Can I study in Italy for FREE?

Italian public universities are tuition free, allowing international students the chance to pursue their studies for almost no cost (except some administrative charges). The administrative charges at these universities range from EUR 400-3,000 (INR 40.2 K-INR 3 L) per year. Some popular public universities students can consider include: University of Bergamo, University of Naples, University of Salemo, Polytechnic University of Turin, University of Pisa & University of Perugia.

I want to study in Italy. How much money is required for the same?

Public universties charge upto EUR 12,000 (INR 12 L), while private universities can charge as high as EUR 35,000 (INR 35 L) per annum. There are also some additional costs associated with studying in Italy which includes, travel, fee, scholarships, book & supplies among other costs. That can set students back almost EUR 7,300 (INR 7.33 L) per annum. To know more, check out: Cost of Studying in Italy 2025 Conversion rate: 1 EUR = INR 100.54

Can I stay in Italy permanently after studies?

Yes, international students to have completed their education from any recognised Italian universities can apply for a residence permit in Italy, given below is the step by step process for the same: Ask your employer, attorney or family to submit a Certificate of Nulla Osta (No Impediment) Visit the Italian consulate in your country of origin & submit an application for a National Visa (Type D) Apply for a residence permit, within 8 days of arrival in Italy Pay the required application fee worth EUR 16-176 (INR 1.6 K-INR 17.7 K) & submit the application Wait for an official response

Are there any English speaking universities in Italy?

Such universities are listed given below. But, to know the exact course for which the universities offer teaching in English, it is best advised to check with the university: Bocconi University LUISS University University of Bologna University of Pavia Politecnico Di Milano

What are the best universities for foreign students in Italy?

Here are some of the top ranked Italian Universities. Also, there are some study disciplines that these universities offer: Politecnico Di Milano: Engineering, Architecture, and Design University of Padua: All courses University of Bologna: All courses Sapienza University of Rome: All courses University of Bocconi: Economics and Political Science LUISS University: Economics, Law, and Political Science

Which are the best universities in Italy?

According to the reviews over an unofficial source, Italy is a really attractive location for studies for international students with diverse landscape, amazing cuisine, impressive history, and ironic and historical sites. The best universities in Italy include University of Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome, Politecnico Di Milano, etc. Furthermore, the education in Italian university is of high quality. Also, the professors are quite experienced and most of them teach very well.

Top Universities and Colleges in Italy - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades

Italy is an underrated shout when it comes to studies abroad. The country is home to more than 50 world-class institutions, most of which offer quality education at affordable costs, as compared to some of the more popular universities in countries such as US, UK and Canada. When it comes to courses, Fashion and Design, Architecture, Engineering, Arts & Humanities, Business & Economics are some of the stand-out options available to students. According to QS World the Politecnico Di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Bologna, and the University of Padova are some of the best institutions in the world to pursue higher studies from. Furthermore, the cost of living in Italy is almost 40% lower than the countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. At present, the country has around 32,000 international students, including 12,000+ Indian students are studying in I

Latest Update on India - Italy Accord

The Union Cabinet has given post facto approval to the Migration and Mobility Agreement between Italy and India. This agreement would enhance people-to-people contacts, encourage mobility of students, business people, skilled workers, professional trainings, and strengthen cooperation on issues regarding irregular migration between India and Italy.

The noteworthy highlights of the Agreement are given below:

Indian students who want to attain initial professional experience, after completing academic / vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months
The Italian side has detailed provisions associated with Professional Training, Extracurricular and Curricular Internships that allow Indian students / trainees to attain experience in Italian skill / training standards

Check detailed information about the Migration and Mobility Agreement between Italy and India from here.

Moving to Italy for studies? Know what is Culture Shock and tips to reduce homesickness

Table of Contents

Universities in Italy: Highlights
Why Study in Italy?
Study Visa in Italy
Top Universities in Italy
Best Engineering Universities in Italy
Best Business & Management Universities in Italy
Top Cities to Study in Italy
Top Courses in Italy
Admission Requirements in Italy
Cost of Studying in Italy
Cost of Living in Italy
Scholarships to Study in Italy
Part-Time Work Options in Italy
Top Job Sectors & Economy
Post-Study Work Visa in Italy
Jobs in Italy

Universities in Italy: Highlights

Admission intakes in Italian universities are in October, January, February, etc. The majority of the Italian universities have an January admission intake.

Parameter	Statistics
No. of universities in Italy	54
Tuition fees of universities in Italy	Max 10 L - INR 40 L
Top courses in Italy	MSc, MBA/PGDM, MS, BBA & MA
English exams required	IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo
Entrance exams required	GMAT / GRE

Why Study in Italy?

Some key factors which make Italy an ideal destination to study abroad include: affordable higher education, varied offered courses, work and study balance, an opportunity to learn a foreign language, etc. Presence of top-ranked universities, home to a few of the leading fashion brands of the world, and lower cost of living are a few of the reasons why international students want to study in Italy.

Study Visa in Italy

Students wishing to study in Italy require an Italy Student Visa in order to enter the country. Some of the mandatory documents that are required for the processing of Italy Student Visa application are passport / travel document, cover letter, Italy student visa application form, medical insurance, etc. The cost to apply for an Italy Student Visa (Italy Long Stay Visa) is EUR 76-EUR 100 (INR 7.6 K-INR 10 K).

Here’s all you need to know about Study in Italy

Top Universities in Italy

Check the table given below to know about the ranking of these top-ranked universities in Italy.

University	QS World 2026	Shiksha Popularity Ranking
Politecnico Di Milano	#98	#129
Sapienza University of Rome	#128	#114
University of Bologna	#138	#100
University of Padova	#233	#149
Politecnico di Torino	#242	#664
University of Milan	#276	#558
University of Pisa	#343	#204
University of Rome Tor Vergata	#355	#223
University of Naples - Federico II	#379	#197
University of Florence	#404	#663

Here’s detailed information about Top-Ranked Universities in Italy

Best Engineering Universities in Italy

Listed below are the best options for engineering in Italy:

University	QS 2025 Rank
Politecnico Di Milano	#21
Politecnico di Torino	#55
Sapienza University of Rome	#93
University of Bologna	#111
University of Padova	#165
University of Naples - Federico II	#173
University of Pisa	#244
University of Trento	#292
University of Rome Tor Vergata	#328

Best Business & Management Universities in Italy

Given below is a list of the top-ranked universities in Italy for Business & Management courses in QS subject rankings:

University	QS 2025 Rank
Bocconi University	#10
Politecnico di Milano	#64
Luiss University	#67
University of Bologna	#129
Sapienza University of Rome	#251-300
University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	#301-350
Politecnico di Torino	#351-400
University of Milan	#401-450
University of Rome Tor Vergata	#401-450
University of Padova	#401-450

Top Cities to Study in Italy

According to QS Best Student Cities 2024, some of the cities to study in Italy are Milan, Rome, and Turin. Check the table given below to know the QS ranking of these cities in Italy:

Cities	QS Best Student Cities 2025
Milan	#52
Rome	#54
Turin	#68

Top Courses in Italy

Some of the top-study areas in Italy include Luxury Brand Management, Cosmetics, Digital Management, Interior & Living Design, Marketing Management, Culinary Arts, Product Design, etc. Italian Universities offering these courses are:

Top Courses in Italy	No. of Universities
MBA / PGDM	30
MSc	32
MS	27
BBA	17
MA	12
MArch	10

Admission Requirements in Italy

A number of exams are accepted from international students by universities in Italy. This includes standardized exams as well as English proficiency tests. Check the details given below for the number of Italian universities accepting these exams.

Entrance Exams accepted by Universities in Italy

Numerous universities in Italy accept GMAT / GRE and to study in Italy, international students are required to submit these test scores.

Exams	No. of Universities
GRE	10
GMAT	7

English Language Requirements by Universities in Italy

Given below are the English requirements for students to satisfy:

English Language Proficiency Tests	No. of Universities
IELTS	54
TOEFL	36
PTE	20
Duolingo	12

Documents required to Study in Italy

In order to take admission to universities in Italy, international students are required to submit the following documents at the time of admission:

Academic transcripts
Valid id proof such as passport
Resume / CV
English language proficiency test score
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation (as applicable)

Cost of Studying in Italy

The cost of studying in Italy varies from university to university. The first-year tuition fee is within the range of INR 10 lakh. The tuition fees for a few Italian Universities are given as follows:

Universities	Annual Tuition Fees
University of Bologna	INR 1 L - INR 4 L
Sapienza University of Rome	INR 3 L
Politecnico Di Milano	INR 4 L - INR 38 L
University of Padova	INR 3 L
University of Pisa	INR 2 L
University of Naples	INR 3 L

Conversion rate: 1 EUR = INR 100.53

Also Read: Cost of Studying in Italy for International Students

Cost of Living in Italy

The average cost of living in Italy for international students is around €8,400 (Around INR 7.4 L). The division for the living expenses are given as follows:

Particulars	Cost (in EUR)	Cost (in INR)
Annual Cost of Living	€3,800 - €5,500 approx.	INR 3.8 L-INR 5.5 L
Rented Accommodation Cost in Italy	€200 - €600 per month	INR 20 K-INR 60.3 K
Average Cost of Living in Italy for Students	€1,500 - €2,400 annually	INR 1.5 L-INR 2.4 L
On-Campus Housing	€200 - €300 per year	INR 20 K-INR 30 K
Cost of Food	€200 - €300 per month	INR 20 K-INR 30 K
Personal Expenses	€200 or above per year	INR 20 K

1 EUR = INR 100.53

Also Read: Cost of Living in Italy for International Students

Scholarships to Study in Italy

A number of scholarships are offered by Italian universities to international students. Some of the popular scholarships offered to international students in Italy are:

Scholarship Offered By	Amount
Politecnico Di Milano	€5,000 – €10,000 (INR 5 L-INR 10 L) per year
Financial Aid Bocconi Uni	€12,000 for Bachelor’s courses; €14,000 (INR 14 L) for Master’s courses

Did you know, you can now study for next to no cost in Europe?

Check out the video below to know more:

Part-Time Work Options in Italy

International students studying in Italy are eligible to work up to 20 hours a week. However, students are required to prove their identity through their residence permit. Some of the popular part-time jobs in Italy for university students are:

Tutor
Freelancer in Writing, as Social Media Marketer, or in Web Designing, etc.
Health professionals
Part-Time tourist guide
Students can also work part-time in restaurants or supermarkets

Top Job Sectors & Economy

According to the European Commission, the overall GDP of Italy is expected to grow by 0.6% in 2025 and 0.8% in 2026. Some of the popular job sectors in Italy are:

Retail
ICT
Telecommunications
PR & Related Events
Environmental Services

Post-Study Work Visa in Italy

International students studying in Italy can apply for a post-study work visa only after completing a Master’s or PhD. In such a case, students are allowed to stay in Italy for a year until they get a full-time job opportunity. If in case they get a job opportunity in Italy, then they can apply for a post-study work visa.

Jobs in Italy

Italy is one of the top countries to study for international students. Naturally, it is important to know the job prospects and popular job sectors. Some of the top job sectors in Italy are ICT and Retail and Business. Teacher, Copywriter, Financial Analyst, Graphic Designer, Product Manager, Software Engineer, Web Developer, etc. are some of the top job roles in Italy. The annual average salary for an international student working in Italy is between €13,000 - €38,000. The popular job sectors in Italy are:

Top Job Roles in Italy	Average Annual Salary (in EUR)	Average Annual Salary (in INR)
Accountant	€31,500	INR 31.7 L
Mechanical Engineer	€31,013	INR 31.2 L
Business Analyst	€31,188	INR 31.3 L
Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)	€17,810	INR 17.9 L
Operations Manager	€45,960	INR 46.25 L
Software Engineer	€33,427	INR 32.3 L
Legal Counsel	€47,500	INR 47.8 L
Sales Associate	€30,521	INR 30.7 L