Costs
Tuition
Public universities: €900–4,000/year. Income-based (ISEE calculation) — lowest-income students pay near zero. Bocconi and private: €8,000–30,000/year.
Living Costs
Milan: €900–1,200/month. Rome: €800–1,000/month. Bologna, Turin, Padova: €650–850/month. Southern Italy: €500–700/month. University canteens: €3–5/meal.
Total Annual Cost
€9,500–17,000/year (public university, mid-tier city).
Part-Time Work
20 hours/week during term. Full-time during breaks. Average student earnings: €400–700/month. Permesso di soggiorno allows legal employment.
Post-Study & Immigration
Post-Study Work Visa
1-year stay-back visa for job search. Can convert to work permit. Atteso occupazione permit allows work while searching.
Path to Permanent Residency
5 years legal residence → EU long-term residence permit. Italian language test (B1) required. 10 years → Italian citizenship (reduced for EU citizens).
Language Requirements
Many English-taught master's (especially at Politecnico, Bologna, Bocconi, Sapienza). Bachelor's mostly in Italian. CILS/PLIDA for Italian-taught. IELTS 6.0–6.5 for English-taught.
Visa Processing
2–6 weeks. Apply at Italian embassy/consulate. Need pre-enrollment through Universitaly portal. Documents need to be value-declared (dichiarazione di valore) by Italian diplomatic mission in your country.
Top Universities
| University | QS 2025 | Tuition (Int'l) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | #111 | €900–3,900 | Engineering, Architecture, Design — Italy's MIT |
| University of Bologna | #133 | €300–3,500 | Law, Sciences, Humanities — World's oldest university |
| Sapienza University (Rome) | #132 | €1,000–3,000 | Medicine, Engineering, Humanities, Law |
| Bocconi University (Milan) | Top 10 Business Europe | €8,000–14,000 | Business, Economics, Finance, Management |
| University of Padova | #219 | €700–3,000 | Medicine, Engineering, Psychology, Sciences |
Scholarships
DSU Grants (Regional)
Award: Tuition-free + €2,000–5,000/year + free meals + housing
Eligibility: Income-based · Deadline: Ongoing
Italian regional grants. Most generous in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Apply through university.
Eligibility: Income-based · Deadline: Ongoing
Italian regional grants. Most generous in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Apply through university.
Invest Your Talent in Italy
Award: €900/month + tuition waiver
Eligibility: Selected developing countries · Deadline: March
Italian government programme for master's in engineering, economics, architecture, and design.
Eligibility: Selected developing countries · Deadline: March
Italian government programme for master's in engineering, economics, architecture, and design.
Politecnico di Milano Merit Scholarship
Award: €10,000/year tuition waiver
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
For highest-performing admitted students.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
For highest-performing admitted students.
Bocconi Merit Award
Award: Full or partial tuition waiver
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Based on academic merit and SAT/GMAT scores.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Based on academic merit and SAT/GMAT scores.
University of Bologna Study Grants
Award: €11,000+ tuition exemption + benefits
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Unibo Action programme for international students.
Eligibility: All nationalities · Deadline: Per intake
Unibo Action programme for international students.
2026 Policy Updates
What changed: ISEE income evaluation system being updated for international students — may simplify fee assessment. English-taught programmes continuing to expand. Italy's start-up visa attracting post-study entrepreneurs. EU Blue Card easier to obtain from 2026.
Best For
Engineering and design students (Politecnico is world-class). Budget-conscious students wanting quality European education. Art, architecture, and fashion students. Business students targeting Bocconi. Students from low-income backgrounds (DSU grants are very generous).
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