Study in Italy in 2026

Study in Italy in 2026

Italy offers public universities, internationally recognised programmes, regional financial-aid schemes, and strengths in engineering, architecture, design, medicine, arts, humanities, and social sciences. Tuition and scholarship rules differ by institution and region.

Find programmes in Italy

Why international students choose Italy

Students consider Italy for:

• Public university fees that may depend on family income or financial status
• Regional scholarships and student-support schemes
• English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes
• Strong programmes in engineering, architecture, design, medicine, and humanities
• A broad choice of historic university cities
• Lower living costs in some cities outside Milan and Rome, check country guide for Italy . You can also compare with cost of living with other European countries using our country comparison tool.

Universities to consider

University of Bologna

• City: Bologna
• Common strengths: Law, humanities, sciences

Politecnico di Milano

• City: Milan
• Common strengths: Engineering, design, architecture

University of Padua

• City: Padua
• Common strengths: Medicine, engineering, sciences

Politecnico di Torino

• City: Turin
• Common strengths: Engineering, architecture

Sapienza University of Rome

• City: Rome
• Common strengths: Medicine, law, humanities

University of Trento

• City: Trento
• Common strengths: Computer science, economics, international studies

Applicants must verify tuition, language, admission tests, and programme availability directly with the university.

Tuition fees

Italian public universities often calculate fees using programme rules, student nationality, family income, or equivalent financial documentation. This can produce very different fees for students on the same programme.

Possible charges include:

• Tuition
• Regional student tax
• Stamp duty
• Application or enrolment fees
• Admission-test fees
• Late-document penalties

Students should not assume that the minimum advertised fee will apply to them.

Regional scholarships and DSU support

Regional right-to-study schemes are commonly referred to as DSU scholarships, although the administering body and scheme name differ by region.

Support may include:

• Full or partial tuition exemption
• Subsidised or free accommodation
• University meal access
• A cash grant
• Additional support based on disability or distance from home

Eligibility often depends on financial and merit conditions. International students may need:

• Family-income documents
• Household-composition documents
• Property or asset declarations
• Translation
• Legalisation or apostille
• Documents issued within a specified period

The exact income threshold and document format change by region and academic year.

How to apply

Direct university application

Many universities accept online applications directly, especially for English-taught master's programmes. Applicants may need to complete a separate pre-enrolment step after admission.

Universitaly pre-enrolment

Non-EU applicants who need a visa commonly use the Universitaly portal for pre-enrolment. The process usually involves the university and the relevant Italian diplomatic mission.

Qualification recognition documents

Depending on the university and country of education, applicants may be asked for:

• A Declaration of Value
• A CIMEA statement
• Legalised and translated qualifications
• Country-specific academic verification

The university decides which document it accepts.

Language requirements

For English-taught programmes, universities may accept IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge qualifications, previous education in English, or an institutional interview.

For Italian-taught programmes, applicants usually need proof of Italian at the level stated by the university.

Never assume one language score works for every programme.

Cost of living

Milan

• Relative cost: Very high

Rome

• Relative cost: High

Bologna

• Relative cost: High, especially housing

Turin

• Relative cost: Moderate to high

Trento

• Relative cost: Moderate

Palermo

• Relative cost: Lower than major northern cities

A student budget should include:

• Rent and deposit
• Utilities
• Food
• Local transport
• Health coverage
• Residence-permit fees
• University taxes
• Study materials
• Travel and initial setup costs

Housing shortages can make the first months significantly more expensive than the long-term average.

Working while studying

Eligible non-EU students may work part time within the conditions of their residence permit and Italian law. Students should verify the current permitted hours and contract rules through official sources.

Income from part-time work should be treated as supplementary, not guaranteed funding.

Student visa

A non-EU applicant may need:

• University admission or pre-enrolment validation
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Accommodation evidence
• Health insurance
• Academic documents
• Passport and photographs
• Visa application forms
• Proof of language ability where requested

The Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the applicant's residence determines the final document list.

Next step

Compare programmes by language, tuition method, scholarship region, city, and admission route before committing to an application.

Find programmes in Italy

Verification note: Tuition calculations, scholarship thresholds, document rules, visa requirements, work limits, and deadlines vary by region and academic year. Please confirm all details using semantic search on study in eu.online or from the university, regional scholarship agency, Universitaly, and the responsible Italian diplomatic mission.