Study in Italy
Europe’s oldest universities, income-based tuition that often falls under €2,000, and regional scholarships that cover fees, meals and housing — with a year to stay after you graduate.
Italy invented the university — Bologna, 1088 — and still charges some of the lowest public tuition in Western Europe, scaled to your family income.
More than 600 programs are taught in English, led by Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi, Bologna and Padua. Regional DSU scholarships are the secret weapon: they waive tuition and add up to €7,000 a year for housing and meals, and international students qualify. After graduation you can convert your permit to a 12-month job-search permit. Gradsy handles the Universitaly pre-enrolment step.
- Universities
- 38
- English programs
- 600+
- Job-search permit
- 12 mo
- Dsu grant / yr
- €7k
Why italy
- Oldest university: Bologna — where the university began (1088)
- Income-based fees: Tuition scaled to your family income (€1–5k)
- Dsu scholarships: Fee waiver plus housing and meal grants (€7k)
- Stay after: Job-search permit after graduation (12 mo)
Intakes
- September — starts Sep – Oct — apply Jan – Jun same year — The main intake — every program opens here; DSU scholarship windows run May–July.
- February — starts Feb – Mar — apply Sep – Nov of the prior year — A small set of master’s programs, mostly at Politecnico di Milano and Bocconi.
- Pre-enrolment — starts Sep — apply Mar – Jul same year — Non-EU students pre-enrol on Universitaly before the visa — the window is fixed by the ministry.
What it costs: TUITION €1–5K · LIVING €10–14K · + INSURANCE €0.15K
- Public tuition: €1 – 4k / yr — Scaled by family income (ISEE) — many international students pay the minimum band.
- Private universities: €12 – 20k / yr — Bocconi, LUISS and Cattolica set their own fees.
- Living costs: €10 – 14k / yr — Milan and Rome at the top; Bologna, Padua and Turin far cheaper. Visa proof-of-funds is about €6,900.
- Health insurance: €150 / yr — Voluntary registration with the national health service costs around €150 a year.
Scholarships and funding
- Regional DSU scholarships: UP TO €7,000 + FEES — Income-based grants covering tuition, housing and meals — international students qualify.
- Invest Your Talent in Italy: €900 / MONTH — Government award for master’s students from selected countries, with a paid internship.
- University merit awards: FEE WAIVER — Politecnico di Milano, Bologna and Padua run automatic international merit awards.
Tests you may need
- English proficiency: English-taught — IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 80+ typical for English programs.
- Italian proficiency: Italian-taught — CILS or CELI B2 for Italian-language programs.
- Entrance tests: Some programs — IMAT for medicine in English; TOLC tests for engineering and economics.
Italian universities rarely ask for GRE — each program page lists exactly what its intake asks for.
Study visa (type d) · four steps
- Admission & Universitaly: Accept your offer, then pre-enrol on the Universitaly portal within the ministry window.
- Show funds & housing: About €6,900 for the year plus proof of accommodation and health insurance.
- Consulate appointment: Submit your file and biometrics — Gradsy assembles it in order.
- Permesso di soggiorno: Apply for your residence permit at the post office within eight days of arrival.
Work while you study and after
- Part-time work: Up to 20 hours a week, 1,040 hours a year — no separate permit.
- Curricular internships: Tirocini are built into most master’s and open the door to full-time offers.
- Job-search permit: Convert your student permit to look for work after graduation.
- Work permit: Graduates convert outside the annual quota once they sign a contract.
Typical graduate salaries
- Software engineering: €30k – 48k
- Data & AI: €32k – 52k
- Engineering: €30k – 45k
- Business & finance: €30k – 48k
Student cities
- Milan: Italy’s business and design capital — Politecnico, Bocconi and fashion week
- Bologna: The original student city — Europe’s oldest university and best food
- Rome: The capital — Sapienza, LUISS and 3,000 years of history
- Turin: Automotive and aerospace — Politecnico di Torino at Alpine prices
- Padua: Galileo’s university in a walkable Venetian town
- Florence: Renaissance art and design schools in a compact city
Questions students ask
How do income-based fees work?
Public universities set tuition by your family’s ISEE income indicator — typically €1,000–4,000 a year. Non-EU students submit equivalent income documents; many universities apply the lowest band to students from developing countries.
What is a DSU scholarship?
A regional grant for students below an income threshold that waives tuition and adds up to €7,000 a year for housing and meals. International students are eligible — apply in May–July of the year you start.
Do I need to speak Italian?
Not for the 600+ English-taught programs. Bachelor’s degrees are mostly in Italian. Basic Italian helps a lot with part-time work and daily life.
Can I stay in Italy after graduating?
Yes — you can convert your student permit to a 12-month job-search permit (attesa occupazione). Once you sign a contract you convert to a work permit outside the annual quota.