Italy

Tuition

Public universities calculate tuition on an income-tested basis using the ISEE indicator: students with an ISEE up to roughly €22,000–30,000 often pay only the regional study tax and stamp duty (from about €0–160/year), while fees rise in brackets up to a university-specific ceiling for higher incomes (examples: Politecnico di Milano up to €3,943/year, University of Padua up to about €3,000/year). Non-EU students resident abroad instead pay, at many universities, a flat fee tiered by country of origin (at Sapienza University of Rome, per the university, €300–1,500/year) or, without recognised income documentation, the applicable maximum rate. Private universities such as Bocconi in Milan charge flat fees independent of nationality or income (Bachelor's/Law programmes, per the university, €17,000/year for academic year 2026/27). Actual costs therefore depend heavily on the institution, programme and individual circumstances. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Visa

National (Type D) study visa for entry; after arrival, a residence permit for study purposes ("permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio") must be requested via the post office/Questura within 8 days. Employment is capped at a maximum of 1,040 hours per year — 20 hours per week. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Applications

Pre-enrolment for non-EU students who need a visa runs through the Universitaly portal and must be completed before applying for the visa; each university sets its own deadlines, usually falling between May and September (examples: Sapienza University of Rome, 15 May 2026 for non-EU visa applicants and 31 July 2026 for EU applicants; University of Pisa, 30 September 2026). Exact dates, including for individual programmes, change every year and should be checked directly with the chosen university. ^{[9] [10] [3]}

Application portals

• Universitaly
• Study in Italy (MAECI-Stipendienportal)

Language

Italiano. The national and main language of instruction is Italian; many undergraduate bachelor's programmes are taught exclusively in Italian. A growing but still comparatively limited number of fully English-taught programmes exists, mainly at Master's level and in business, engineering and some science subjects, for example at Sapienza University of Rome; these typically require B2-level English or Italian. ^[3]

Health insurance

Valid health insurance is a precondition for issuing and renewing the residence permit. Non-EU students must show either private health insurance or voluntary registration with Italy's National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN) for a fixed annual fee of about €700; without proof of cover, the residence permit will not be issued. EU students can use the European Health Insurance Card or likewise register with the SSN voluntarily. This is factual information, not insurance advice. ^{[8] [11] [5]}

Universities

• Politecnico di Milano, Milano ^{[1] [12]}
• Università Bocconi, Milano ^{[4] [13]}
• Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma ^[3]
• Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, Bologna ^{[8] [14]}
• Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova ^{[2] [15]}

Scholarships

• DSU – Diritto allo Studio Universitario (regionale Studienförderung) — Italy's regional right-to-study agencies (for example in Lombardy, Tuscany or Veneto) award annual, income- and merit-based support to all students regularly enrolled at Italian universities, regardless of nationality. According to the Universities of Milan and Pisa, winners receive full or partial exemption from tuition fees plus free canteen meals, and in some cases subsidised student housing. ^{[16] [17]}
• Invest Your Talent in Italy — A scholarship programme of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) for non-EU students from a defined list of major economies (including Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Vietnam) in selected Master's programmes, mainly in engineering, economics and design. According to the University of Pisa, it includes an annual grant of €10,800 paid in quarterly instalments, exemption from tuition fees (except the regional study tax and stamp duty), and a mandatory internship at an Italian company. ^[18]
• Stipendien der italienischen Regierung für ausländische Studierende (MAECI) — An annual scholarship programme of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign nationals to fund study, research or language stays at Italian institutions, open to applicants from a country list set each year. According to the University of Pisa, it provides €10,800 per year in quarterly instalments plus exemption from tuition fees (except the regional study tax and stamp duty); language courses are funded for 3 months. ^{[19] [20]}