Study in Italy: your complete guide for international students.

Yes. Italian universities now run hundreds of fully English-taught degrees, concentrated at master's level in engineering, business, economics, data science, design and medicine. Politecnico di Milano, Bologna, Padua, Milan and Bocconi all offer English-taught programmes. Basic Italian helps with daily life and part-time work, but it is not required to complete an English-taught degree.

Public universities charge roughly €900–€4,000 per year, and the exact figure depends on your family income because Italian tuition is income-scaled. Private universities charge about €6,000–€20,000 per year. Living costs run around €700–€1,000 per month, with Milan and Rome at the higher end and southern cities noticeably cheaper.

Tuition is rarely zero, but it comes close for many students. DSU regional scholarships are need-based and can cover a full tuition waiver plus a maintenance grant and subsidised housing and meals. Combined with Italy's income-scaled tuition, a student from a lower-income household can end up paying very little. DSU deadlines usually fall in summer, before the academic year starts.

Universitaly is the official government portal where most non-EU students must pre-enroll after receiving admission and before applying for a study visa. You confirm your chosen programme there, and the university validates your request. The consulate will not process your visa without it, so it is a mandatory step, not an optional one.

Most English-taught programmes ask for IELTS 6.0–6.5, TOEFL iBT 80–93, or Duolingo English Test 100–120. Some competitive master's programmes ask for 7.0. If your previous degree was taught entirely in English, several universities will waive the test, so check whether you qualify for an exemption before booking an exam.

Admissions for the autumn intake generally run from December to May, and many programmes use rolling evaluation rounds where earlier rounds have more places available. Non-EU applicants face earlier deadlines than EU applicants because of the visa and pre-enrollment timeline. Plan to have your application in by early spring.

Yes. A study visa allows up to 20 hours of work per week during term and full time during holidays, capped at 1,040 hours per year. Part-time work is common in hospitality, tutoring and retail, though roles that require fluent Italian pay better and are easier to find.

The Type D is Italy's long-stay national visa for courses longer than 90 days. You apply at the Italian consulate in your country after admission and Universitaly pre-enrollment, showing proof of accommodation, health insurance and sufficient funds. Within eight working days of arriving in Italy you must apply for a residence permit, the permesso di soggiorno.

Yes. Italy is part of the Bologna Process, so degrees use the standard European three-year bachelor's and two-year master's structure with ECTS credits. That makes them straightforward to recognise across the EU and widely accepted elsewhere, including for further study in the UK and the US.