Italy is a famous country for studying abroad. There are currently more than 32,000 international students studying in Italy. Reasons for this include inexpensive higher education, diverse courses, a work-study balance, the opportunity to acquire a foreign language, and more.
Studying in Italy offers a rich history, vibrant culture, and top-notch education. Famous for its art, fashion, and cuisine, Italy provides a unique learning experience in a beautiful setting. Moreover, top universities in Italy, such as the University of Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome, and Politecnico di Milano, are globally recognised for their academic excellence.
So, if you have decided to study in Italy, you must know everything about the top universities, courses, studying and living costs, and more.
Italy is a popular European country where many international students move to study. Below are specific important highlights that international students must know before moving to study in Italy.
Parameter |
Statistics |
No. of universities in Italy |
36 |
Tuition fees of universities in Italy |
Up to INR 5 L: 30 universities Up to INR 12 - 30 L: 10 universities |
Top streams in Italy |
MIM, MS, BBA, Others PG, MBA |
English exams required |
IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo |
Entrance exams required |
GMAT / GRE |
It has been a top choice for international students planning to study in Europe. The country’s academic excellence, high standard of living, and aesthetic places to explore attract thousands of international students from around the world.
Indian students who have completed their master's or PhD can apply for a post-study employment permit in Italy. They can stay in Italy for one year until they find full-time employment. If an overseas student finds a job in Italy, they can apply for a post-study work visa. In Italy, the employer applies for a work visa on behalf of the applicant.
The Italian student visa allows international students to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week. This is a great opportunity for international students to earn while studying and bear their own expenses. On average, international students can earn around 7 EUR per hour through part-time jobs in Italy. Some of the most common part-time job opportunities for international students in Italy include tutoring, being a cashier, being a tourist guide, being a caretaker, etc.
Surprisingly, Italy is home to some of the oldest universities in the world, which date back to the 18th century. Here is a list of some of the top universities in italy for international students.
University Name |
QS World University Rankings 2025 |
THE World Rankings 2024 |
Politecnico di Milano |
111 |
201-250 |
132 |
181 |
|
133 |
155 |
|
236 |
201-250 |
|
Politecnico di Torino |
241 |
401-500 |
285 |
351-400 |
|
347 |
351-400 |
|
371 |
401-500 |
|
375 |
351-400 |
|
382 |
401-450 |
Are you also willing to enrol in the above-mentioned universities? If so, please contact our expert counsellors at any branch of Meridean Overseas Education Consultants.
Italian universities are highly known for their life science and technology courses. You can easily find an array of courses related to this field, like Archeology, Philosophy, Literature, Linguistics, etc, to support your dream career. Below, we have mentioned the top 10 universities in Italy for pursuing arts and humanities courses.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
Sapienza University of Rome |
44 |
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
50 |
Politecnico di Milano |
60 |
Università di Padova |
139 |
Ca' Foscari University of Venice |
160 |
University of Pisa |
188 |
University of Milan |
193 |
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore |
200 |
Politecnico di Torino |
214 |
Scuola Normale Superiore |
231 |
You can also find various courses in engineering and technology at Italian universities. Here is the list of top universities for Engineering and Technology in Italy, ranked by the QS Rankings.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
Politecnico di Milano |
23 |
Politecnico di Torino |
52 |
Sapienza University of Rome |
95 |
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
100 |
Università di Padova |
166 |
University of Naples - Federico II |
191 |
University of Pisa |
243 |
University of Trento |
272 |
University of Rome "Tor Vergata" |
327 |
University of Turin |
352 |
According to QS Rankings, some of the top ranking universities in Italy for Life Sciences and medicine courses include the University of Milan, the Università di Padova, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, and the Sapienza University of Rome. Below, we have included the list of the top universities in Italy for Life Sciences and medicine courses.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
University of Milan |
97 |
Università di Padova |
105 |
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
110 |
Sapienza University of Rome |
128 |
University of Turin |
155 |
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore |
224 |
University of Naples - Federico II |
226 |
University of Pisa |
262 |
University of Florence |
269 |
University of Milano-Bicocca |
275 |
Check the top 10 universities in Italy to pursue Natural Sciences courses below.
University Name |
QS Ranking |
Sapienza University of Rome |
61 |
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
96 |
Università di Padova |
97 |
Politecnico di Milano |
129 |
University of Pisa |
143 |
University of Milan |
187 |
Politecnico di Torino |
208 |
University of Rome "Tor Vergata" |
221 |
University of Florence |
224 |
University of Naples - Federico II |
224 |
To explore the top universities in Italy for Social Sciences & Management, students can check the table below:
University Name |
QS Ranking |
Bocconi University |
16 |
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
64 |
Luiss University |
90 |
Politecnico di Milano |
100 |
Sapienza University of Rome |
128 |
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore |
216 |
Università di Padova |
232 |
University of Milan |
244 |
European University Institute |
274 |
University of Turin |
303 |
Beyond academics, Italy's warm climate, welcoming people, and diverse landscapes, from bustling cities to serene countryside, make it a wonderful place to live and explore.
Cities |
QS Ranking 2025 |
Milan |
52 |
Rome |
54 |
Turin |
68 |
Interior and living design, marketing management, luxury brand management, cosmetics, digital management, product design, and other fields are among the most popular subjects studied in Italy. Below are some of the most popular programs that international students choose to study in Italy, along with the number of universities that offer those courses.
Top Courses in Italy |
No. of Universities |
MIM |
22 |
MS |
14 |
Others PG |
13 |
BBA |
12 |
MA |
7 |
MBA / PGDM |
7 |
BA |
6 |
M.Arch |
5 |
BE/ BTech |
3 |
UG Diploma |
3 |
A number of universities in Italy accept international students' applications for various programs. However, international students must fulfil certain requirements before enrolling in Italian universities. Here are some basic eligibility criteria that international students must fulfil before enrolling in Italian universities.
Entrance exams or standardised admission tests allow the university’s admission committee to assess students' academic abilities on a common basis. Here are some of the standardised admission tests that universities in italy accept.
International students must prove their language abilities through English proficiency tests to enrol in English-taught courses at an Italian university. Below are some of the commonly accepted English proficiency tests by Italian universities.
Here is a list of important documents required to apply to an Italian university and for a student visa:
Criteria |
Undergraduate |
Postgraduate |
10th and 12th standard academic transcript |
10th and 12th standard academic transcript along with bachelor’s degree certificate |
|
A minimum IELTS score of 5.5 bands or equivalent in any other proficiency test |
A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 bands or equivalent in any other proficiency test |
|
1 from an academic institution |
2 (1 from an academic institution and 1 from employer) |
|
Required |
Required |
|
Certificates |
Relevant certificates of extra-curricular activities are accepted |
Relevant certificates of extra-curricular activities are accepted |
Apart from the above documents, here are some other documents which you might require:
Test scores of standardised exams like GMAT / GRE
Completed application form
Updated Resume
Portfolio (if required)
Passport-size photographs (if asked)
Copy of the passport
In Italian universities, intakes usually happen twice a year: in the fall (autumn) and winter.
Autumn intake in Italy - The autumn intake typically starts around September/October. This is the main intake period when most programs begin. It's a busy time when new students arrive, classes start, and campuses buzz with activity. Generally, all universities in Italy accept applications during this intake.
Winter Itake in Italy - On the other hand, the winter intake begins around January/February. It's another opportunity for students to start their studies, though it's less common than the fall intake. Not all private universities offer certain programs during this intake, but various ones do. Since the number of applications is less during this intake, the chances of enrolling in the university are higher.
The cost of studying in Italy varies depending on the university. Generally, public universities have lower tuition fees than private ones. Below, we have mentioned the number of universities available in Italy according to the economic budget.
First-Year Tuition Fee Range |
No. of Universities |
Up to INR 5 L |
30 |
Up to INR 10 L |
15 |
Up to INR 20 L |
10 |
Up to INR 40 L and + |
3 |
Read, More: cost of studying in Italy
In general, the cost of living in Italy is quite affordable. You can easily find various budget-friendly accommodation and public transportation facilities. Moreover, there are plenty of food options and cousins to try and enjoy. Below is the breakdown of the estimated cost of living in italy for international students.
Particulars |
Cost per month |
Housing |
300 EUR - 600 EUR |
Utilities |
200 EUR |
Internet |
27 EUR |
Public Transport |
35 EUR |
Gym |
50 EUR |
Groceries |
300 EUR |
Also, Read: Cost of living in Italy
A short-term student visa for Italy costs from 80 EUR to 100 EUR, while a long-term student visa costs between 76 EUR and 110 EUR. The visa fee is expected to alter depending on government regulations.
International students can take advantage of various job options after studying in Italy. Below, we have mentioned some of Italy's best job opportunities for international students and their average salary.
Job options |
Average Salaries |
Agriculture |
18,000 EUR - 40,000 EUR (INR 16 Lakhs - 36 Lakhs) per year |
Automotive |
32,700 EUR - 45,000 EUR (INR 28 Lakhs - 40 Lakhs) per year |
Business & Finance |
65,000 EUR -122,000 EUR (INR 58 Lakhs - 1 Crore) per year |
Engineering & Technology |
199,000 EUR - 215,000 EUR (INR 9 Crore - 19 Crore) per year |
Fashion |
55,000 EUR - 75,000 EUR (INR 50 Lakhs - 67 Lakhs) per year |
Hospitality |
30,000 EUR - 75,000 EUR (INR 26 Lakhs - 67 Lakhs) per year |
Manufacturing |
25,000 EUR - 40,000 EUR (INR 22 Lakhs - 36 Lakhs) per year |
Retail Sector |
40,000 EUR - 60,000 EUR (INR 36 Lakhs - 54 Lakhs ) per year |
Tourism |
27,000 EUR - 50,000 EUR (INR 24 Lakhs - 45 Lakhs) per year |
Scholarships are an excellent source of financial assistance for international students on a tight budget who want to study in Italy. Various universities and private organisations offer scholarship opportunities in Italy. Below, we've included some of the greatest scholarships available.
Scholarship Name |
Offered By |
Value |
Bocconi International Awards Undergraduate |
Bocconi University |
50% tuition fee reduction |
Bocconi Graduate Merit Awards |
Bocconi University |
worth €14,000 per year |
Padua International Excellence Scholarship |
University of Padua |
€8,000 for each year |
UniTo for Students at Risk Scholarships |
University of Turin |
€9,600 |
Politecnico di Milano Merit-based Scholarships: PLATINUM Scholarship |
Politecnico di Milano |
€10.000 per year + full tuition waiver |
Politecnico di Milano Merit-based Scholarships: GOLD Scholarship |
Politecnico di Milano |
€5.000 per year + full tuition waiver |
Politecnico di Milano Merit-based Scholarships: SILVER Scholarship |
Politecnico di Milano |
Full tuition fee waiver |
The Leonardo da Vinci Scholarship for Art and Design |
DEL RIO Council for the Arts (sponsored by Italian Govt.) |
$500 |
Marconi Scholarship for Communication and Journalism |
Marconi International |
10% and 50% of tuition fees for both graduate and undergraduate students |
Also, Read: Scholarship opportunities in Italy
Contact MOEC Experts for Study Abroad Guidance!