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Everything you need to know about becoming an international student in Italy
Located in the south of Europe, Italy is a mediterranean country that at its southernmost tip is not very far away from Tunisia in North Africa.
Italy is an EU country and as such it follows the Bologna process and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which means that any grades that you achieve in Italy will be recognised throughout Europe.
If you are thinking about studying abroad in Italy, you are in good company. There are over 100,000 international students currently studying in Italy, and these students are attracted to study in the country due to its low tuition fees and living costs, the high quality of education and the country’s unique blend of culture and history.
Italy is a popular destination for students in Europe but you will also find international student communities with strong representation from all over the world. These include large groups form parts of the Middle East (particularly Türkiye and Iran), South Asia (India and Pakistan) and parts of North and West Africa (Morocco, Egypt and Cameroon).
With a declining domestic student population in Italy, international students are as in-demand in the country as they have ever been.
The majority of the 99 universities in Italy are publicly funded state universities. There are 61 of these universities, which tend to have very affordable tuition fees.
Italy is home to some of the oldest universities in the world, such as the University of Bologna (established in 1088), and the University of Parma (established in 1177). These universities also happen to be some of the world’s most prestigious universities, regularly featuring highly in university world ranking tables.
In addition to public universities, the are 20 non-state universities, some of which at the very least can be considered old universities, such as Bocconi University, in Milan (established in 1902) and Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa, in Naples (established in 1864).
If you want to study in Italy at masters level, quite unique to Italy are Superior Graduate Schools/universities of excellence (Scuola Superiore Universitaria), which specialize in postgraduate education. There are 7 of these institutions in Italy, including the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and Scuola Superiore Studi Pavia IUSS.
Italy follows the Bologna process, which means that the university education in Italy follows the 3 cycle system, so degrees in Italy fall into the following types:
If you are choosing a university abroad for your studies, we recommend that you take university ranking performance into account. Ranking tables provide an easy method of comparing your choices based on how they perform across a variety of metrics.
Italy boasts a collection of some of the most respected universities in the world, and as such they have a track record of featuring in world university ranking tables.
Our table below shows the top 15 universities in Italy according to 3 well known university ranking systems:
| University | Times Higher Education World University Ranking | Best Global Universities | QS World University Ranking |
| University of Bologna | 155 | 130 | 133 |
| Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa | 168 | 451 | |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 181 | 140 | 132 |
| University of Padua | 201-250 | 130 | |
| Politecnico di Milano | 201-250 | 317 | 111 |
| Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies – Pisa | 201-250 | 822 | |
| Humanitas University | 251-300 | 421 | |
| Vita-Salute San Raffaele University | 251-300 | 209 | 389 |
| Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | 301–350 | 442 | |
| University of Pavia | 301–350 | 306 | 440 |
| University of Rome II – Tor Vergata | 301–350 | 369 | 393 |
| University of Florence | 351-400 | 245 | 375 |
| Free University of Bozen-Bolzano | 351-400 | 935 | 661-670 |
| University of Milan | 351-400 | 146 | 285 |
| University of Milan-Bicocca | 351-400 | 253 |
513 |
One of the reasons that Italy is so attractive to international students is the relatively low course fees for university degrees.
Tuition fees at public universities for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees can range between € 1000 and € 4000 per year, for international students, depending on course and university.
EU/EEA students in general will pay the same course fees at public universities as their Italian counterparts.
It is worth noting that tuition fees at prestigious universities are not necessarily higher than at other Italian universities. As an example, Sapienza University of Rome charge a basic fee of around € 2800.
Public universities in Italy also offer fee exemptions and discounts based upon a range of factors, which can include your country of origin, so you should take your time to see whether you meet any of these criteria.
If you are an international student and your family has income or assets in Italy, you can apply for an ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator) certificate, which can see you fully or partially exempted from tuition fees.
The cost of living as a student in Italy will depend on the region you are living in.
Accommodation costs can be quite low in cities such as Turin and Naples, whereas rent is higher in cities with a lot of tourism such as Florence and Milan.
In Naples, expect to pay between € 350 – € 400 per month for a room in a flatshare. In Turin, rent can be between € 400 – € 700 per month. In Milan, expect to pay € 650 – € 800 for a private room. If you are able to find a room in a university dormitory, rent can be much cheaper, but spaces tend to be limited.
When budgeting for food, transport and socializing, the area in which you will be living will again have a large impact on your finances.
If you are living in Milan, you should aim to budget at least € 1300 per month to cover your rent, bills and food, but ideally up to € 1800 for a less frugal lifestyle. In cities that are cheaper to live in, such as Bari or Naples, you will be able to get by with a monthly budget of around € 800 – € 1000.
Whilst tuition fees are low in Italy, there are also plenty of scholarship opportunities for international students.
Many scholarships are offered by universities, so if you are interested in a particular institution, make sure you check what is available. Example of these include Politecnico International Scholarships at Politecnico di Torino, Study grants and subsidies at Università di Bologna and the degree award at Edisu Piemonte.
Outside of specific university offerings, there are the DSU Scholarships offered at many universities, and the ER.GO scholarships.
You can study everything in Italy! The universities in Italy offer courses in every subject you can think of, so whatever your interest, you will find a degree course.
Subjects that are particularly catered for in Italy include fashion, design, history, humanities and business.
Bachelors degrees generally take 3 years of full time study to complete, while Masters programmes in Italy take between 2 years of full time study to complete.
Research degrees such as PhD’s are widely offered by research universities and take between 3-4 years of research to complete.
As Italy follows the Bologna process, entry requirements into bachelors and masters degree courses will be similar to other European universities.
This means that students will be expected to have achieved the equivalent of a school leaving certificate to meet entry requirements for a bachelor degree in Italy.
To be accepted into a masters degree course, you will typically be expected to hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related subject.
Studying in English has become an increasingly popular option at universities in Italy.
If you want to study in English in Italy, you will need to provide evidence of your English language ability. English language exams widely used by international students include:
The most choice of courses at Italian universities can be found taught in Italian.
If you are planning to study in Italian, you will be expected to provide evidence of your language proficiency, and there are two main tests for these purposes:
Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera (CILS), organised by the Foreigners University of Siena
Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana (CELI), organised by the University for Foreigners of Perugia.
The exact level of required ability in Italian will be determined by your choice of university, but you will usually be expected to display that you can speak and understand Italian to the level of B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Applying to a university in Italy as an international student is generally made directly to the university via the university website.
You may also find the Universitaly portal useful if recommended as part of your application process.
If you are applying as a non-EU citizen, you should contact your local Italian embassy or consulate, who will be able to contact your chosen institution on your behalf before you make your application.
Is it free to study in Italy
You may be able to find favorable scholarships or fee exemptions to study in Italy, but in general there are tuition fees applicable to most students.
Am I allowed to work while I study?
Yes. You are permitted to work part-time during your studies as an international student in Italy for up to 20 hours per week.
Can I stay in Italy after I graduate?
If you are in Italy on a study visa, after completion of your studies you have two options:
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