Quick Facts
| Tuition Range | €900 – €4,000 per year (public; private €6,000 – €20,000 or more) |
|---|---|
| Living Cost | About €700 – €1,100 per month |
| Intakes | September/October (main), February |
| Last Verified Date | November 10, 2026 |
Italy offers history, food and design alongside one of Europe’s most affordable public university systems. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the oldest university in continuous operation in the Western world, and Sapienza in Rome, the Politecnico di Milano and the University of Padua anchor a system of 283 institutions with about 9,000 programmes. Fees at state universities depend on family income, so many international students pay far less than the headline range — and regional right-to-study grants can cover accommodation, meals and a cash allowance for students who qualify.
What it costs to study in Italy
Public-university tuition commonly runs about €900–€4,000 a year, while private institutions commonly charge about €6,000–€20,000 or more. At state universities, the fee depends on declared family income, measured by an indicator called ISEE: students with an ISEE up to €22,000 pay no tuition contribution, though everyone pays the regional tax and a €16 stamp duty. Some universities charge reduced flat fees to students from certain non-EU countries — for example, about €500–€1,000 plus €157.04 at Bologna for 2026–27. Living costs run about €700–€1,100 a month depending on the city: Milan and Rome are the most expensive, while smaller cities and the south are cheaper. The visa funds benchmark is €10,179.85 per year for 2026–27.
Student visa and pre-enrolment
Students from outside the EU need a Type D national long-stay visa for study over 90 days. Before applying for the visa, they must pre-enrol through Universitaly, the official portal of the Ministry of University and Research — the only official portal for the national pre-enrolment procedure. For 2027–28 entry, the national deadline for visa applications for standard degree programmes is 31 October 2027, but universities set their own earlier deadlines, so start as soon as applications open. After arrival, students apply for a residence permit within eight working days; the permit generally costs €116.46 for up to one year. Voluntary enrolment in the National Health Service costs about €700 a year. Note that pre-enrolment being validated does not guarantee that a visa will be issued; the consulate decides.
Working while you study
Non-EU students with a study residence permit may work up to 20 hours a week and no more than 1,040 hours a year. A tax code, the codice fiscale, is needed before starting paid work, and the right to work is tied to a valid residence permit rather than the visa alone. EU students have the same work rights as Italian citizens. Part-time work in hospitality, tutoring and campus services is common in student cities, but the annual hour cap means it cannot be bundled into full-time summer work to fund the year.
Staying on after graduation
Non-EU graduates can convert a study permit into a job-search residence permit for nine to twelve months, depending on the decision of the local Questura; the permit is non-renewable and must be applied for before the study permit expires. Graduates must register at the local job centre first. Since the 2023 reform, converting a study permit directly into a work permit is exempt from the annual immigration quota and can be done year-round, provided the study permit is still valid and the employer files the required authorisation. After five years of legal residence, including study years, graduates can apply for a long-term EU residence permit.
Applying
The main intake is September or October, with February starts for some programmes. International applicants apply to the university and then complete pre-enrolment on Universitaly. Many programmes are taught in English and commonly ask for about IELTS 5.5–6.5; Italian-taught programmes generally require Italian at B2 level. Regional right-to-study grants, known as DSU grants, are run by each region and are worth applying for alongside admission — in Lombardy, for example, the ISEE limit for 2026–27 is €26,887.93.
Official source: Universitaly (Ministry of University and Research)