Top Universities in Italy: Latest QS Ranking 2027
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Politecnico di Milano and Sapienza University of Rome are among Italy's top universities. These universities offer affordable education and are respected worldwide. Your degree will be valid in entire world.
Italy is famous not only for its pizza, culture, and historic landmarks, but also as a popular study destination. Studying at the top universities in Italy is a great choice for Indian students. Italy is home to many world-famous universities that offer quality education, budget friendly tuition fees, and excellent career opportunities. Some of them offer scholarships to meritorious international students who want to study in Italy.
Many public universities in Italy have very low tuition fees. This makes it a highly affordable choice for Indian families. If you want to join the 2027 intake, this article will show you the top 10 universities in Italy, their rankings, popular STEM and MBA courses.
Quick Facts
- No. 1 Italian university (QS 2027): Politecnico di Milano (87th in the world)
- Monthly living cost in Italy: EUR 1,350 (INR 1.45 Lakh).
- IELTS minimum: 5.5 to 6.5 (IELTS band depends on course).
- Key scholarships: DSU, EDISU, and MAECI Government Scholarship.
- Currency note: 1 EUR ≈ INR 107 (approximate; check live rate before applying).
- Rankings of the Top Universities in Italy for 2027
- 10 Best Universities in Italy: Detailed Profiles
- Admission and Eligibility Requirements for Indian Students
- FAQs About Top Universities in Italy
Rankings of the Top Universities in Italy for 2027
The table below shows the top 10 universities in Italy by QS World University Rankings 2027 and Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026. QS 2027 was published on 18 June 2026.
| University | QS World Ranking 2027 |
|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | 87 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 111 |
| University of Bologna | 123 |
| University of Padua | 204 |
| Politecnico di Torino | 206 |
| University of Milan | 270 |
| University of Pisa | 341 |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | 342 |
| Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | 388 |
| University of Pavia | 395 |
10 Best Universities in Italy: Detailed Profiles
Below is a detailed profile for each university. Every profile covers popular courses, tuition fees, acceptance rates, and scholarships.
1. Politecnico di Milano
Italy's No. 1 university and 87th in the world (QS 2027). It is the top technical university in the country and a global leader in engineering, design, and architecture.
- Popular Courses (STEM Focus): Computer Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Studies
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian (most Master's programmes are fully in English)
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~45 to 55%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 900 to EUR 3,900/year (≈ INR 81,000 to INR 3.5 lakh); income-based (ISEE Parificato)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Lombardia (regional), PoliMi Excellence Scholarships, Erasmus+
2. Sapienza University of Rome
Europe's largest university by student enrolment. Sapienza University of Rome is ranked 111th globally (QS 2027) and No. 1 among Italian generalist universities. Sapienza is especially strong in sciences, engineering, medicine, and the humanities.
- Popular Courses (STEM & MBA Focus): Data Science, Civil and Industrial Engineering, Business Administration
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~55 to 65%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 900 to EUR 3,000/year (≈ INR 81,000 to INR 2.7 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Lazio, Italian Government (MAECI) scholarships, Erasmus+
3. University of Bologna
Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna is among the top 10 oldest universities. It is ranked 123rd globally (QS 2027). It is known for law, life sciences, and STEM research.
- Popular Courses (STEM & MBA Focus): Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, International Management
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian (100+ English-taught Master's programmes)
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~55%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 500 to EUR 3,000/year (≈ INR 45,000 to INR 2.7 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Emilia-Romagna (ER.GO), University of Bologna Excellence Scholarships
4. University of Padua
Founded in 1222, the University of Padua is one of Europe's oldest. It climbed 204 positions in QS rankings over the last decade to reach 204th globally. It excels in engineering, sciences, and economics.
- Popular Courses (STEM Focus): Environmental Engineering, Data Science, Physics
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~60%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 500 to EUR 2,800/year (≈ INR 45,000 to INR 2.5 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Veneto (ADISS), merit-based University scholarships
5. Politecnico di Torino
Ranked 206th globally (QS 2027) and among the best STEM universities in Italy. It is one of the few Italian universities where nearly all Master's programmes are offered in English.
- Popular Courses (STEM Focus): Mechanical Engineering, ICT for Smart Societies, Aerospace Engineering
- Language of Instruction: English (most Master's programmes)
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~55 to 65%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 600 to EUR 2,800/year (≈ INR 54,000 to INR 2.5 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: EDISU Piemonte (regional), PoliTo merit scholarships
6. University of Milan
One of Europe's largest research universities with over 64,000 students. University of Milan is Italy's No. 1 university for Medicine and a member of the exclusive League of European Research Universities (LERU).
- Popular Courses (STEM & MBA Focus): Biotechnology, Computer Science, Applied Economics and Management
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~65%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 900 to EUR 3,500/year (≈ INR 81,000 to INR 3.15 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Lombardia, UniMi Excellence Scholarships (EUR 6,000 grant + tuition waiver for Master's)
7. University of Pisa
Ranked 341st globally (QS 2027) and 7th in Italy. The University of Pisa is historically strong in natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. It is home to the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore.
- Popular Courses (STEM Focus): Computer Science, Mathematics, Embedded Computing Systems
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~65 to 75%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 500 to EUR 2,200/year (≈ INR 45,000 to INR 1.98 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Toscana, University of Pisa merit grants
8. University of Rome Tor Vergata
Ranked approximately 342nd globally (QS) and 2nd in Italy for international students. Tor Vergata is one of the fastest-rising Italian universities, it gained 134 QS positions in just two years.
- Popular Courses (STEM Focus): Electrical Engineering, Bioinformatics, Industrial Engineering
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~70 to 80%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 150 to EUR 5,000/year (≈ INR 13,500 to INR 4.5 lakh); purely income-linked (ISEE)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Lazio, Tor Vergata International Scholarships
9. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Private
Europe's largest private university. Ranked 388th in QS 2027. It is Italy's top private option for MBA and business programmes with campuses in Milan, Rome, and Brescia.
- Popular Courses (MBA Focus): International Management, Business Administration, Finance
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~50 to 60%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 3,000 to EUR 12,000/year (≈ INR 2.7 lakh to INR 10.8 lakh); private fees are higher
- Scholarships Available: Cattolica Merit Scholarships, partial tuition waivers for international students
10. University of Pavia
One of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1361. It is a smaller research university with a strong reputation in science, medicine, and engineering. It offers competitive scholarships for international students.
- Popular Courses (STEM Focus): Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, Artificial Intelligence
- Language of Instruction: English and Italian
- Average Acceptance Rate: ~65 to 75%
- Average Tuition Fee: EUR 500 to EUR 2,000/year (≈ INR 45,000 to INR 1.8 lakh)
- Scholarships Available: DSU Lombardia, Pavia merit-based International Scholarships
Admission and Eligibility Requirements for Indian Students
Here is what Indian students need to apply to a public university in Italy for the 2027 intake.
- For a Bachelor's degree: Class 12 (10+2) with minimum 60 to 70% marks from a recognised board.
- For a Master's degree: A 3-year or 4-year Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject. Minimum 55 to 60% aggregate is commonly expected.
- Some programmes, especially engineering and science Master's at PoliMi and Tor Vergata, require a strong background in Physics.
English Language Requirements
- IELTS: Minimum 5.5 for undergraduate; 6.0 to 6.5 for Master's programmes. Having a clear idea of the IELTS band for studying in Italy.
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum 72 to 90 for most programmes.
- DET Test: Some universities accept Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 100+ as an alternative.
- If your Bachelor's was taught fully in English, many universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate in place of IELTS.
For more details related to studying abroad and foreign admissions, reach out to Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for free.
FAQs About Top Universities in Italy
Commonly asked questions
Yes. Almost all the top public universities in Italy offer special Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. You can study entirely in English. So, you do not feel language barrier during studies.
Most top public universities in Italy require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or 6.5. A good IELTS score also helps you get your Italian student visa easily. However, you can also take the TOEFL or DET.
They are not completely free. They are very cheap. Tuition fees usually range from EUR 400 to EUR 4,000 per year. You can apply for regional financial scholarships. The only condition is that your family income is low.
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Raj Vimal is an education writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. He helps Indian students find the right universities, visas, and courses abroad. Currently, he leads content strategies at InfoEdge India
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