Admissions, Requirements, and Tuition Fees
Admission and Enrolment
ISST admits up to 20 new students each year who hold a Master's degree in Psychology or Medicine and Surgery, or an equivalent qualification.
Graduates who are due to take the Italian State Examination (Esame di Stato) during the first available examination session of the year of enrolment may also be admitted conditionally. Enrolment is subsequently finalised once the State Examination has been passed and registration with the relevant Professional Board (Ordine professionale) has been completed within the required timeframe.
Admission Interview
Admission to the School includes an individual interview, aimed at exploring the candidate's educational and professional background, motivation, and interest in the ISST training model.
Candidates wishing to apply for an interview should submit their curriculum vitae to the ISST Administrative Office. The outcome of the selection process is communicated in writing within fifteen days of the interview.
Following a positive outcome, candidates may proceed with enrolment or, if they do not yet meet all the necessary requirements, with pre-enrolment.
Pre-enrolment
Pre-enrolment is intended for candidates who have successfully completed the admission interview but are still in the process of obtaining the qualifications required for final enrolment.
Pre-enrolment allows candidates to reserve a place for the relevant academic year and requires the payment of a €300 deposit.
Pre-enrolment does not constitute final enrolment in the School. Enrolment must subsequently be completed within the specified timeframe once all the required qualifications have been obtained.
The pre-enrolment form, including details of the required documentation, procedures and deadlines, can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Enrolment
Candidates who have successfully completed the admission interview and already meet all the required criteria may proceed directly with enrolment in the School, without completing the pre-enrolment procedure.
Enrolment is formalised by signing the contract, submitting the required documentation and paying the €200 enrolment fee, which is non-refundable.
The enrolment form, including the General Terms and Conditions and the ISST Internal Regulations, can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Annual Tuition Fee
The annual tuition fee is €4,400 and may be paid in four instalments of €1,100.
For first-year students, the first instalment is due upon enrolment; subsequent instalments are due by 31 March, 31 July and 30 September. From the second year onwards, the first annual instalment is due by 31 January.
Alternatively, the full annual tuition fee may be paid in advance in a single payment by 31 December of the preceding year. In this case, a discount applies and the total fee is €4,200.
The tuition fee includes attendance at classes, theoretical and practical seminars, intensive training sessions and insurance coverage relating to clinical placements.
It does not include any individual psychotherapy undertaken by the student, any additional individual meetings requested with the Academic Coordinator or Thesis Supervisor, or accommodation and meal expenses during residential intensive training sessions.
A €200 diploma fee is payable upon completion of the programme.
Personal Psychotherapy
The School does not require students to undertake personal psychotherapy. However, personal psychotherapy is strongly recommended as a valuable part of the personal and professional development of a psychotherapist in training.
Students are free to choose their therapist and therapeutic orientation. Any costs associated with personal psychotherapy are not included in the annual tuition fee.
Supervision
Students may present their own clinical cases during the group supervision sessions included in the training programme.
Individual supervision may also be undertaken with an ISST faculty member or with an external professional, provided that the arrangements and supervisor are discussed with an ISST faculty member.
Meetings with the Academic Coordinator
The Academic Coordinator is available for two individual meetings per year, aimed at monitoring and supporting each student's progress throughout the training programme.
These meetings may address the student's clinical placement and relationship with the host organisation, the learning process, and any difficulties encountered in preparing examinations or written assignments.
Clinical Placement
The training programme includes 150 hours of clinical placement each year, for a total of 600 hours over the four-year programme.
Clinical placements are undertaken at affiliated organisations that meet the relevant regulatory requirements. Students may identify the organisation in which they wish to complete their placement. The School provides access to its existing network of affiliated organisations and may establish new agreements where the necessary requirements are met.
Transfers from Other Schools
Students currently attending another recognised School of Specialisation in Psychotherapy may apply to transfer to ISST.
Admission to a year beyond the first is assessed on the basis of the training already completed, including teaching activities, clinical placement hours, examinations or assessments passed, and the documentation issued by the student's previous School.
Forms and Documentation
The forms provide full information on the required documentation, conditions and procedures and can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.