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University Degree Buy-back: Who Qualifies and What You Get

Learn how you can count your university years toward your pension through the University Degree Buy-back scheme in Italy.

The University Degree Buy-back allows you to credit the time you spent studying for a degree toward your total years of pensionable service.

Who it's for

This scheme is available to anyone who holds a university degree.

What you get

By participating, you can count your university years as part of your pensionable service. This effectively adds those years of study to your total record for retirement purposes.

What it costs you

To use this scheme, you must make a payment to the social security agency (INPS). This can be paid as a single one-time lump sum or through a series of installment payments.

The catch to know

It is important to calculate whether the cost of the payment is worth the benefit you receive. The scheme is not always the most tax-efficient option, so you should weigh the expense against your expected pension increase.

How to apply

  1. Review your university credentials and study duration.
  2. Contact the social security agency to request a calculation of the costs.
  3. Decide whether to pay the amount in one installment or several.
  4. Complete the payment process as directed by the agency.