.
Orientation initiatives and projects
1. Open Days at Sapienza
The event, held every year on the Main Campus, is the most important initiative dedicated mainly to new students. During the three orientation days, visitors can meet academic staff and students, receive information, and attend presentations in the Aula Magna about the educational offer of all the Faculties.
The initiative is open to anyone planning to enrol in Bachelor’s Degrees, Single-Cycle Master’s Degrees and Master’s Degrees at Sapienza, with particular attention to students in the final year of upper secondary school.
The event offers every stakeholder the opportunity to discover Sapienza, its course catalogue, study and cultural spaces, meeting places and the many services available to students (libraries, study rooms, museums, student residences, sports facilities, university theatre).
Alongside academic information, visitors can also receive guidance on administrative procedures, including enrolment processes and participation in admission tests.
To promote inclusive contexts and access to university education, the Office for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties organises support activities for managing academic careers through personalised study plans and tailored educational, financial or logistical assistance for students in vulnerable conditions. The Office also provides guidance on the procedures for requesting support and on the clinical certificates required.
2. Sapienza Orientation Portal
To support students in choosing their Degree Programme, the University has created an online portal (https://orientamento.uniroma1.it/index.html) that offers an immersive preview of university life. Users can explore the campus, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, the theatre and spaces dedicated to music and sports through interactive images and videos. They can also access online learning modules on key subjects, and assess or improve their preparation for admission tests.
The portal also provides information on orientation events organised by Faculties and Departments throughout the year, and hosts video presentations of Faculties and Degree Programmes, including newly established courses.
All initiatives are promoted through the University’s social media channels to reach interested students.
The portal is also available in English to support international students.
3. Bridge between School and University Project
This project facilitates the transition of students from upper secondary school to university and supports their integration into the academic environment.
It includes two initiatives:
a. Sapienza introduces itself – meetings presenting Faculties and sample lectures delivered by academic staff and addressed to secondary school students.
b. Sapienza through the students – presentations in schools by trained mentors and senior students who illustrate university services and share their personal academic experience.
4. Self-assessment tools
Developed by Sapienza experts and scientifically validated:
a. Know Yourself: a tool that supports decision-making when choosing a study path. Once completed, it provides a personality profile, an academic profile and a professional profile.
b. Me and the Others: a tool designed to measure soft skills, that is, the attitudes relevant for social and professional integration.
5. Orientation in Network Project
This project focuses on orientation and alignment of essential knowledge required to take admission tests in biomedical and psychology areas. It includes a preparatory course structured in two phases: an initial online phase followed by intensive in-person classes. The project is intended for students in the final years of upper secondary school wishing to access Degree Programmes with restricted admission in healthcare, biomedical and psychology fields.
6. Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation (PCTO)
This educational activity allows upper secondary school students to strengthen their school knowledge through practical experience, assess their interests, and orient themselves in their study choices.
7. Next Generation Orientation Project
This project, shared by all universities of the Lazio Region and funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, helps students choose their post-secondary educational path and define their personal and professional trajectory.
It includes a training course delivered by Sapienza academic staff, totalling 15 hours in five modules of three hours each, which may be delivered in person:
- Module A: Why is studying important?
- Module B: How do students study at university?
- Module C: How can I best prepare for university?
- Module D: Who am I and who will I become?
- Module E: Which professions can I pursue?
8. Preparation for admission tests
Sapienza uses the CISIA Online Test (TOLC). Upper secondary school students may take TOLC practice tests through the CISIA portal, which offers Student Placement Tests (PPS). PPS are real tests that provide immediate feedback based on comparison with results obtained by past TOLC participants on the same questions.
9. Essential Knowledge Project
This project focuses on the alignment of essential knowledge required to start university study successfully. It offers recorded lessons by university staff aimed at strengthening students’ preparation and supporting a motivated and informed academic start.
10. Ofa Sapienza
To improve preparation for admission tests and prevent the assignment of Further Required Courses (OFA) in Italian and Mathematics, Sapienza offers the e-learning platform OfaSapienza. Here students can access materials to practise independently and strengthen the essential knowledge required by Degree Programmes in the humanities, engineering and architecture.
11. Orientation events
The page https://www.uniroma1.it/it/node/347362 collects, in chronological order, all orientation events organised by the University, Faculties, Departments and Degree Programme Boards.
Further orientation activities support students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties in choosing their study path and understanding the services available to them.
Sapienza offers dedicated meetings with schools and individual orientation sessions. The Office evaluates any personalised measures required for admission tests based on the certificates submitted by students.
Applicants with disabilities may request compensatory measures for selective admission tests (such as dedicated rooms, extra time, readers, assistants, LIS interpreters, calculators), following the instructions provided in the admission calls. The same applies to TOLC tests, whether taken in person or remotely.
The Office also provides support for new students in vulnerable conditions, assisted by specialised tutors, peer tutors and LIS interpreters.
Degree Programme Board activities
The ICI Faculty organises yearly orientation events to help upper secondary school students choose their academic and professional path. These events, held both online and in person, allow prospective students to meet academic staff, learn about the Degree Programmes, explore research opportunities, understand career prospects and experience laboratory activities.
Among the main initiatives is OpenICI, which includes an in-person presentation of the Degree Programmes followed by online meetings dedicated to each Programme. Other activities include Class Training, where doctoral students and project teams present their work, with the aim of motivating students towards engineering studies.
The Faculty also organises Ingegneria INforma, a series of meetings explaining admission procedures and supporting students in understanding the enrolment process. Another key event is Open Days at Sapienza – ICI Presentation in the Aula Magna, where students can learn about the full academic offer, hear testimonies from former students and explore study opportunities.
In addition to University and Faculty initiatives, the Degree Programme Board organises every year the OPEN DAY Sapienza event in Rieti. All upper secondary schools of Rieti and neighbouring areas are invited to Palazzo Aluffi to attend presentations of Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes, including details on learning outcomes, educational organisation and career opportunities.
At the beginning of each academic year, a meeting is held with new students to present the Degree Programme, its organisation, examination procedures and all useful information for starting their academic path in the best possible way.