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Study

Study in Italy

It’s perhaps not surprising that many international students feel instantly at home in Italy. The University of Bologna has been welcoming students since 1088 - it is the oldest university in the world and its foundation gave the city one of its nicknames: la dotta, “the learned one”. Bologna remains at the leading edge of academic innovation in the 21st century. The Bologna Process was initiated in the city, and has established a set of standards for excellence in higher education across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Italian universities take pride in their heritage and rankings. The Universityof Rome Tor Vergata offers more than a dozen international degree courses that are taught in English. Founded only in 1982, Tor Vergata was ranked one of the best young universities in Europe, and is known for high student satisfaction and far-above-average employment rates of its graduates.

Italy is also home to some of the best business schools in Europe, including the prestigious SDA Bocconi in Milan, the country’s financial capital. Its MBA programmes frequently top global and European rankings, and many top business leaders are among its alumni.

These and many other universities in Italy are stepping up efforts to accelerate their internationalisation and offer degree programmes specifically for international students. There are currently more than 500 English-taught study programmes available in the country. And every year, there are more and more options to study in Italy in English.

Why Study in Italy?

Italy is home to the oldest university in the world, University of Bologna; and, since its inception, the educational system never stopped growing and improving.

With student discounts, thousands of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and a beautiful and diverse country, there’s no wonder students pick Italy as their international destination.

It might seem there aren’t enough words in the world to express what a beautiful and breath-taking experience studying in Italy can be; but, since someone felt the need to describe this feeling of shortness of breath as an illness (No, really… Google “Florence syndrome”), you can only assume what a marvellous period in your life this will be.

Practical Information

How to apply to universities in Italy

The application process in Italy can be complicated, but we’re here to help and trace the major lines.

First of all, you should contact the university you’re interested in and check if your qualifications are eligible. This is represented by a prior assessment, after which the university will give you feedback and tell you if you meet all the standards.

After, you will have to submit a pre-application request at your Italian embassy or consulate, and let them manage your application afterwards.

By the end of August, students will find a list of admitted candidates on the embassy’s or consulate’s page.

Some of the documents you will need to deliver with your application are:

Your ID;
A passport-type photograph;
Your academic transcripts;
Your university application form;
A detailed study programme or course description, which must contain the number of hours of the courses or training activities that you have completed, according to your academic curriculum;
Your CV;
A letter of recommendation;
A letter of motivation;
Language proficiency certificate (English or Italian);
Your portfolio, if you’re applying to Architecture, Urban Planning, or Design programmes;
Official SAT or ACT scores.

Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for an Italian university

Take Preparation Courses: These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice;

Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If you’re attending a degree programme in Italy, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures; some schools will require strong English, or Italian, skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

Italian universities have programmes that are taught either in English or in Italian. That’s why, in order to be accepted at one of their programmes, you will need to provide proof of either English or Italian proficiency.

The language tests accepted by Italian universities for English are:

TOEFL
TOEIC
IELTS
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency

Living

Living in Italy

What is it like to study in Italy?

Everybody who gets to study in Italy says the same thing about the universities here: the professors and fellow students are friendly and helpful, the cultural landscape is very diverse, and the architecture of the universities is exquisite.

However, it might help if you study a bit of Italian before coming here: although they are warm and kind, it may be difficult to talk to them, because not everyone is fluent in English.

Also, although the tuition fees are rather low, you should check out scholarships in Italy: there are a lot of chances of discovering one that suits you and your study option.

Cost of living and tuition fees in Italy

Italy is a budget-friendly study destination in Europe. While the cost of accommodation and living can be high in large cities like Rome or Milan, smaller cities are much cheaper. Larger universities usually offer support in finding accommodation; with luck you might get a place in a cheap student home.

Compared to other countries in Europe, Italy’s public universities are also relatively cheap. On average, public universities in Italy charge around 1,000 EUR per year. Top-ranked prestigious universities might charge more. A special case is the University of Rome Tor Vergata, where tuition fees are tied to your family’s financial situation: Based on the income, you are charged from a low minimum around 150 EUR to a maximum of around 5,000 EUR per year.

Student life in Italy

Italians are known to be welcoming, open people. You will make local friends quickly. And they will teach you that eating out and enjoying high-quality, healthy food are fundamental to la dolce vita (“the sweet life”) for every Italian.

Although you will get by with only a handful of words and phrases in Italian, English is not widely spoken outside the academic context, and you will definitely benefit from taking some lessons in Italian before and during your stay. That is especially true if you should decide to stay and work in Italy after graduation.

Cultural activities include everything from traditional local festivals to major international sporting events. Italian night life is always lively, especially in cities. In summer, the majority of people head for the sea or countryside. For quality of life, unforgettable, charming Italy provides value for any student.

Tuition fees in Italy

Tuition fees vary in Italy wildly, depending if you are from the EU or not, if the university is public or private, or if you arrive with an ERASMUS scholarship.

For instance, on average:

A public university’s tuition fee is around 850 to 1.000 EUR / year;
A private university’s tuition fee is around 6.000 to 20.000 EUR / year;

Sure, it will depend on your degree, as well, seeing how Medicine and Engineering and Technology may damage your wallet more than Social Sciences or Humanities.

Accommodation, housing, food, and other expenses

Italy is one of the cheapest countries in Central Europe. Adding accommodation, transportation, food, and entertainment, a student can live on 1.450 EUR / month quite luxuriously - and that’s for Milan and Rome, two of the biggest cities in Italy.

For cities like Bologna, Bolzano, and Florence, expenses may come between 600 and 900 EUR / month.

To get a better picture, you should know that some of the prices you will find in shops and restaurants are:

A loaf of bread: 1.5 EUR;
A meal in a restaurant: 15 EUR;
A one-way ticket for local transportation is 1.5 EUR;
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the centre is 582 EUR.

On average you should prepare about 600-900 EUR/month for living costs.

About

About Italy

Italy’s historic treasures and magnificent cuisine continue to draw visitors as they have done for centuries. From the snow-capped Dolomites in the North to the warm maritime Mediterranean culture of the South, Italy’s regions are diverse and exciting. For the international student seeking world-class but affordable education, with a wide range of social and leisure activities, few countries are as exciting a choice as Italy.

The country’s cultural importance extends back to ancient times and the past greets the student of history and archaeology on every street corner. For many, Rome is still the Eternal City, the centre of an empire that - some 2,000 years ago - stretched from rainy Britannia to the deserts of Syria. At its height it also encompassed Egypt, much of North Africa and nearly all of Continental Europe.

Italy’s Ancient Roman monuments, magnificent as they are, tell only part of the story. The Renaissance of the 14th to 17th century originated in Italy (as the Rinascimento) and sparked innovation and revolutions in art, architecture, philosophy, religion and the sciences across Europe. Intellectual activity and creativity flourished, carrying gems of ancient and medieval thought into the modern world.

For instance, the name Italy comes from the word italia, which means “land of calves” or “calf land”, which is, automatically, adorable. Scholars assume that this name was inspired by the symbol of the Southern Italian tribes, which was a bull.

And that might be the only moderate fact about Italy we can find. Everything else is plagued by how passionate and proud the Italians are, seeing how:

At the opening of McDonald's in 1986, in Rome, food purists gave away free spaghetti in front of the restaurant, so they could remind people of their culinary heritage;
They call football fans tifosi, meaning people infected with typhoid. This name started after they saw that soccer was treated more like a religion in Italy, not just a simple past-time hobby;
The fork grew in popularity in Europe after it was first imported to Italy. Why was it that famous? Because it was the best utensil to eat spaghetti… No, I am not joking!
In Milan, it’s illegal not to smile, unless you are in a hospital or at a funeral. Can I get a psychotically friendly hallelujah?

Also, you should know a bit about their folklore and superstitions, before going and settling in Italy. Some of the most famous ones are:

The cursed number 17: it’s common for hotels not to have the 17th floor, seeing how the number is believed to be unlucky. It’s a bit of a stretch, but, apparently, 17, or XVII, can be rearranged in VIXI, which loosely translates to “I have lived”, and it’s often associated with death;
Putting a hat on a bed: this one is much more grounded in reality and the horrible aftermaths of the plague or the other diseases that haunted Italy. Legend has it that, when you’re on your deathbed, a priest will come for your final rites, and he would remove his hat and place it on the bed, next to you;
Sardinian islands have witches: the women use a secret language that they pass on to their daughters, along with recipes for health potions;
Vatican is the only nation in the world allowed to lock its gates at night;

And, although it isn’t a superstition, you should still know that Whatsapp is cited in nearly half of the Italian divorce proceedings.

Institutes

Student VISA

Student visa for Italy

Depending on your nationality, you may need to get a visa to study in Italy. If you are from an EU or EFTA country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) you will not need a visa. If you are from any other country, you will need a visa. All students will need to present details of accommodation, proof of financial stability and a comprehensive health insurance policy.

To get more information about the visa process, documents required, application costs and where to apply, please visit the MAECI website and provide the relevant information. This website will give you information that is specific to your situation.

If you are a non-EU or EFTA student, you will need to apply for a residence permit once you have a visa. This needs to be done within 8 days of your arrival in the country. You can apply for this at the post office in your new city of residence. If you need any advice or information about this process, your institution will be able to assist.

Students who are from an EU or EFTA country do not need to apply for a residence permit. However, if you plan to stay for over 3 months, you must register with the Anagrafe (register office) in your city of residence. You are able to register as a temporary resident if you do not intend to move your permanent residence to Italy. If you choose this option, it must be renewed every year. You are also able to transfer your permanent residence to Italy.

EU students who plan to study in Italy for longer than 3 months need to register with the Italian National Health Service (SSN) to gain complete health coverage. You can do this at the Local Health Authorities (ASL). You will not have to pay any fees, and you will be issued with a health insurance card (Tessera Sanitaria). This allows you access to the same health services as Italian citizens.

Non-EU students must have health insurance in order to apply for a residence permit. There are three different options for international students.

Register with the Italian Health Service (SSN) – you can do this at your Local Health Authority (ASL).
Purchase a private health insurance policy in your own country – it is always advisable to get this policy validated by the Italian embassy and translated into Italian or English.
Purchase a private health insurance policy in Italy – you can do this before or after your arrival, but you need it to apply for a residence permit.

VISA

Check if you really need a student visa. Usually, if you are an EU-national and want to study in another EU country, you won't need a visa. Some other non-EU countries may also be exempt from an entry visa, at least for an initial duration;
Start accessing the websites of the embassy and consulate, in order to get a general picture of the whole "visa-application" thing;
Check the deadlines and figure out how much time you'll have to wait for your visa. You wouldn't want miss studying abroad from this silly mistake of bad planning;
Go on a scavenger hunt and collect all the documents you will need. Remember, you can find the list on the embassy's website;
Start saving up money, as some applications might require you to have proof of minimum funds;
Brush up on your English skills. Even if this is not always a visa requirement, it will help you a lot to succeed during your university studies.

Work permit

Working in Italy

Work while studying in Italy

Here you see the rules for getting a part-time work permit.

You do not need an official document to work part-time as a student in Italy.

Application requirements
You can apply for the work permit if you have:
- enrolled in a degree that is longer than 6 months;
- a passport that doesn't have a work prohibition stamp on it.

Duration of work permit
2 YEARS

Your work permit will be valid for as long as you have a valid student visa.
Max. hours of work per week
20 HOURS/WEEK

You will be allowed to work 20 hours per week. You are allowed to work full-time during school vacations.

Required documents
You will need a few documents to apply for your work permit:
- valid residence permit.

Work after graduation in Italy

First things first! In Italy, you can choose a work permit like the Permesso di soggiorno per lavoro (Residence permit for work) to remain in the country and work full-time. Read our work permit info below and start planning!