Study in Italy
Choose a university together with your application, budget and scholarship plan.
Evaluate Bachelor’s and Master’s options in Italy together with Universitaly, admission requirements, timelines, tuition and scholarship routes.
Last verified: 12 September 2026Official source links are listed at the end of the page.
- Programs
- Undergraduate · Postgraduate
- Application
- University + Universitaly
- Language of instruction
- Italian · English
- Information status
- Verified against official sources
Italy for whom
- Applicants seeking strong traditions in design, architecture, engineering and the arts
- Applicants exploring income-based reductions in public-university tuition
- Applicants looking for English-taught programmes in Europe
- Applicants seeking a European destination with comparatively balanced living costs
| Language of instruction | Italian · EnglishEnglish-taught options are more common at postgraduate level |
|---|---|
| Academic year | Starting in September – OctoberVaries by university |
| Application method | Directly to the universityThere is no central application system |
| Pre-registration | UniversitalyVisa prerequisite for non-EU students |
| Fee | Income-based bands using ISEEISEE parificato for applicants living abroad |
| Proof of funds | €10,179.85/year2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years · MUR – circular on entry, residence and enrolment for international students (2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years) |
| Work permission | 20 hours a week · 1,040 hours per year |
Higher education system
Italian higher education follows the Bologna structure:
- Laurea — bachelor’s degree, three years, 180 ECTS.
- Laurea magistrale — master’s degree, two years, 120 ECTS.
- Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico — an integrated degree in fields such as medicine, law and architecture.
- AFAM — fine-arts, music and design institutions with their own admission procedures.
Application structure
Italy has no single central application portal: academic applications are submitted directly to the university. Non-EU students also complete Universitaly pre-registration. These are separate processes and neither replaces the other.
Some programmes — in medicine and health above all — have a national entrance examination. The examination timetable and procedure are announced separately by the Ministry each year.
Tuition and ISEE
At public universities, tuition is tiered according to the family’s financial circumstances as documented through ISEE. Students living abroad obtain an ISEE parificato. If no qualifying document is submitted, the highest band generally applies. Each university publishes its bands and amounts in its tuition rules.
Visa and right to work
Studies lasting more than 90 days require a national type-D student visa. The Ministry of Universities and Research sets a proof-of-funds amount of €10,179.85 per year for the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 academic years. Bachelor’s and master’s visa applications for 2026–2027 must be submitted by 30 November 2026. A student residence permit allows up to 20 hours of work per week, capped at 1,040 hours per year.
The previous figure of €6,079.45 is no longer current.
Program pages
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Assess My ProfileFrequently asked questions
Why do tuition fees vary between students in Italy?
At public universities, tuition is tiered according to the family’s income and assets as documented through ISEE. Applicants living abroad use an ISEE parificato. If no document is submitted, the highest band generally applies.
What is Universitaly?
Universitaly is the portal of Italy’s Ministry of Universities and Research. Non-EU students complete pre-registration (preiscrizione) through it as part of the enrolment and visa process; the university still makes the academic admission decision.
Do I need to know Italian?
Not for English-taught programmes in general. Italian-taught programmes usually require evidence at B2 level.
Sources
- Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) – international student circular for the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 academic years — Proof-of-funds amount, pre-registration procedure and visa application deadlines
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – consular notice — Updated proof-of-funds amount and calendar for 2026–2027 and 2027–2028
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministero degli Affari Esteri) — Student visa, proof-of-funds amount and right to work
- Universitaly (portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research) — Pre-registration for students from abroad (preiscrizione)
- Studiare in Italia — Application Procedures for International Students