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
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 Italy.
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
- 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 |
|
| Entrance exams required |
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Source: Payscale
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Top Universities and Colleges in Italy - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
Guided 21 students to Italy universities.
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
Commonly asked questions On Top Universities and Colleges in Italy - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades
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.
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
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
6 students got admitted to this university
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
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Commonly asked questions On Top Universities and Colleges in Italy - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades
To study in Italy, Indian students need to have the following admission requirements for a bachelor’s degree:
- Education at school level
- Entrance test (As required)
If students want to go for a master’s degree then they need a bachelor’s degree as a pre-requisite. Some of the documents required to apply are academic transcripts, resume / CV, English language proficiency test score, letters of recommendation (if required).
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
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
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Commonly asked questions On Top Universities and Colleges in Italy - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades
Italy is one European countries that offers the best education to its students at lower prices. Some of the best cities to study in Italy are Rome, Milan, and Turin as per QS Best Student Cities 2024. Some of the top reasons to study in Italy are:
- Experience Italian culture
- Number of programme options to choose from
- High-quality education at low cost
- Multi-cultural environment
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.
Milan, Other - ItalyPrivate
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13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
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Guided 21 students to Italy universities.
Guided 21 students to Italy universities.
Bologna, Other - ItalyPublic#17We can fast-track your application in a week.
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
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13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
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Venice, Other - ItalyPublic#2313.6K+ students got admitted through us.
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
Guided 21 students to Italy universities.
13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
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13.6K+ students got admitted through us.
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