Country guide
Study in Italy
Historic universities, income-based tuition that can fall below €1,000 a year, and some of Europe’s most generous need-based scholarships.
- Tuition
- €900–4,000 / year (income-based)
- Living cost
- €700–1,000 / month
- Work rights
- Up to 20 h / week
Why study in Italy?
Italy is home to the oldest university in the Western world (Bologna, founded 1088) and a dense network of strong public universities — Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza Rome, and Padua among them. English-taught degrees have expanded rapidly, especially in engineering, architecture, design, economics, and medicine.
What makes Italy stand out financially is its income-based fee system: tuition is calculated from your family’s financial situation (via the ISEE indicator), and regional DSU scholarships can cover fees, meals, and accommodation entirely — many international students effectively study for free.
Tuition & costs
- Public university tuition typically ranges from €900 to €4,000 per year, scaled to family income. Students from low-income families can pay only the minimum regional tax (around €150–200).
- DSU regional scholarships (based on financial need) can include a fee waiver, a cash grant of €5,000–7,000 per year, free canteen meals, and subsidised housing.
- Living costs: €700–1,000 per month in most cities; Milan and Rome sit at the top of that range, while cities like Pisa, Padua, or Turin are noticeably cheaper.
- Proof of funds for the visa is around €7,000–7,500 per year (tied to the "assegno sociale" — verify the current figure with your consulate).
Language requirements
English-taught programmes usually ask for IELTS 5.5–6.5 or TOEFL equivalent; some accept a B2 certificate or an internal English test.
Italian-taught programmes require Italian at B2 level (CILS, CELI, or the university’s own test). Medicine in Italian requires passing the IMAT-equivalent national exams in Italian.
Everyday life outside the university runs largely in Italian — basic Italian makes internships and part-time work far more accessible.
Intake & application timeline
- Pre-enrolment happens on the Universitaly portal, typically between March and June for the autumn intake.
- Many programmes (especially in English) run their own admission windows from November to April — earlier than most applicants expect.
- Entrance exams for medicine, architecture, and some engineering programmes take place in spring/summer.
- DSU scholarship applications usually close between July and September — apply even before you arrive.
Working while you study
Non-EU students in Italy may work up to 20 hours per week, capped at 1,040 hours per year, on their study permit.
Part-time wages are modest (€7–10/hour informally benchmarked), so treat work as a supplement, not a funding plan. Check current rules with the Italian consulate before relying on work income.