Foundation Programme in Social Sciences
The Foundation Programme in Social Sciences is a two-semester course that enables you to meet the prerequisites for applying to a three-year or single-cycle degree programme in Italy, and therefore at Luiss.
To enrol on the course, students must have completed at least 11 years of secondary education and hold a B2-level English language proficiency certificate (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, Duolingo).
The Programme offers introductory courses in Economics, Law, and Socio-Political Studies, as well as academic modules aimed at developing critical and computational thinking. There are also classes to improve English and learn the basics of Italian, along with workshops more focused on developing soft skills.
The Luiss Foundation Programme offers a hybrid course delivery format: from October to March, courses are delivered online; in April, students are invited to come to campus to actively work on the programme, which also focuses on soft skills.
Upon completing the Foundation Programme, students will receive a certificate of completion. This certifies the skills they have acquired and allows them to apply for Luiss’s Bachelor’s and Single-Cycle Degree programmes, following participation in one of the admission selection processes. Foundation Credits (FC) cannot be converted into CFU or ECTS credits.
Students interested in enrolling in the Programme can submit their application online by clicking the “Apply Now” button from March until 11 September 2026.
Additional useful documents are available at the bottom of the page.
Director
Barbara De Donno
Full Professor of Comparative Private Law, Department of Law, Luiss. Secretary General of ICC Italy. Member of the Interministerial Commission for the Reform of the Environmental Code. Director of the Master’s in Business and Company Law and the Foundation Course on Social Sciences. Member of the Board of Directors of the Luiss School of Law, of scientific boards and committees for comparative law journals, and of the Académie Internationale Droit Comparé, the Italian Comparative Law Association, and research centres. Lawyer at the Court of Cassation, former member of the EIA-SEA Commission of the Ministry of the Environment and of the Presiding Council of the Tax Court. Coordinator and member of research groups, speaker at national and international conferences. Author of publications on comparative and European business law
FAQ
To apply, you need to complete the online application and upload the required documents, including your secondary school diploma, an identity document, and a B2 English language certificate. For more information, please refer to the admission notice or contact the Foundation office via email at foundation@luiss.it.
Yes, you must attend at least 80% of each course to be eligible to take the final exams and receive the certificate of completion.
Students with international qualifications must hold a secondary school diploma that complies with current regulations, reflecting at least 12 years of schooling. Specific requirements include:
- American diploma: at least 3 Advanced Placement (AP) courses with scores between 3 and 5 in subjects relevant to the chosen course of study, including one in Italian if required by the regulations.
- British diploma: at least 3 relevant Advanced Level (A-Level) exams with a minimum grade of pass.
- IB Diploma: Only diplomas that meet the IBO’s requirements for a full diploma are valid (IB courses, certificates, and the IB Career Programme are not valid).
If the qualification does not meet these requirements, the student can compensate by:
- Completion of a Foundation Programme aligned with the chosen field of study, offered by an accredited university.
- A full academic year completed at an accredited university or college, with all required exams passed.
For more information, visit this page.
Email: foundation@luiss.it
Phone: +39 06 85225386
Registered office: Viale Romania, 32 - 00197 Rome
The Foundation Programme in Social Sciences offers a structured 60-credit curriculum with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary educational programme. Students have access to introductory courses in Economics, Law, and Political Analysis, which help them grasp the fundamentals of Social Sciences. They also develop soft skills like coding, negotiation, and public speaking, which are essential for their future careers.
Study Plan
Course
Introduction to Computational Thinking
The course provides an introduction to computational thinking for solving complex problems, with a focus on algorithms, automation, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. You learn how to apply this approach in fields such as science, engineering, economics, and business analytics. Upon completion, you'll gain problem-solving skills and an understanding of how modern technologies, such as AI and machine learning, rely on computational methods.
Introduction to Critical Thinking and Methodologies
The course provides an introduction to critical thinking, which is essential for understanding, making decisions, and interacting in a technological context. Theories of truth and knowledge are explored, with practical exercises and group projects focusing on justice and the social sciences. You are guided through evaluating reasoning and identifying fake news and cognitive biases, with the aim of improving your logic, argumentation, and idea-generation skills.
Introduction to Macro and Microeconomics
The course teaches the fundamental principles of economics, enabling students to analyse topics such as how markets work, the consequences of pricing policies, the origins of money, and the causes of inflation and unemployment. Students acquire tools and concepts that are useful for tackling advanced studies in the fields of economics and finance.
Introduction to Private Law
The course provides an overview of Italian civil and commercial law, preparing students for careers in law and economics. The first part covers civil law, including its rules, sources, and application, as well as topics such as the law of persons, family law, succession, property law, obligations, and contracts. The second part focuses on commercial law, covering topics such as entrepreneurship, companies, and bankruptcy proceedings.
An Introduction to Public Law
The course provides a general understanding of Public Law, with a particular focus on the Italian Constitution and the principles of constitutionalism. It serves as a foundation for future legal courses and aims to equip students with the tools of legal language and the ability to reference key sources of law, academic debate, and case law through exercises and practical assessments in the classroom.
Fundamentals of Management
The course provides foundational business management skills, emphasising the role of resources and relational contexts in business development processes. Students learn the tools needed to support strategic decisions and business functions such as marketing, production, finance, human resources, logistics, and research and development. Through business case studies and exercises, students will explore topics such as analysing the business environment, strategic resources, and competitive strategies in greater depth. The course also addresses pressing issues such as social diversity, sustainability, and the integration of new technologies (AI, IoT, Blockchain, Metaverse, etc.) for business digitalisation.
The Fundamentals of Investing
The course provides an introduction to investments and financial instruments. The aim is to provide basic knowledge and fundamental principles about investments, covering everything from an overview of financial markets and traded securities to investment analysis and portfolio management. The course also provides tools for analysing portfolios of ordinary shares and conducting basic investment analysis.
Introduction to Social and Political Analysis
The course examines democratic regimes, comparing them with non-democratic ones, and analyses the process of democratic representation, focusing on the main actors (citizens, parties, interest groups) and on the processes of interaction, such as elections and the representation of interests. It also explores political institutions (parliaments, governments, bureaucracies, courts) and the decision-making output of the political system, namely public policies and the distribution of power. Finally, the course discusses the interaction between domestic politics and multilevel governance.
Language Empowerment and Academic Preparation
The course aims to improve communication skills in English and develop critical, creative, and digital abilities. It consists of interactive workshops, with ongoing assessment based on participation and assignments. Students will receive regular feedback and improve their English skills, cultural knowledge, and professional practices, building a solid foundation for their academic and professional future.
Italian Language
The course provides Italian language skills for speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The course aims to help you build a basic vocabulary and gain a better understanding of Italian as a means of communication.
The Luiss Foundation Programme in Social Sciences is much more than just a preparatory course: it’s a real opportunity to build a solid academic foundation and enjoy a unique learning experience. Designed to meet the needs of international students, this Programme not only opens the door to Italian universities, but also serves as a springboard for their personal and professional future.
In just one year, students can:
- Address any gaps in the requirements for admission to Italian universities, such as not having completed 12 years of schooling or not holding APs or A-Levels if you come from countries with different education systems, for example those with American or British diplomas.
- Gain a solid academic foundation to tackle Bachelor's or Single-Cycle Master's degree programmes.
- Prepare for Luiss' standard admission procedures.
- Make the most of your gap year by enjoying an international experience in Rome.
- Improve language skills (English and Italian) and essential soft skills for the future.
Finally, the Foundation Programme stands out for its academic quality. Students attend classes taught in English by a world-class faculty, gaining skills that are recognised and valuable globally. This not only enhances students' CVs, but also prepares them to excel in global academic and professional settings.
Circumscripting line
The enrolment fee for the Foundation Programme is set at €7,500.
The amount can be paid in two instalments according to the following amounts and deadlines:
- 1st instalment – to be paid by the deadlines indicated in the admission email: €4,500
- 2nd instalment – due by 15 January 2027: €3,000
Students who apply within 60 days of the call opening will receive a €1,000 discount on the Luiss Foundation Programme tuition fee. The reduced tuition fee will be applied when the first instalment is paid.