Cost of Studying in Italy for International Students 2026

Cost of Studying in Italy Highlights 2026

Cost of Education in Italy by Degree 2026

The average annual cost of studying in Italy based on the level of education varies. The cost of studying at a private university in Italy for a specialised postgraduate course like an MBA in Italy is higher than at an undergraduate study. But pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a public university in Italy can be cheaper or maybe free in comparison to a private university. Following is a level-wise cost of education in Italy analysis for reference:  

• An undergraduate course is €900 - €4,000, costing approximately INR 79,701 - INR 3,54,228 for an Indian student.  
• A postgraduate course in Italy can cost from €400 and can go up to €3,500.  
• PhD and research-related courses can cost around €1,500 per annum. 

Cost of Living in Italy is cheaper than other European countries. Students who choose to apply at public universities in Italy may find more affordable studying options along with scholarships.

Tuition Fees in Italy for International Students 

The tuition fee in Italy for international students varies between private and public universities. Plus the fee lowers with the level of study in Italy as well. Following is a list of the top five Italian universities and their average tuition fee for undergraduate and postgraduate courses: 

Get more details at Top 10 Universities in Italy 

Cost of Studying in Italy Cities for International Students 

The cost of studying in various Italian cities may fluctuate depending on their cost of living index ranks. There are top five cities in Italy which are the most expensive and attract a maximum number of international students annually, details of their cost of studying are as follows: 

• Milan: €6,500 per year 
• Rome: €1,020 per year  
• Venice: €5,000 - €17,000 per year  
• Florence: €6,000 per year  
• Bologna: Either free or €800 - €900 per year

Affordable and Cheap Universities in Italy for Indians

A lot of Italian universities reimburse the tuition fee for international students studying in Italy. There are a couple of affordable and cheap universities in Italy, details of which are given below for reference for international students specifically: 

What is Income Based Tuition in Italy for Indian Students?

In Italy, income-based tuition means that your university fees are not fixed but are tailored to your family's actual financial situation. For international students, this system allows those from lower-income backgrounds to pay significantly reduced fees, sometimes as low as €150–€200 per year to study at Italian universities. 

How It Works? 

The key to availing an income-based tuition waiver or discount in Italy is through the ISEE document. The ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente) is a formula-based score that represents your family’s "Equivalent Economic Situation" by looking at three things:

1. Total family income
2. Assets (property/bank balances), and
3. Family size.

International students with income outside Italy must request a specialised version, the ISEE Parificato. This translates your home country’s financial data into an Italian score. 

Step by Step Process for Availing Income Based Tuition Waiver

There is a process for international students based on which they have to file for the ISEE and get their confirmation of results. For the 2026 academic year, the process generally follows these stages:

1. Gather official documents from your home country like:
   1. A certificate listing all family members living with you.
   2. Tax returns or salary slips for every working adult in the household.
   3. Bank balance statements (as of Dec 31, 2025) and property ownership certificates (or proof of no property).
2. These documents must be translated into Italian and legalised (usually by the Italian Embassy) or Apostille-stamped.
3. You will have to send these documents to a CAF (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale), which is a tax assistance office in Italy partnered with your university. They calculate your ISEE score for free.
4. Your university will then automatically link this score to your profile. If your ISEE is below a certain threshold (usually €24,000–€26,000), you enter the No Tax Area and only pay minor regional taxes. 

When to Apply for ISEE?

It takes time around 2-3 weeks for ISEE score to be calculated. So proper planning for the application is important. For those planning to apply for upcoming intakes in Italy, please note the ISEE process timelines for 2026 admission cycle:

• January - May 2026: Best time to gather and legalise home country documents.
• July - September 2026: Most regional scholarship applications open and close.
• November 2026: Final deadline for most universities to submit ISEE for tuition reduction (late fees often apply after this). 

Apply for Scholarships in Italy with ISEE Score

Beyond just lowering tuition, the ISEE Parificato is also used to apply for Regional Scholarships (like DSU in Tuscany or LazioDiSCo in Rome). Based on the ISEE scores, Indian applicants can apply for scholarships in Italy as well. 

• Benefits: These can provide a full tuition waiver, free campus accommodation, and a cash stipend of up to €7,910 per year.
• Requirements: Eligibility is primarily based on having an ISEE below approximately €25,000. 

Study in Italy for Free in 2026

There are universities in Italy which offer full tuition fee waivers for international students. These universities in Italy are commonly referred to as tuition-free universities in Italy for international students. The following universities offer full scholarships for international students, hence waiving their tuition fees: 

• University of Bologna: €11,000
• Bocconi University: €12,700 
• University of Padova: €8,000

For master's degrees, Italy universities offer assistantships or research-related stipends to academically strong students. Public universities in Italy for master's are also cheaper than their private counterparts. Based on the funding, it is possible to study for free in Italy or at the lowest possible tuition fee as international students. Hence, in a lot of cases, cost of studying in Italy for a master's or PhD can be covered under these funding options.